FESTUS FEASTS ON CAPE PITCHING, HOLDS ON FOR WIN

Longtime American Legion baseball rivals Cape Girardeau Ford & Sons and Festus have had some tremendous battles over the years.

Wednesday night was not one of them.

Visiting Festus scored 13 of the game's first 15 runs and cruised to a 13-7 victory at Capaha Field.

Festus was playing its season opener because of several rainouts while Cape fell to 1-4.

"I could play Cape about every week," said Festus manager Pat Bone. "They've always been a class program and we've had some great games with them over the years."

Even though Ford & Sons trailed 13-2 after the top of the fifth inning, manager Tom Reinagel was pleased that his squad at least battled back to make things semi-interesting.

"Festus came out and hit the ball. We gave them walks and let them take the game early," Reinagel said. "But we came back strong and I was proud of that."

The visitors did their offensive damage despite having just eight hits, the same as the host squad.

Josh Thomas tripled twice and had three hits to go along with three runs batted in for Festus. Sam Hahn belted a three-run home run.

Timmy Wencewicz homered, had two hits and drove in three runs for Cape while Shane Kistner and Tyler Schlosser each added two hits.

Left-hander Nathan Picarella pitched the first five innings for the victory. He allowed five hits and three runs, with eight strikeouts and one walk.

Dave Welshon hurled the final four frames and fanned nine to give the Festus pitching staff 17 strikeouts for the game. Welshon, who walked three, allowed four runs (two earned) and three hits.

"I thought Picarella threw an awfully good game and our second guy threw well," Bone said.

Cape used four hurlers. Wencewicz, the starter, took the loss. In 2 2/3 innings, he allowed five runs (four earned) on just two hits, but four walks hurt.

John Snider was touched for eight runs (seven earned) and five hits in 2 1/3 innings.

Schlosser was Cape's most impressive pitcher, hurling three hitless and scoreless innings. Richard Harrison worked a scoreless ninth.

Festus, which never trailed, scored three times in the second inning. Hahn's three-run homer in the third made it 6-0 and the visitors were off and running.

Ford & Sons will visit Jackson today for a 6 p.m. District 14 doubleheader.