CHARLESTON GETS FIRST DISTRICT WIN, SPLITS WITH CAPE LEGION

Justin Palmer and Matt Jones exchanged pitching gems Monday night as Cape Girardeau Ford & Sons and Charleston split an American Legion baseball doubleheader at Capaha Field.

Charleston's Palmer hurled a four-hitter in the opener as the visitors prevailed 1-0 to claim their first-ever District 14 victory. Charleston began a Legion program last year and went winless in district play.

Jones made sure Cape would not come away empty as he fired a three-hitter and struck out 14 in the 4-0 nightcap.

Cape is now 2-1 overall and 1-1 in District 14 play while Charleston is 1-3 overall and 1-2 in the district.

"We had two pretty good ballgames tonight," said Cape manager Ron Michel, whose squad was missing eight players for various reasons. "All the pitchers threw really well."

Michel certainly had to like what he saw from Jones, a right-hander out of Egyptian (Ill.) High School who was mostly wild last year during his first season with the team.

Jones was anything but wild Monday as he walked just two. And he was overpowering much of the time with the 14 strikeouts, including three in the seventh and final inning as he finished in style.

"Matt really threw a great game. He was throwing hard and he had very good control," Michel said. "Control was his problem last year, but tonight was really encouraging. If he keeps throwing like that, he'll be one of our top pitchers."

Michel's first-game hurler, right-hander Joe Hamilton, was also impressive as he tossed a six-hitter, with three strikeouts and one walk.

But Palmer, another right-hander, was just a bit better as he fanned six and walked one to help Charleston finally break through in district play.

"We needed that one. It was a long time coming," said Charleston manager Jack Whiteside. "We're trying to build the program and the kids are coming around a little bit.

"Justin is really coming around. He pitched a very good game tonight. And we made some nice plays in the field."

No Charleston play was nicer than in the bottom of the seventh as Cape threatened after a leadoff single by T.J. Erlacker. But, with the hit-and-run on, right fielder Drew Moore made a sliding catch of a line drive by Dusty Barrows and Moore easily doubled Erlacker off first.

"I almost took him (Moore) out in the fifth because he missed a couple of signs," said a laughing Whiteside. "But I figured I'd show some patience and I'm glad I did."

Charleston scored the opener's lone run in the fourth. Lee Barnhill led off with a single and later came home on a two-out single by Palmer.

Cape came back with a bit more offense in the nightcap against lefty Lezcano Dean, who allowed seven hits and three earned runs in 5 1/3 innings. He fanned six and walked three.

Ford & Sons got the only run it would need in the opening inning as Zac Fidler drilled a two-out double and scored on two wild pitches. Fidler delivered an RBI triple in the third and then scored on a wild pitch. Cape got its final run in the fourth.

Fidler and Rob Carr each had two of Cape's eight second-game hits. Fidler had three of Cape's 12 hits on the night.

Dean was Charleston's top offensive performer with four of his team's nine hits. He had two hits in each game.

While Charleston made some solid defensive plays in the opener, Cape was flawless in the field the entire night as it did not commit an error. Erlacker made three sparkling catches at shortstop, two with his back to the infield and one leaping.

Cape visits Paducah (Ky.) tonight and will host Stoddard County Wednesday night.