DUNKLIN CO. TAKES CONTROL; CAPE LEGION ELIMINATED BY POPLAR BLUFF 5-4

JACKSON -- Dunklin County is sitting pretty in the American Legion District 14 Tournament -- but manager Jamie Johnson realizes just how fortunate his team is.

The tourney's top seed and solid favorite had to survive a major scare from second-seeded Chaffee Medicap Pharmacy Friday evening before squeezing out a 5-4 victory in the winner's bracket final."I've always been told you have to have a little luck to win it," said Johnson. "We were a little lucky."Later Friday, fifth-seeded Poplar Bluff eliminated fourth-seeded Cape Girardeau Ford & Sons by an identical 5-4 score.

So now the original seven-team tournament field is down to just three squads and the event could end tonight.

Dunklin County, the only undefeated team remaining in the tourney, has earned a berth in tonight's 7 o'clock championship game.

Chaffee and Poplar Bluff, each with one tournament loss, will square off at 1 p.m. today for the right to meet Dunklin County tonight. If Dunklin County loses tonight's game, then one more title contest will be played at 1 p.m. Sunday. If Dunklin County wins tonight, then it will capture the district championship."We have plenty of pitching," said Johnson, looking ahead to tonight's action. "We have seven more guys who can throw. But we'll end up having to face a good team."Chaffee (26-14) certainly gave Dunklin County (36-5) all it wanted and then some despite falling behind 5-0 after two innings.

Chaffee, trailing 5-4, had the bases loaded with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning. Tony Kelsey, Dunklin County's third pitcher of the game, was brought in to face Brad Kolwyck.

Kolwyck drilled a one-hop smash right at third baseman John Payne, who fired to the plate for a force out and catcher Brandon Irons then relayed to first base to complete the double play and end the contest."That was a great play to end the game, but Chaffee played us hard all day, like I knew they would," Johnson said. "The game could have gone either way."Chaffee manager Jeff Graviett couldn't have agreed more."It was a great game. Kolwyck hit a shot and if it's a couple of feet over, we win," he said. "But I'm proud of the guys. They really battled back."Chaffee starter Dustin Dannenmueller gave up three runs in the first -- two on a home run by Payne -- and two in the second.

Dannenmueller then hurled two scoreless frames, followed by a brilliant relief performance by Tommy Stidham, who pitched five scoreless innings."Stidham has been great all season," Graviett said.

Jason Glastetter's two-run homer was part of a three-run third that helped bring Chaffee back. Chaffee added another run in the sixth but could not push across the tying tally despite having plenty of chances.

Dunklin County starter Landon Kersey got the win, allowing all four runs in six innings. Chris McClain pitched 2 1/3 solid innings before running into trouble in the ninth and giving way to Kelsey, who earned a well-deserved save.

Both teams ended with 11 hits. Payne and Brandon Irons each had three for Dunklin County while Stidham had three for Chaffee and Glastetter and Dusty Leggett added two each.

Chaffee, not deep in pitching to begin with, now faces the daunting task of having to win three straight games to claim the district title."We're in a tough situation," said Graviett. "We'll have to get some guys to step up on the mound and we'll have to hit the ball."Cape (23-22) couldn't hit the ball well enough -- nor play solid enough defense -- in its elimination game against Poplar Bluff (16-17).Poplar Bluff pitched Randy Welsh went all nine innings, allowing only three hits -- all coming during a four-run Cape sixth that put Ford & Sons ahead 4-2.

Cape literally gift-wrapped all five runs for Poplar Bluff. Two errors led to two unearned runs in the fourth and two more errors led to two unearned runs in the seventh.

Then in the top of the ninth, with the score tied 4-4, Poplar Bluff scored the eventual winning run on a wild pitch. With the bases loaded and two outs, Mark Acre dashed home when Dustin Glastetter's pitch in the dirt eluded catcher Scott Reinagel.

Cape wasted two strong mound performances. Starter Steve Fowler went 6 1/3 innings, allowing four hits and the four unearned runs. He struck out 11 and walked just one.

Glastetter gave up only one hit in 2 2/3 innings. He fanned three and walked two, but two hit batsman in the ninth hurt.

Welsh was brilliant as he fanned four, walked two and got into trouble only in the sixth.

George Allen had two hits for Poplar Bluff.