CHAFFEE REACHES JR. LEGION STATE FINAL

SEDALIA -- Chaffee's Junior American Legion baseball team will play for the state championship today after defeating Joplin 4-0 in the winner's bracket final Friday night.

Justin Simpher allowed just two fourth-inning singles and struck out 12 to put Chaffee (28-10) into today's 7 p.m. championship game.

Chaffee will play the winner of today's loser's bracket final between Joplin and Kirksville. The winner must defeat Chaffee twice in order to win the title while Chaffee will require just one win in the double-elimination format.

Simpher dominated Joplin from start to finish. He struck out four Joplin batters in the top of the seventh to end the game. He walked just one batter in the masterful performance.

Chaffee banged out eight hits, including two apiece by Matt Stroup and Adam Rainey. Stroup's hits included a solo home run in the sixth inning while Rainey had an RBI double in a two-run fourth.

Todd Friend accounted for Chaffee's first run with a two-out RBI triple in the first. Friend's hit scored Adam Friga, who opened the inning with a walk.

Chaffee took its 1-0 lead into the bottom of the fourth and tacked on two runs. Rainey's double scored Stroup and Lance Dohogne chased home Rainey with a one-out single.