Sunday's area digest

Delta High freshman wins state's top rookie award

Brent Menz, a freshman the past season at Delta High School, won the top rookie award for the Missouri High School Rodeo Association. He finished the season by placing 10th in calf roping, 10th in team roping and fourth in bullriding at the state finals at Flickerwood Arena near Jackson.

Menz was awarded a silver buckle by award sponsor Grist Silversmiths.

Menz also is among Missouri qualifiers for the national finals that begin Monday in Farmington, N.M.

Cape Yankees lose, play today in state tournament

BOONVILLE, Mo. -- Mineral Area belted four home runs, giving it seven homers in two games, during a 17-8 victory over the Cape Girardeau Yankees Saturday in the second round of the Senior Babe Ruth State Tournament.

The Yankees (24-7), who won their tournament opener on Friday, will play either Jefferson City or Marshall at 12:30 p.m. today in an elimination contest.

Cape had 11 hits, led by Adam Ralls with two doubles and three runs batted in. Andy Ralls and Arthur Pilsner both added two hits while Matt Smith homered.

Jared Jinkerson took the loss, giving up five hits and eight earned runs in four-plus innings. Mineral Area had 14 hits.

Cape A's split two games in state tournament

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- The Cape Girardeau Athletics bounced back from a first-round loss on Friday to prevail Saturday in the Senior Babe Ruth Tournament for 16-year-old teams.

Cape (14-21) fell to Mineral Area 9-7 in the first round as the A's had just two hits. Buddy Conrad took the loss, allowing seven hits and four earned runs in four innings.

The A's then stayed alive by beating Dexter 10-2 as Chance Franklin, Scott Brueckner and Tony Leuckel all had two of their 11 hits. Ben Johnson was the winner.

Cape will play another elimination game at 3:30 p.m. today.

-- From staff reports