Sports digest 6/3/02

AREA

Riverdogs swept in pair at Dawson Springs, Ky.

The Cape Girardeau Riverdogs lost a five-inning opener, then rallied in a narrow loss in Game 2 of a sweep Sunday by Dawson Springs, Ky.

Steve Fowler pitched the opener, an 11-1 loss in five innings. Fowler pitched two innings and allowed eight earned runs. Mark Silverthorn had two of the Riverdogs' four hits.

The Riverdogs (2-4) scored five runs in the seventh to tie Game 2, a 10-9 loss. Greg Hellwegg took the loss in three innings with seven runs and seven hits.

Danny Ivie was 3-for-4. Chris Bradshaw, John O'Rourke and Todd Friend were 2-for-4. Friend had a home run.

Jackson Senior Legion falls twice on the road

Jackson's Senior American Legion team lost 14-4 in five innings, then bounced back for a 10-inning game -- an 8-6 loss -- Sunday at Imperial, Mo.

In the opener, Jackson (2-2) was held to one hit. Brennan Gibson took the loss in 2 1/3 innings, allowing six runs and four hits. Only five of 14 runs were earned by Imperial.

In the second game, Imperial hit a two-run home run in the 10th to break a 6-6 game. Josh Vandeven and Josh Parham were 2-for-4; Parham had a three RBI double. Vandeven took the loss in 4 2/3 innings.

Yankees split a pair with Dexter 16-year-olds

The Cape Girardeau Senior Babe Ruth Yankees defeated the Babe Ruth 16-year-olds of Dexter, Mo., 12-2 and 10-6 Sunday.

In the five-inning opener shortened by the 10-run rule, the Yankees (3-1) finished with 16 hits. Arthur Pilsner, Chris Daniels, Chris Honey, Andy Ralls, Jason Gibson and Lance West each had two. Jared Jinkerson pitched the win, walking two and striking out four in five innings.

In Game 2, Pilsner, Ralls, Honey and Kyle Wilson all had three hits as part of the Yankees' 15-hit game. Kyle Duncan got the win in four innings with two hits, a run, five walks and five strikeouts.

The Yankees split their season opener Thursday with the Dexter 18-year-olds, winning 10-9 and losing 8-0.

Cape Girardeau A's sweep East Prairie

The Cape Girardeau Senior Babe Ruth A's won 12-2 and 14-8 and improved to 2-2 after a doubleheader Sunday at East Prairie, Mo.

Tyrone Reese threw a one-hitter in the five-inning opener. Chance Franklin was 2-for-3 with four RBIs and Gabe Edwards hit a home run.

Buddy Conrad took the win in the second game; Stuart Doyle had the save. Michael Taylor was 2-for-3 with three RBIs; Franklin and Andrew Prater were 2-for-5.

Cape Girardeau Junior Legion wins at home

Cape Girardeau's Junior American Legion team won 8-6 and 9-4 at home Sunday against Calvert City, Ky.

Blake Urhahn pitched seven innings in the opener for the win. Clay Sherman and Colin Sherman had three hits and Lee Essner two.

Blake Essner had three hits in the second game. Mitch Craft, Patrick Slattery and Matt Hellrich had two hits apiece. Steve Miinch and Jeremy Brinkmeyer split time pitching for Cape Girardeau (6-5).

Jackson Junior Legion wins, loses vs. Sikeston

Jackson is 3-2 after it won 4-2 and lost 7-5 in a Junior American Legion split Sunday against Sikeston.

Tyler Beussink earned the opening win in five innings; he gave up six hits, two runs, struck out six and walked four. Brandon Stearns got the save. Kyle McMinn was 2-for-3.

Trent Essner was 2-for-4 in the second game, which Jackson led 3-2 before Sikeston rallied. Brandon Gendron took the loss in five innings; he allowed nine hits and five runs, three earned.

ELSEWHERE

Basketball

Cliff Levingston, the former NBA player who now coaches the Dodge City Legend of the United States Basketball League, is taking an indefinite leave of absence after being arrested on a federal warrant alleging failure to pay child support.

Levingston, the Legend's first-year coach, was arrested Wednesday in Dodge City. He made a first appearance Friday in Wichita, where he once starred for Wichita State, helping the Shockers reach the NCAA regional finals in 1981, and was released on $25,000 bond.

Golf

Ken Venturi, retiring after 35 years in the broadcast booth, choked back tears Sunday as he worked his final golf tournament for CBS.

Many players paid some form of tribute to Venturi as they finished their rounds. Chris DiMarco looked to the broadcast tower and clapped as he walked off the 18th green. Justin Leonard doffed his cap. Greg Norman pointed to Venturi and threw his ball toward the booth, despite coming off a three-putt bogey.

Soccer

Chicago Fire midfielder Sergi Daniv will undergo surgery Tuesday to repair a sprained ligament and tendon in his right foot. Daniv, who has one goal in eight matches this season, suffered the injury May 19, during Chicago's victory at New England.

-- From staff, wire reports