JACKSON PULLS 2ND UPSET; CHAFFEE SHOCKED IN 13-10 LOSS

If you're looking for a baseball team of destiny, how about Jackson's American Legion squad?

Jackson still has plenty of work to do this week during the District 14 Tournament being played at Capaha Field.

But if the first two rounds are any indication, then Jackson could indeed be a destined squad.

Following up on the heels of Monday's stunning run-rule romp past host Cape Girardeau Ford & Sons, Jackson continued it's upset ways Tuesday night by rallying past Chaffee 13-10 in a thrilling winner's bracket semifinal contest.

Jackson, the seventh and last seed in the tournament, entered the tourney having lost all 12 district games during the regular season.

But now Jackson finds itself in Thursday's 8 p.m. winner's bracket final against top-seeded Dunklin County.

"We came into the tournament figuring we had nothing to lose," said Robert White, one of Jackson's coaches. "We lost so many close games during the season, but we came in (to the tourney) with a positive attitude."

Dunklin County, playing its tournament opener after receiving a first-round bye, knocked off fourth-seeded Sikeston 12-5 in Tuesday's first winner's bracket semifinal.

Today's action will feature a pair of elimination contests. Second-seeded Cape plays sixth-seeded Van Buren at 5 p.m. and third-seeded Chaffee faces fifth-seeded Poplar Bluff at 8.

Jackson improved to 18-20 overall while dropping Chaffee to 29-16.

Chaffee had been on a serious roll, winning 19 of its previous 22 games. And the team appeared headed for another victory when it led 8-5 entering the bottom of the seventh inning.

But Jackson exploded with eight runs in the seventh, getting five hits and taking advantage of a crucial error that led to five unearned runs.

The eruption made a winner out of pitcher Chris Schlick, who survived despite allowing 16 hits and all 10 runs over eight innings.

Mike McCall, who had pitched Monday's 11-0 shutout over Cape, came on in the ninth and closed out the victory. He allowed a hit but struck out two.

After Jason Glastetter allowed six hits and five runs in 5 1/3 innings, Denver Stuckey took the loss in relief.

After fanning two to end a threat in the sixth, Stuckey allowed the bulk of the damage in Jackson's big seventh. Tommy Stidham also hurled in that frame.

Paul Long, Jackson's ninth-place batter, had a two-run homer and a two-run double to lead the Indians' offense.

Todd Wessel had three of Jackson's 11 hits and he also drove in two runs. Justin Gladish added two hits while Toby Freeman had two RBIs.

Chaffee's 17-hit attack was paced by Stidham, Stuckey, John Wipfler and Brandon Amick as they all had three hits. Amick had three RBIs while Keith Anderson had two hits and two RBIs.

In Tuesday's first contest, Dunklin County improved to 31-10 while Sikeston fell to 20-10.

Keith Robertson was the star of the game for Dunklin County. He was the winning pitcher, allowing eight hits and five runs in eight innings, and he also had the game-winning hit, a two-run homer in the seventh that snapped a 5-5 tie.

Dunklin County added five more runs the rest of the way to break the game open.

Chris McClain had four of the Redbirds' 14 hits while Jarred Cude and Jason Decker also homered. Robertson and Cude both had three RBIs.

Mark Silverthorn homered for Sikeston while Deric Montgomery, Clay Hooper and Josh West each had two of the team's eight hits.

Adam Taylor took the loss, allowing nine hits and seven runs in 6 2/3 innings.

American Legion Baseball

District 14 Tournament

(at Capaha Field)

Monday's Results

Game 1: Sikeston 8, Poplar Bluff 4

Game 2: Jackson 11, Cape 0 (7 inn.)

Game 3: Chaffee 11, Van Buren 5

Tuesday's Results

Game 4: Dunklin Co. 12, Sikeston 5

Game 5: Jackson 13, Chaffee 10

Today's Schedule

Game 6: 5 p.m. - Cape vs. Van Buren

Game 7: 8 p.m. - Poplar Bluff vs. Jackson

Thursday's Schedule

Game 8: 5 p.m. - Sikeston vs. Game 6 winner

Game 9: 8 p.m. - Dunklin County vs. Jackson