Perryville doubles last year's victory total with triumph

The Cape Girardeau Ford & Sons American Legion baseball team let a win slip through its grasp Wednesday, much like the ball slipped through its defense.

Perryville took advantage of four Ford & Sons errors to win 9-8 in the first game of a doubleheader at Capaha Park. But Cape bounced back to roll 9-2 in the nightcap.

In the opener, Ford & Sons (3-6) rallied from a 7-1 deficit to take an 8-7 lead after six innings. But an error by shortstop Kendal Deason, his second of the game, allowed Perryville's Alex Armbruster to reach base to begin the seventh.

Mark Johnston, Cape's starting pitcher, retired two of the next three Perryville hitters, but consecutive singles by Cory Buerck and Garrett Winkler gave Perryville (2-3) the 9-8 lead.

Ford & Sons coach Michael Minner said Johnston was still throwing strong in the seventh and stayed with him despite having Michael Taylor warm in the bullpen.

"Mark threw the ball really well," Minner said. "He deserved a better fate than what he got."

The game-winning hit by Winkler was his first hit of the season. Perryville coach Don O'Keith said Winkler chose a good time for his first hit.

"He was getting so frustrated," O'Keith said. "But to be a good team you have to get production from one through nine."

Perryville took an early 4-0 lead, also with the help of Cape's defense.

After Kyle Palmer and Armbruster reached on infield singles, a ground ball bounced off Deason and into center field. Palmer scored on the error, and Armbruster and Shaun Roth advanced on Blake Urhahn's throw home.

Perryville scored two more when second baseman Lee Essner fielded a ground ball by Brian Buchheit but threw past Johnston, who was covering first on the play.

After Patrick Slattery singled to drive in Urhahn in the bottom of the first, Perryville scored three in the second. The final run scored on a passed ball by Jason Schenimann.

"We didn't play defense early in the game," Minner said. "We lost the game right there in the first two innings."

Ford & Sons battled back and capitalized on two Perryville errors in the fifth to pull within one. Perryville right fielder Trey Palisch allowed a single by Slattery to bounce past him and then dropped a fly ball by Deason.

"It was a sloppy game," O'Keith said. "We have a lead, and just make some bad plays to let them back in."

After Urhahn tripled to lead off the sixth, Essner gave Cape its first lead of the game with a two-run home run over the left field fence.

In the nightcap, Cape's defense rebounded with just one error while Deason more than made up for his shaky defense by pitching a complete-game six-hitter, with 10 strikeouts and three walks.

"He threw a great game. He was in command all game," Minner said.

Slattery belted a long home run to left field that was estimated at well over 400 feet. He also doubled and drove in three runs.

Kent Deason added two of Cape's seven hits.

"It was great to bounce back," Minner said. "We're going to hit and pitch, we're just a little shaky defensively right now but I think we'll continue to get better."

jwachter@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127