CHAFFEE STILL ALIVE IN REGIONAL TOURNEY

CHAFFEE -- Once again, a quick start and the hot play of Josh Eftink paced Chaffee to an easy victory over Kansas City (Kan.) in the Junior American Legion Mid-States Regional Tournament.

Host Chaffee remained alive in the eight-team, double-elimination event and clinched at least third place with two victories Sunday, including a 15-2 mauling of Kansas City in the night's final game.

Chaffee (43-4), which earlier in the day eliminated Longmont (Colo.) 7-3, is one of only three teams left in the field. Chaffee will face Germantown (Tenn.) at 10 a.m. today in the loser's bracket final.

The winner of that Chaffee-Germantown contest will then come right back to play Minnetonka (Minn.) -- the tournament's only remaining undefeated squad -- at 1 p.m.

A Minnetonka win would give it the regional championship while a Minnetonka loss would force one final game to decide the title at noon Tuesday.

During the first round of the tournament on Friday, Chaffee beat Kansas City 11-4. This time things were even easier as the game ended after five innings by the 10-run rule.

"After beating them bad the first time I didn't know what to expect, but the guys came out ready to play," said Chaffee manager Jeff Graviett.

Eftink, who had three hits in the first game against Kansas City, had four more Sunday, including a triple and double. Jason Glastetter had two hits, including an inside-the-park home run, and drove in three runs while John Wipfler added two hits. Chaffee had 11 hits.

"Josh had a great night all around," said Graviett of Eftink, who also made three dazzling plays at third base.

Dustin Dannenmueller pitched two innings while Brian Obermann hurled the final three.

Chaffee scored six runs in the first inning. The squad got three in the second, four in the third and two in the fourth. Dusty Leggett's three-run triple in the first was the big blow.

During Sunday's first game, Chaffee eliminated Longmont behind the pitching of Tommy Stidham, who allowed six hits and two walks while striking out five over the full seven innings.

"Tommy threw the ball real well," said Graviett.

Chaffee had 12 hits, led by John Wipfler with four and Jason Bickings with three.

Sunday's feature game of the day -- the winner's bracket final -- saw Minnetonka knock off Germantown 10-4 to hand the Tennessee team its first loss of the tourney.

Minnetonka's Jim Dahl blasted a grand slam to right-center field in the sixth inning to provide the final score. Travis Norwald went the distance, scattering 11 hits.

Germantown lead 4-0 after three innings before Minnetonka batted around its batting order and scored six runs in the top of the fourth. Minnetonka ripped five of its 12 hits in that inning to take a 6-4 lead.

Regional Baseball

Junior American Legion Mid-States Regional

(at Chaffee Harmon Field)

Friday's Results

(Game 1): Germantown, Tenn. 8, Longmont, Colo. 6

(Game 2): St. Joseph, Mo. 14, Searcy, Ark. 4

(Game 3): Minnetonka, Minn. 8, Yukon, Okla. 2

(Game 4): Chaffee 11, Kansas City, Kan. 4

Saturday's Results

(Game 5): Longmont, Colo. 14, Searcy, Ark. 7, eliminated

(Game 6): Kansas City, Kan. 13, Yukon, Okla. 5, eliminated

(Game 7): Germantown, Tenn. 5, St. Joseph, Mo. 3, 9 innings

(Game 8): Minnetonka, Minn. 2, Chaffee 0

Sunday's Results

(Game 9): Chaffee 7, Longmont, Colo. 3, eliminated

(Game 10): Kansas City, Kan. 12, St. Joseph, Mo. 7, eliminated

(Game 11): Minnetonka, Minn. 10, Germantown, Tenn. 4

(Game 12): Chaffee 15, Kansas City, Kan. 2, eliminated

Today'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