PADUCAH PULVERIZES CAPE LEGION 16-2

The Paducah American Legion baseball team has been a powerhouse for about as long as anybody can remember.

Wednesday night, the Kentucky squad flexed its muscles in Cape Girardeau during a 16-2 mauling of Ford & Sons at Capaha Field. The game was stopped after seven innings because of the 10-run mercy rule.

Paducah, getting a late start because many of its players were still competing on the high school level, improved to 2-0. Cape fell to 3-5.

"We're a young team. We've only got four 18-year-olds," said Paducah manager Clarence Adams. "But we hope to have a good season. We have some talented players and hopefully we'll be consistent."

Paducah showed plenty of consistency to Cape manager Ron Michel, who was duly impressed.

"They've always got a strong team and they're solid at every position," said Michel. "They're a very good ballclub."

Particularly impressive was Paducah's pitching, led by hard-throwing right-hander Kyle Perry, the second of three hurlers who worked for the visitors.

Perry allowed just one hit in 2 1/3 innings and he struck out five.

Starter Ross Dougherty allowed one run and five hits in 3 2/3 innings. He fanned three and walked one. Wes Harris finished up, allowing a run and two hits in the seventh and final frame.

"Kyle will be 17 (years old) and he really throws well," said Adams, indicating that Perry has been clocked in the 85 or 86 miles-per-hour range. "But we have three pitchers we consider to be pretty even.

"Our pitchers have thrown a lot in the spring and we just wanted some of them to get a little work tonight."

Paducah touched three Cape hurlers for 14 hits. Eddie Hannon led the way with three hits while Shawn Yarbrough, Curtis Pitt, Aaron Edwards and Brandon Ladd all had two. Pitt drove in four runs while Yarbrough, Edwards and Ladd each added two RBIs.

Mike Sullivan and Scott Reinagel each had two of Cape's eight hits. Sullivan and Reinagel drove in the runs.

Mark Ostendorf took the loss. He allowed nine runs and seven hits in 3 2/3 innings.

Daniel Turner gave up three runs and three hits in 2 2/3 innings. Tommy Wencewicz allowed four runs and four hits in 2/3 of an inning.

Once the game got out of hand, Michel did not want to use any of his main pitchers as he was looking ahead to tonight's key District 14 doubleheader at Sikeston. The first pitch is set for 6 p.m.

"We'll throw two of our horses (tonight)," said Michel, referring to Oran High product Dustin Glastetter and Advance's Garrett Broshuis.

Sikeston swept a doubleheader in Cape last week and Ford & Sons will be looking for some revenge in tonight's twin bill.