THE LATEST LINE: DOC DOSEN'T GO OUT WITH A BANG, BUT IT WAS SOME RIDE

It wasn't exactly a storybook ending, but all things considered, John "Doc" Yallaly can't complain.

Sure, Yallaly would rather not have seen his final game after 40 years as manager of Cape Girardeau's American Legion baseball program feature an eight-error, 10-unearned run performance.

Pemiscot County used all those gifts Friday night to eliminate Cape Ford & Sons from the District 14 Tournament with a 12-9 victory in Chaffee. Cape thus finished its final season under Yallaly with a third-place district tourney finish, quite a disappointment for a squad that has dominated the district in recent years.

"This was some way to go out," said Yallaly, who took it all in stride, as is his personality. "We stunk up the place. We were terrible."

Still, a 33-17 final record for a team not very highly regarded when the season started wasn't too shabby. It is just part of the mountain of memories that Yallaly will take from his 40 years of helping mold young men -- both on the field and off.

"It's been a great 40 years," said Yallaly. "I hope I've been able to help a lot of boys over that time. I know I've enjoyed it all."

And even though Yallaly is through as manager of the team, he'll still be a familiar face around the program when coach Ron Michel takes over next year.

"I'll still help out with scheduling and other things and I'll be there all the time," he said, then added with a laugh, "I just won't be in that hot dugout. I'll leave that to the younger men."

* The roller-coaster-type baseball season for Charleston High graduate Matt Whiteside recently continued when Whiteside was optioned by the Texas Rangers to their Triple A affiliate in Oklahoma City.

Whiteside, a relief pitcher, was sent down to Oklahoma City early this year before being called back up a few weeks ago. Now he's back down in the minors but could get another shot with the Rangers later in the season.

* Expect some type of an announcement this week updating the status of the David Grossman situation at Southeast Missouri State University.

Grossman, SEMO's head athletic trainer, was recently suspended by the university for using DMSO, a solvent or gel that is not approved by the FDA.

* Word has it that Jeramy Biles, a 1996 Charleston High graduate and all-state basketball player who was coveted by SEMO but signed with St. Louis University, will instead attend John A. Logan Junior College in Carterville, Ill.

* SEMO football will have something of a St. Louis Cardinals baseball connection this fall.

Damon Hendrick, a junior-college transfer, is the son of former major-league star and current Cardinals hitting coach George Hendrick.

* There is still time to enter the 3-on-3 street basketball tournament that will be held Saturday at Arena Park.

The tournament is a fundraiser for rebuilding Second Baptist Church. All proceeds will go directly to the Second Baptist Church Building Fund.

For information, call 334-6642.

~Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian