Post position American Legion teams get ready to break from the

P Jackson opens its season today against Imperial.

By Marty Mishow ~ Southeast Missourian

Tom Reinagel doesn't want to get too carried away, but the Cape Girardeau Ford & Sons American Legion baseball coach believes his third season with the team has the makings of a big one.

Jackson and Chaffee also have high hopes as the local Senior Legion season approaches.

The three teams compete in District 14, whose tournament was won by Dunklin County last season for the fifth time in six years. Dunklin County went on to finish second in the state, but many of the squad's top players have completed their Legion eligibility.

Rounding out the six-team district are Sikeston and Poplar Bluff, which is again fielding a team after a one-year absence. Charleston and Stoddard County, both hurt by low numbers last year, will not field squads this season.

Jackson hosts Imperial today to start the season. Cape begins its schedule Monday night at home against Dunklin County, and Chaffee opens June 9 at home against Sikeston.

For the second straight year, district dates will feature one nine-inning game.

A look at the three area teams:

Cape Girardeau

Ford & Sons has compiled two winning records under Reinagel, going 21-18 last year -- including 9-3 in district play to tie for second place in the regular season -- and 27-22 in 2001.

But Reinagel, whose squad had a disappointing district tournament last season when it lost two of three games, is shooting for at least 30 wins this year along with contention for the district title.

"We've been above .500 the last two years, but I think this could be the best team we've had in several years," Reinagel said. "Our goal is 30 wins, and with Dunklin County losing so much, the district looks wide open. I told the kids that we've got a golden opportunity."

Cape's 18-man roster features 12 returning players, many of whom were among its top performers last year.

Returning players are Chris Conrad, Aaron Dohogne, Josh Ford, Seth Hudson, Dustin McKinnis, John Thies and Jake Welch from Central High School; Kyle Diveley, Wayne Essner, Dustin Tatum and Matt Wulfers from Notre Dame; and Kelly's Tyler Schlosser, who recently completed his freshman season playing for Lindenwood University.

Newcomers are Sean Bard and Patrick Slattery from Central; Lee Essner and Blake Urhahn from Notre Dame; Scott City's Luke McClellan; and Michael Taylor from Shawnee (Ill.) High School.

"A lot of the returning guys had good seasons for us last year, and I think the newcomers will help us out," Reinagel said.

Thies will head up the pitching staff for the second straight year. Wayne Essner and Wulfers are returning hurlers, while Lee Essner, Urhahn and others should also contribute on the mound.

"Pitching is always a key with as many games as we play in a short period of time," Reinagel said. "Last year, after Thies, we really dropped off, but I think we should have a lot more quality pitchers this year."

Veteran coach Bill Bohnert returns to assist Reinagel, along with Jeff Graviett and Michael Minner.

Jackson

Jackson, under first-year coach Mark Lewis last season, posted its first winning record since the Legion program was started up again. The squad went 21-18, including 6-6 in district play.

A highlight was a third-place finish in the district tournament.

"I thought we made a lot of progress last year," said Lewis, a former Southeast Missouri State University assistant coach. "We definitely finished strong, and to finish third in the district tournament was really good."

Headlining the team are 11 players from Jackson High School: Jake Carter, Brandon Gendron, Austin McDowell, Jason Meystedt, Jason Owen, Josh Parham, Tyler Profilet, Josh Snell, Brandon Stearns, Tim Stearns and Trevor Thompson.

Other players are Notre Dame's Tony Longman and Keith Seyer; Central's Tyler Blackwell; Scott City's Tyler Ward; Woodland's Kyle Long; Zalma's Curt Wiseman; and Kyle McMinn, who has been home-schooled.

Lewis believes he has plenty of pitching depth, led by Parham, McDowell, Meystedt, Long and others.

Carter, McDowell, Owen, Parham, Seyer, Snell, Tim Stearns, Thompson and Ward are returning players.

"I like the mixture we have, with about half kids coming back and half new kids," Lewis said. "I think Dunklin County, Cape, Chaffee and Sikeston will all be good, and Poplar Bluff should be solid, but I think we'll be right there."

Lewis will again be assisted by his brother, Jamie Lewis, and former Southeast player Kenny Gaebler.

Chaffee

After going 92-20 during a remarkable two-year run, Chaffee came back down to earth last year as a young team went 12-19, including 4-8 in the district.

But second-year coach Mitch Wood, whose squad suffered numerous close losses last season, is optimistic as 12 of his 15 players are returnees.

"We were young last year and competed pretty well, but we lost a lot of close ballgames," said Wood, who also coaches Oran High School's standout team. "I think all of our guys have improved, and there's no doubt we'll be a lot better. I think we have as good a shot in the district as anybody."

Chaffee returns six players who are key members of this year's top-ranked Class 1 Oran High School squad: Joey Bickings, Tyler Cookson, Trey Graviett, Tyler Nelson, Nathan Seyer and Ryne Wood.

Kelly High School will provide five players, including returnees Major Burger, Kendall Deason and Kent Deason, along with newcomers Trey Simmons and Jordan Proctor.

Chaffee High School products Zac Horman and Jason Umfleet return to the squad, along with Advance's Eric O'Hare. Rounding out the team is newcomer Rocky Kingree from Clearwater.

What appears to be a solid pitching staff is led by Graviett, Wood, Horman, O'Hare, Simmons, Umfleet and others.

Wood once again will be assisted by Larry Boshell, who is also Wood's assistant at Oran High School.

mmishow@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 132