CHAFFEE USES FUEL FROM EALIER ROUT, TOPS CAPE LEGION

CHAFFEE -- Chaffee's VFW American Legion baseball team felt like it owed Cape Girardeau Ford & Sons a little something.

Consider the debt repaid.

Back on June 3, Cape destroyed visiting Chaffee 21-1 in a District 14 game.

But Tuesday night, host Chaffee got some revenge with a 7-5 District 14 victory over Ford & Sons.

Chaffee then completed a sweep of Tuesday's doubleheader with a 3-0 win in the non-district nightcap.

Chaffee is now 15-13 overall and 2-3 in district play. Cape fell to 13-10 overall, 5-2 in the district.

"This is a big win for us," said Chaffee head coach Mike Umfleet after Tuesday's opener. "They drummed us good at their place so it was nice to come out and win this one tonight."

Chaffee, expected to be one of the top teams in District 14, has had somewhat of an inconsistent season so far. Umfleet hopes winning Tuesday will help get his team headed in the right direction.

"Hopefully this will get us going in the district," he said. "It's a tough district, with Cape, Sikeston, Senath and some other teams. It's nice to get a big win like this."

Ryan LeGrand gave Chaffee seven solid innings on the mound to pick up the win. LeGrand, battling the extreme heat, allowed just one run through seven innings before he tired in the eighth and was removed without retiring a batter.

LeGrand wound up allowing three runs and eight hits. He struck out five and walked five.

"Ryan threw an excellent game," said Umfleet. "It's nice to see a kid pitch like that in this kind of weather."

Brandon Amick, who replaced LeGrand in the eighth, gave up three hits and two runs in 2/3 of an inning as Cape, which trailed 7-1, was able to rally within 7-5.

But Ben Klipfel came on to earn the save. He got the final out of the eighth with the tying run on first, then fanned two in the ninth as he set Cape down in order.

"Ben came in and did a great job," Umfleet said.

Todd Pennington, Cape's ace, took the loss. Pennington allowed five hits and six runs (five earned) in three innings. He fanned six and walked three.

"We got some big hits but I don't think he (Pennington) had his best stuff," said Umfleet.

Reliever Dustin Glastetter kept Cape in the game with five impressive innings. He allowed just two hits and one run while fanning five and walking one.

"Todd really didn't have it tonight but Dustin threw really well," said Cape head coach Ron Michel. "He kept us in the game and we almost pulled it out."

Chaffee scored twice in the first inning and never gave up the lead. Denver Stuckey's two-run homer to left was part of a three-run third that made it 6-1.

The hosts led 7-1 entering the eighth. Cape rallied before Klipfel came on to close the door.

Cape outhit Chaffee 11 to eight. Chris Bradshaw had three hits for Cape while Pennington and Andy Sweet both added two.

Stuckey led Chaffee with two hits.

In the non-district, seven-inning second game, John Wipfler pitched a four-hitter and went the distance to lead Chaffee.

Steve Fowler was Cape's tough-luck loser. Also going the distance, Fowler allowed two earned runs and six hits while fanning 11 and walking none.

Lance Amick had three of Chaffee's six hits while Sweet had two of Cape's four hits.

Both squads will see non-district action tonight, Cape hosting Creve Coeur in a 5:30 doubleheader and Chaffee visiting Ballard County, Ky., for a 7 o'clock single game.