FORD & SONS ROLLS OVER STODDARD CO. IN DOUBLEHEADER

As a first-year American Legion baseball program, the Stoddard County Wolves are finding it difficult to match up with the other teams in District 14.

And the Wolves' struggles continued Wednesday night at the hands of Cape Girardeau Ford & Sons, which romped to a doubleheader sweep at Capaha Field 16-2 and 9-1.

Cape improved to 4-2 overall and 3-1 in District 14 play while Stoddard County has identical overall and district records of 0-8.

"It's always tough when you start a program," said Cape manager Ron Michel, being as diplomatic as possible. "They're struggling some right now."

Ford & Sons had 11 hits in each game while holding Stoddard County to nine total hits. Cape also had the night's only two home runs at spacious Capaha Field, solo blasts to left field in the nightcap by Mark Fisher and Dusty Barrows.

"I don't know how much good these two games did us, but it's always nice to win," said Fisher.

In the opener, Cape not only had 11 hits but also received 10 walks and took advantage of four errors. Ford & Sons scored seven runs in the third inning and nine more in the fourth.

Barrows led the first-game assault with three hits while T.J. Erlacker, Daniel Turner and Jay Pierce each added two hits. Pierce drove in four runs, Turner had three RBIs and Barrows, Fisher and John Snider all contributed two RBIs.

Justin Cook was the beneficiary of all that support as he pitched a three-hitter, with seven strikeouts and no walks. Only one of the runs he allowed was earned.

Aaron Pfeffer, the first of four Stoddard County hurlers, took the loss. He allowed seven runs (five earned) in 2 1/3 innings.

The second game featured a six-run Cape fourth inning that broke things open.

Snider led the way this time with three hits while Fisher, Barrows and Rob Carr all had two. Carr and Zac Fidler each had two RBIs.

Pierce notched the win in the nightcap, hurling four scoreless innings. He gave up four hits while fanning three and walking one.

Turner pitched the final three innings, allowing two hits and Stoddard County's lone run while fanning three and walking one.

Jason Rampley, a Bell City product, had two of Stoddard County's second-game hits, a double and a triple, and he drove in the Wolves' run. Eric Powell also had two hits in the nightcap, both doubles.

Rampley was the losing hurler, allowing all nine runs in five innings.

Cape will return to action when its hosts the third annual Capaha Classic Tournament Friday through Sunday.