PB, MCALISTER DOWN TOP-SEEDED CHAFFEE 5-1

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- The Chaffee Medicap Pharmacy American Legion baseball team's hopes of a first-ever District 14 Tournament title took a severe blow Tuesday night.

Fifth-seeded Poplar Bluff rode the brilliant pitching of ace Jamie McAlister to a 5-1 win over top-seeded Chaffee during a winner's bracket semifinal at Hillhouse Park.

Chaffee, which was playing its first tourney game after receiving an opening-round bye, is still alive in the double-elimination event, but now the team will have to battle through the loser's bracket.

"It's going to be tough, but we have the pitching and hitting to get out of it," said Chaffee manager Jeff Graviett. "But it will be up to the kids." Chaffee (31-6) will play either sixth-seeded Charleston or seventh-seeded Stoddard County at 8 p.m. Thursday.

Poplar Bluff (19-15) moves into Friday's 5 p.m. winner's bracket final against either second-seeded Dunklin County or third-seeded Sikeston.

"I expected us to be here," said Poplar Bluff manager John Moon. "I have tons of confidence in my players. I think we've been underrated."

Tuesday's other game, the final opening-round contest, saw three-time defending champion Dunklin County rout Stoddard County 14-0 in a seven-inning, run-rule affair.

Today's action will feature Dunklin County (37-6) against Sikeston (25-16) in a winner's bracket semifinal at 5 p.m. and Charleston against Stoddard County in an elimination game at 8.

McAlister was only pitching Tuesday because he took a wrong turn on the highway and showed up late for Monday's first-round game against fourth-seeded Cape Girardeau Ford & Sons. He had been scheduled to hurl that contest.

Poplar Bluff instead rode the exceptional pitching of No. 4 starter Tom Schultz to a 4-0 win over Cape, setting the squad up nicely for Tuesday's game.

McAlister took care of the rest as the hard-throwing right-hander pitched all nine innings, allowing just five hits while striking out 13 and walking three.

"Jamie did a great job," said Moon of the senior-to-be at Clearwater High School. "He challenged the hitters and had great velocity. I tip my hat to him." Chaffee starter Matt Stroup pitched much better than his final numbers indicate. Stroup gave up six hits and five runs (four earned), but several misplayed balls in the outfield that went for hits contributed to most of Poplar Bluff's runs.

Stroup struck out 11 and walked three in six innings of work. Justin Simpher hurled shutout ball over the final three innings, allowing one hit while fanning three and walking two.

"Matt pitched a fine game but we didn't give him any support," Graviett said. "Justin also pitched well."

Of having to unexpectedly face McAlister, Graviett said, "We've got to beat everybody's best, but when you make some mistakes, you're not going to."

Poplar Bluff scored a run in the top of the first inning. Chris Doran singled with one out, stole second and scored when Justin Hill's routine pop fly to short right dropped for a single even though two Chaffee players were close by.

Chaffee also got a gift to tie it in the third. With two outs, Brad Kolwyck's routine fly ball to right was misjudged into a triple, then McAlister balked Kolwyck home.

Poplar Bluff went ahead for good in the fourth. Hill walked, stole second and scored on Kurt Humphrey's triple that should have been a single but was misplayed.

Bluff added three insurance runs in the sixth, two scoring on a double by Cameron Carter that should have been caught but was misplayed.

Blake Blue had two of Poplar Bluff's seven hits while Kolwyck and Stroup both had two of Chaffee's five hits.