CHAFFEE SUFFERS FIRST DISTRICT LOSS IN SPLIT

CHAFFEE -- The Chaffee Medicap Pharmacy American Legion baseball team suffered its first District 14 loss of the season Tuesday night.

But Chaffee manager Jeff Graviett still likes the position his squad is in regarding District 14 regular-season play.

Chaffee's doubleheader split with visiting Sikeston -- Chaffee won the opener 10-1 and dropped the nightcap 8-6 -- gives Graviett's squad an impressive 9-1 district mark.

"We'll definitely take that," said Graviett. "If we can basically duplicate that for the second half (of district play), we'll be in good shape.

"We're playing for one of the top two seeds (for the district tournament). It would be nice to get the No. 1 seed and get a (first-round tournament) bye."

Although there are still many games left to be played, the top seed for the district tourney could go a long way toward being determined today when Chaffee visits Dunklin County in a 4 p.m. start.

Dunklin County is unbeaten in district play. The squads will begin with the resumption of a game suspended earlier in the season which saw things tied at 6-6 in the 10th inning. Following that, the teams will play another game.

"Those games will be big," Graviett said.

Following Tuesday's action, Chaffee is 14-4 overall. Sikeston is 13-9 overall and 12-6 in district play.

Brian Obermann pitched Chaffee to victory in the opener. The left-hander allowed four hits while striking out six and walking three in going the seven-inning distance.

"Brian has really been throwing the ball well," said Graviett. "We played well and we hit the ball well."

Chaffee banged out 11 first-game hits, all of them singles. Brandon Amick went 3-for-3 to lead the way while Jason Glastetter and Brad Kolwyck each had two hits. Glastetter drove in three runs while Obermann and Amick both added two RBIs.

Chris Hood had two of Sikeston's four hits. Billy Puckett suffered the loss, allowing 10 hits and 10 runs (eight earned) in five innings.

The second game, however, was a different story. Sikeston grabbed a 7-1 lead after two innings and held on for the split.

"I feel good about the split, mainly because of the way we played the second game," said Sikeston manager Charlie Dye. "We were so flat the first game. I just challenged them. They came back and showed some determination and fire."

Chaffee had two second-game home runs but only six hits in all. Josh Eftink and Amick each belted solo shots to left field.

Sikeston got a two-run homer to left from Mark Silverthorn, who was also the winning pitcher. Silverthorn allowed six runs and six hits in five innings. He fanned three and walked three.

The visitors got a strong relief performance from Hood, who earned a save with two scoreless and hitless innings.

Amick took the loss, giving up eight hits and eight runs (six earned) in four innings. Tommy Stidham was solid in relief, fanning four and allowing one hit over the final three frames.

Silverthorn, Hood and Daric Montgomery all had two of Sikeston's nine hits. Hood had two RBIs.