Cape Legion rides underdog role into state round

After winning a district championship as the favorite, Cape Girardeau's Ford & Sons American Legion baseball team was an underdog in the zone tournament -- yet emerged with the title.

Entering the four-team American Legion State Tournament today through Saturday in Moberly, Cape appears to be even more of an underdog in a loaded field.

But that's fine with Cape's players, who ay they're intent on proving they belong on the same level with the state's elite programs.

"We came into the zone tournament and people didn't expect us to be there," shortstop Seth Hudson said. "Now we know we're good and that we can play with anybody. We have nothing to lose."

Said catcher Aaron Dohogne, "I don't think the teams at zone expected much out of us and I'm sure it will be the same way at state. But we've shown all year long we can compete with the best."

Cape (28-14) opens the double-elimination tournament at 8:30 p.m. today against Jefferson City (37-7) following a 5:30 p.m. game between Blue Springs (52-12) and Joplin (38-11).

After three games Friday, the title contest is set for 1 p.m. Saturday. The state champion earns a berth in next week's regional tournament in Blue Springs.

Despite having the worst record in the field -- and knowing his team is not considered among the favorites -- manager Tom Reinagel is confident Cape can compete for the state title.

"It kind of looks like we're the underdog," Reinagel said. "But the way we've been playing, I think we've got a good shot -- as good a shot as anybody.

"We didn't have the best record at the zone either. The records really don't mean that much at this time of the year."

Added Hudson, "We just have to come out confident, knowing we belong there. And if we play our game, we think we can win it."

Cape last won a state title in 1994 and finished second in 1995, the program's last state appearance.

A look at the four teams:

CAPE GIRARDEAU

Ford & Sons features a .352 team batting average and a 3.62 earned-run average.

Leading hitters are Matt Wulfers (.447, 8 3B, 32 RBIs), Hudson (.411, 4 HR, 5 3B), Patrick Slattery (.404, 9 HR, 21 2B, 39 RBIs), Tyler Schlosser (.393, 10 2B, 29 RBIs), Dohogne (.386), Sean Bard (.379), Luke McClellan (.372), Blake Urhahn (.358) and Chris Conrad (.341).

Top pitchers are John Thies (5-5, 2.93 ERA), Lee Essner (6-2, 4.38), Wayne Essner (4-1, 2.64), Urhahn (6-1, 4.26) and Michael Taylor (2-1, 2.51). Thies and the Essners all won games as Cape swept through zone play with a 3-0 mark.

BLUE SPRINGS

The A's, who beat Cape in the 1995 state finals, are riding a 22-game winning streak. They have a .369 batting average and a 3.43 ERA.

Leading hitters are Matt Webb (.421, 19 HR, 104 RBIs), Scooter Hendrickson (.448), Brad Davidson (.437, 9 HR), Kris Johnson (.431) and Ben Malick (.421).

Top pitchers are Johnson (9-1, 1.05) and Malick (11-0, 1.20). Johnson, a left-hander, was drafted in the 50th round by the Angels but will play for Wichita State.

JOPLIN

The Miners, who feature many of the players from the Joplin High School team that finished second in the Class 4 state tournament, have a .381 batting average and a 3.11 ERA.

Leading hitters are Luke Lawver (.451, 9 HR, 25 2B, 69 RBIs), Jason Sullivan (.424, 8 HR, 62 RBIs), Kyle Cupp (.426) and Matt Alcorn (.420).

Top pitchers are Matt Lawrence (11-1, 2.08), Kyle Carter (7-0, 3.17) and Sullivan (3-5, 2.37). Sullivan was drafted in the 39th round by the White Sox but will play for Crowder Community College.JEFFERSON CITY

Manager Earl Wheeler, a former baseball and football standout for both Dexter High School and Oklahoma State University who now is the head coach at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, said he does not keep statistics for his team.

But Wheeler said Adam Bailey, John Sheehan and Luke Carver bat in the .400 range. He said his squad does not possess much power with only 15 home runs but has speed to burn with nearly 250 stolen bases.

Top pitchers, according to Wheeler, are Justin Holliday, Joe Crisman and Cody Morrow.