CHAFFEE SET FOR REGIONAL EVENT

Chaffee earned a berth in the 1997 Junior American Legion Mid-States Regional 15-16-year-old baseball tournament by virtue of its status as the host team.

But Chaffee manager Jeff Graviett says his squad is intent on proving that it belongs with the other seven state champions that will make up the eight-team field for the double-elimination event.

Tournament action at Harmon Field will begin Friday with four first-round games: Tennessee (Germantown) vs. Colorado (Longmont) at 10 a.m., Missouri (St. Joseph) vs. Arkansas (Searcy) at 1 p.m., Minnesota (Minnetonka) vs. Oklahoma (Yukon) at 6 p.m. and Chaffee vs. Kansas (Kansas City) at 8:30 p.m.

There will be four more games Saturday, with winner's bracket semifinals set for 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Another four games will be played Sunday, highlighted by the winner's bracket final at 6 p.m.

The championship is set for 1 p.m. Monday, with the `if-needed' contest in the event no team is undefeated slated for noon Tuesday.

Graviett believes his squad will stack up well during this season-ending tournament (there is no national event for Junior American Legion players) and it's hard to argue with him.

Chaffee put together a sensational season and was regarded as a prime contender for the state title before faltering in the zone tournament. Still, the squad has a glittering 40-3 record.

"Going into season, I was pretty confident we'd be strong. We've got good pitching and we have big hitters in the lineup," said Graviett. "We ran into some bad luck in the zone, but we've had a great season.

"I really think we have a chance to win this. I really think we'll stack up well. There won't be a bad team in the tournament, but player for player, we should be just as good as any team."

Even though the teams in the tournament are primarily made up of players who have completed either their freshmen or sophomore years of high school, most of Chaffee's squad features players who already have quite a bit of high school varsity experience.

"That's one thing that has really given us an edge this year," Graviett said. "We've only got two kids who were strictly (high school) JV players. The rest were all on varsity teams and most started or played quite a bit. So they've been used to facing good competition."

Chaffee, made up of players from several area high schools, has a team batting average of .311, with eight players hitting at least .300.

Offensive leaders have been Josh Eftink (Notre Dame) and John Wipfler (Scott City). Eftink is batting .550 with four home runs and 49 runs batted in while Wipfler is at .362 with five homers and 56 RBIs.

Also batting above .300 are Tommy Stidham (Chaffee) .371; Dustin Dannenmueller (Oran) .366; Lance Amick (Scott City) .311; Keith Hamm (Notre Dame) .310; Jim Hulshof (Kelly) .310; and Dusty Leggett (Chaffee) .303.

Pitching has really been a strength for Chaffee, with a team earned-run average of 1.89.

"Our pitching has been amazing," said Graviett. "It's really carried us all year."

Five main hurlers have been Dannenmueller (6-0, 0.91 ERA); Notre Dame's Brian Obermann (7-0, 1.60); Kelly's Jason Glastetter (5-1, 1.69); Hamm (7-1, 1.07); and Hulshof (5-1, 2.88).

Graviett said Glastetter will start Friday's opener, with Dannenmueller slated to start a second game Saturday.

TOURNAMENT NOTES: Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon will be the guest of honor at the Mid-States Regional. He will throw out the ceremonial first pitch in Friday's first game...

Chaffee's team is co-sponsored by VFW Post 3127 and American Legion Post 389.

Regional Baseball

Junior American Legion Mid-States Regional

(at Chaffee Harmon Field)

Friday's Schedule

10 a.m. (Game 1): Tennessee (Germantown). vs. Colorado (Longmont)

1 p.m. (Game 2): Missouri (St. Joseph) vs. Arkansas (Searcy)

6 p.m. (Game 3): Minnesota (Minnetonka) vs. Oklahoma (Yukon)

8:30 p.m. (Game 4): Chaffee vs. Kansas (Kansas City)

Saturday's Schedule

10 a.m. (Game 5): Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser

1 p.m. (Game 6): Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser

6 p.m. (Game 7): Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner

8:30 p.m. (Game 8): Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner

Sunday's Schedule

10:30 a.m. (Game 9): Game 8 loser vs. Game 5 winner

1 p.m. (Game 10): Game 6 winner vs. Game 7 loser

6 p.m. (Game 11): Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner

8:30 p.m. (Game 12): Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner

Monday's Schedule

10 a.m. (Game 13): Game 12 winner vs. Game 11 loser

1 p.m. (Game 14): Game 11 winner vs. Game 13 winner

Tuesday's Schedule

(If Necessary)

Noon (Game 15): Only needed if no team finishes Monday undefeated