FORD & SONS LEGION ROLLS PAST PADUCAH

PADUCAH, Ky. -- Cape Girardeau's Ford & Sons American Legion baseball pushed its season-opening winning streak to five here Tuesday night by hammering out a 16-7 decision over perennial Legion power Paducah.

Ford & Sons improved to 5-0 as the contest was stopped after seven innings because of an eight-run rule used by Kentucky American Legion programs.

"This is a good win for us," said Don Hopper, one of Cape's coaches. "Paducah always has a strong team. They're a little young this year but they've still got good players."

Jeff Lappe was the winning pitcher. Working all seven innings, he allowed five earned runs, 11 hits and two walks while striking out six.

"Jeff did a real nice job," said Hopper. "He threw well."

Ford & Sons banged out 15 hits. Lance Craft had a single, double and triple, Jeremy Johnson had three hits and drove in four runs and Robert Kern singled, doubled and tripled.

Ben Arbeiter and Kerry Davis both added two hits and two RBIs while Jason Bowers and Scot Wanamaker contributed one hit apiece.

Cape led 3-0 before Paducah scored four runs in the bottom of the second. But Ford & Sons tied it in the third, then went ahead for good with four in the fourth that made it 8-4. A six-run sixth broke the contest open.

Ford & Sons will return to action this weekend in the annual Blytheville (Ark.) Tournament that will take place Friday, Saturday and Saturday.