JACKSON JR. LEGION CLAIMS DISTRICT CROWN

KENNETT, Mo. -- It has been quite a reversal of fortunes for the Jackson Junior American Legion baseball team.

Last season, Jackson went 2-18 in District 14 play. But Monday night, the squad captured the District 14 Tournament championship by rallying to beat Cape Girardeau Wood & Huston Bank 7-6.

Jackson, which went 4-0 in the tourney hosted by Dunklin County, will take a 20-16 overall record into the Zone 4 Tournament that will be hosted by Jackson beginning Thursday.

"This is a big win for the boys and there was a big celebration," said Jackson coach Gerald Adams. "This is our first district title (in six years of having a Junior Legion program) and, after going 2-18 in district last year, we've really turned it around."

Jackson trailed 6-5 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning Monday as Cape, which had battled its way through the loser's bracket, appeared poised to force one final game to decide the title.

But Jackson's two-run rally in the seventh foiled those plans. Dusty Roberts led off with a double, Pat Kohm walked and, with one out, Josh Parham delivered an RBI single to tie the contest. After Matt Gordon walked, Kyle Dively's RBI single ended it.

Roberts was the winning pitcher with 5 1/3 innings of sparkling relief. He allowed six hits and one earned run.

"Dusty did a great job," Adams said.

Jackson had 13 hits, two each by Parham, Dively and Brad Berry.

Cape, which ended with a 24-28 record, had nine hits, two each by Adam Ralls, Tim Wencewicz and John Thies.

Jackson Sr. Babe Ruth

JACKSON -- Philip Seyer hit two home runs and had five RBIs as Jackson Senior Babe Ruth won the nightcap of a doubleheader to split with New Madrid.

New Madrid handed Jackson (24-2 overall, 20-1 league) its first league loss in the opener 9-2, but Jackson came back with a 7-2 victory.

Ryan Bandermann and Jeremy Lynn both added a pair of hits in the nightcap. G.P. Glueck struck out 10, walked three and allowed five hits to collect the win.

Seyer suffered the losss in the opener. Glueck had two of Jackson's four hits.

Cape Yankees sweep

SIKESTON, Mo. -- The Cape Sr. Babe Ruth Yankees swept a doubleheader from host Sikeston Monday, prevailing 18-8 and 4-1.

Matt Wilson was the winning pitcher in the opener. Ricky Renfroe, Jason Brown, Travis Wissman and Matt Pobst all had two hits.

Ryan Livingston hurled a one-hitter in the nightcap, with seven strikeouts. Renfroe and Jeremy Greenley each had two hits.

Cape is 16-8 overall and 14-5 in the Dexter Sr. Babe Ruth League.