GREEN FLAG WAVES FOR LEGION: DISTRICT 14 TOURNAMENT BEGINS TODAY

(in Sikeston)

Today's Schedule

10 a.m. (Game 1): Sikeston vs. Van Buren

1 p.m. (Game 2): Chaffee vs. Poplar Bluff

5:30 p.m. (Game 3): Dunklin Co. vs. Jackson

8:30 p.m. (Game 4): Cape Ford & Sons vs. Game 1 winner

Thursday's Schedule

10 a.m. (Game 6): Game 2 loser vs. Game 3 loser

1 p.m. (Game 5): Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner

5:30 p.m. (Game 8): Game 4 loser vs. Game 6 winner

8:30 p.m. (Game 7) Game 1 loser vs. Game 5 loser

Friday's Schedule

1 p.m. (Game 9): Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner

5:30 p.m. (Game 10): Game 8 winner vs. Game 7 winner

8:30 p.m. (Game 11): Game 9 loser vs. Game 10 winner

Saturday's Schedule

(Championship)

1 p.m. (Game 12): Game 9 winner vs. Game 11 winner (second game to follow if no team is undefeated)

Cape Girardeau Ford & Sons manager Ron Michel and Chaffee manager Bruce Qualls each likes his team's chances of winning the American Legion District 14 Tournament that begins today in Sikeston.

"I'm really excited about the way things are going for us heading into the tournament," said Michel. "Things are looking good for us. We're playing our best ball of the season."

Said Qualls, "I feel good about our chances. We've competed well all year against the district teams and I feel like we've got enough pitching to get us through."

Both top-seeded Cape and third-seeded Chaffee rank among the favorites in the seven-team tourney that will conclude Saturday with the championship game.

Dunklin County (Senath) is seeded second for the double-elimination district tournament, with Sikeston fourth, Van Buren fifth, defending champion Poplar Bluff sixth and Jackson seventh.

Three first-round games today will kick off the tournament: Sikeston vs. Van Buren at 10 a.m., Chaffee vs. Poplar Bluff at 1 p.m. and Dunklin County vs. Jackson at 5:30 p.m.

As the top seed, Cape earns a first-round bye and advances into tonight's 8:30 winner's bracket semifinal game against the winner of Sikeston vs. Van Buren.

There will be four more games Thursday, elimination contests at 10 a.m., 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., and a winner's bracket semifinal at 1 p.m.

The winner's bracket final is set for 1 p.m. Friday, with elimination games at 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. The championship will be at 1 p.m. Saturday.

"It should be a good tournament," said Qualls. "I feel like all of the top four teams have a chance. It's whoever gets hot at the right time."

It would certainly be a major surprise if the champion wound up to be any of the bottom three seeds because the top four seeds all had a decided edge during the district season.

Cape (36-12 overall) finished strong with a 20-4 district record to overhaul Dunklin County for the regular-season title.

Dunklin County went 18-6 (28-10 overall), with Chaffee 17-7 (25-14 overall) and Sikeston 14-10 (30-15 overall). Van Buren proved to be dangerous during the regular season while Poplar Bluff and Jackson both struggled.

Jackson, a first-year team, went 1-23 in district (2-28 overall), although the squad lost numerous one-run games.

Cape has been led offensively by Ross Bennett, who is batting better than .400, and Andy Sweet, who is close to .400. A host of other players have also picked up their hitting in recent weeks.

"Our hitting, which we kind of struggled with at one time, has come on lately," said Michel.

Pitching has been a strength for Cape. Ford & Sons features a deep staff with the likes of Lanson DeBrock, Jeff Lappe, Nathan McGuire, Craig Ringwald, Todd Pennington and others.

Michel said that DeBrock will start tonight's opener, with Lappe a likely second starter and McGuire to follow.

"We're definitely the favorite, but Dunklin County, Chaffee and Sikeston can all be tough," Michel said. "I really think Chaffee will be one of the teams to beat. They've got a lot of pitching and they're solid overall."

Chaffee has been led offensively by Denver Stuckey, Kenny Gaebler and John Livingston, with Justin Vetter, Jason Landis, Stuckey and Matt Schonhoff leading the way in the pitching department.

Qualls plans to start Stuckey against Poplar Bluff today and then come back with Vetter on Thursday.

"It's always big to win that first one," Qualls said. "You get into the loser's bracket and you're in trouble."

Jackson plans to start Chris Leimer on the mound against Dunklin County today.

"We didn't win many games this year, but 14 of our losses were by one run," said Jackson coach Tom Campbell.