CAPAHAS WIN TWO AT INDIANA TOURNEY

EVANSVILLE, Ind. -- The McDowell Capahas bounced back from an opening loss to win two games Saturday in a 10-team tournament hosted by a team from Evansville, Ind.

After falling to Cincinnati 7-3 Friday night, the Capahas defeated Warrick Co., Ind., 10-0 and Kokomo, Ind., 4-1 Saturday.

The win over Warrick Co. came in five innings. Tom Breuer hit a two-run homer for McDowell and Ryan Murphy added a solo shot to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning that enacted the 10-run rule.

Darrick Smith added three hits, including two doubles, and Steve Kress had a pair of hits.

The Capahas (16-6) scored five runs in he first inning and never looked back. Greg Budt recorded the win, allowing three hits, striking out five and walking no one.

The Capahas needed eight innings and a little two-out magic to defeat Kokomo.

McDowell scored a run in the top of the first and Kokomo tied the game with a run in the third.

In the eighth inning, Breuer singled and was sacrificed to second by Mike Miller. Shawn Pemberton walked and Murphy fanned for the second out. However, Robert Kern lined a single off the first baseman's glove to score Breuer with the winning run. Pemberton later scored on a wild pitch and Kern came around on a passed ball.

Jerry Wolsey pitched the bottom of the eighth for the save. Kevin Vent recorded the win, allowing four hits in seven innings. He struck out four and walked two.

Kern homered in Friday night's loss to Cincinnati. The Capahas held a 2-0 lead, but Cincinnati went ahead for good with a grand slam home run in the top of the fourth.

Danny Simpher suffered the loss. Miller had three of the Capahas' 10 hits and Kress had two hits.

The Capahas continue round-robin play today with a 2 p.m. game against Evansville.

Firecracker Classic

New Madrid, Dexter and the host Cape Commerce Bank White Sox won their respective pools with 2-1 records to advance into today's semifinals of the Firecracker Classic.

Jackson's Junior American Legion will join those three teams in the semifinals as a wildcard. Jackson tied Cape in Pool B with a 2-1 mark.

Both semifinals start today at 2 p.m. Cape meets Dexter at Cape Central while Jackson plays New Madrid at Capaha Field. The semifinal winners advance to the 4 p.m. championship game at Capaha Field.

Commerce Bank split two games Saturday at Cape Central. Cape beat Jackson's Jr. Legion 8-5 then lost to East Prairie 13-9.

Matt Jones won the first game for Cape, allowing five runs in 6-1/3 innings. Dan Turner got the final two outs for the save. Mike Sullivan collected three hits for Cape followed by two each from Steve Sachse, Chuck Brown and Steve Laudie.

Chuck Brown pitched into the third inning to take the loss against East Prairie (1-2). Jonathan Caldwell had three hits and Jarrett Senciboy added two.

In other games Saturday: Farmington (2-1) beat Arcadia Valley 8-3 and Arcadia Valley (1-2) also lost to Dexter 6-2.

Jackson's Jr. Legion beat Dexter's 16-year-olds 20-6, but the Dexter group (1-2) rebounded to beat East Prairie 12-7. New Madrid beat Farmington 5-2 and Jackson's Senior Babe Ruth (2-1) won by forfeit over Sikeston (1-2).