WHITE SOX, NEW MADRID TO DECIDE FIRECRACKER CLASSIC

The Cape Commerce White Sox and New Madrid set up a showdown in today's championship game of the Firecracker Classic Senior Babe Ruth tournament with victories on Saturday.

The host White Sox improved to 2-0 in the tournament with a 5-2 win over Sikeston (1-2).

New Madrid advanced to today's round-robin showdown with Cape Commerce with a pair of victories. New Madrid defeated Portageville 17-7 before edging Caruthersville 6-5 in 10 innings.

New Madrid (3-0) will meet Cape Commerce at 2 p.m. today at Cape Central High School. The White Sox, 16-10 overall, will complete tournament play with a 4 p.m. game against Portageville (1-2). In today's other scheduled contest, Sikeston will meet Caruthersville (0-3) at noon.

Ryan LeGrand starred for the White Sox, pitching a complete game on the mound and belting a three-run homer. LeGrand's home run in the top of the fourth broke a scoreless deadlock. It was one of five hits by Cape Commerce.

LeGrand allowed three hits, struck out seven and walked 10.

Chaffee Junior Legion

Chaffee Junior Legion advanced to today's championship game of the Paducah Stars 'n' Stripes Classic with a 7-0 victory over Madisonville, Ky., on Saturday.

Chaffee, which improved to 3-0 in the tournament and 32-1 overall, will face Evansville, Ind., for the championship at 4 p.m.

Josh Eftink limited Madisonville to two hits, striking out four and walking three.

Dusty Leggett paced Chaffee's eight-hit attack with three hits while Jason Glastetter had two.