CAPE LEGION WINS SLUGFEST

American Legion baseball games don't get much more offensive-minded than Monday night's homer opener for Cape Girardeau Ford & Sons.

Cape and Murphysboro (Ill.) combined for 29 hits, 23 men left on base and 22 runs in the nine-inning contest at Capaha Field. Each team went down in order only once all evening and the squads also made seven errors, four by the visitors.

When the nearly three-hour affair had ended, Ford & Sons was looking up at the right end of a 13-9 decision that boosted the home team's record to 5-1 on the young season.

"A lot went on in the game tonight," said Ford & Sons manager Ron Michel with a smile. "We made a few baserunning mistakes and I didn't like some of our play defensively.

"But we're hitting the ball pretty well now. We've had two offensive displays in a row."

For the second straight game, Ford & Sons pounded out 17 hits. Shane Gibson, Andy Sweet and Trent Summers all had huge offensive nights. Gibson and Sweet both delivered four hits while Summers drove home six runs along with having two hits.

Ross Bennett added three hits, including two doubles, and he drove in two runs. Todd Pennington also had two hits while Tatum Kitchen came into the lineup midway through the game but still managed to have three RBIs.

Joey Gray, David Pierson, Josh Foster and J.T. Jenkins all had two of Murphysboro's 12 hits.

Pennington pitched the first five innings to claim the victory. He allowed eight hits and seven runs (six earned) while striking out five and walking four.

Jeff Lappe hurled the final four innings, giving up four hits and two runs (one earned) while fanning six and walking one.

"Todd and Jeff both didn't have their good stuff, but they haven't been to the mound very much yet," Michel said. "We just need to get all our pitchers more work."

Pierson, Murphysboro's starter, took the loss. He allowed 10 runs (eight earned) and 11 hits in 4 1/3 innings. Foster finished up, allowing three runs and six hits in 3 2/3 innings.

The visitors jumped on top with three runs in the opening inning, touching Pennington for three hits.

But Cape came right back with two in the bottom of the first, then took the lead for good with a four-run second that featured a bases-loaded double by Summers that scored all three runners.

"Overall, I've been happy with the way we've been playing so far," said Michel. "What made me proud tonight was every time they scored, we answered back. That's the sign of a good team."

Cape will travel to Kentucky today to take on Paducah in a 7 p.m. contest. The next home game for Ford & Sons will be Wednesday when Perryville visits Capaha Field for an 8 p.m. matchup.