SEMO BANK JR. LEGION OPENS TODAY

Chris Stanfield will field an inexperienced yet promising team during his first season as manager of Cape Girardeau's SEMO Bank Junior American Legion baseball team.

Stanfield, a coach for the squad the past three seasons, takes over as manager for Bob Coons, who is moving out of the area to take a high school coaching position near Springfield.

"I have some big shoes to fill but I'm excited," said Stanfield, whose team will open the season today with a 1 p.m. doubleheader against Kirkwood at Central High.

SEMO Bank, consisting mainly of players ages 15 and 16, went 48-14 last year and finished third in the state. The team won the state title two years ago.

"We've only got one player back from last year, so we'll be a different type of team," said Stanfield. "We're not as talent laden as the last two years, so we'll have our work cut out for us, but I think this group will respond."

Nine players from Notre Dame, seven from Cape Central and one from Advance make up the 17-player roster.

Notre Dame products on the team are Scott Reinagel, Tom Wencewicz, Mark Fisher, Andrew Mueller, Griffan Reutzel, Ryan Fenwick, Matt Bollinger, Nathan Essner and Mark Ostendorf.

From Cape Central are Mike Sullivan (SEMO Bank's lone returning player), Justin Cook, Steve Sachse, Richard Harrison, Rick Davis, Dustin Sitzes and Ty Fidler while D.A. Slinkard joins the squad from Advance.

Coaches assisting Stanfield will be Scott Ringwald, Billy Huston, Jerry Tabler and Jud Slinkard.

"We're looking forward to the season," Stanfield said. "SEMO Bank is a great sponsor. They really help us out and we appreciate it."