CHAFFEE'S STOCK RISES ON FIELD, FALLS IN RECENT POLL (PREP NOTES)

For some unknown reason, Chaffee's baseball team fell out of the most recent state baseball coaches' poll.

But Chaffee has the best winning percentage since April 1 of any Class 2A team in this region, which includes top-ranked Notre Dame (16-4) and No. 5 South Pemiscot (17-4).

Chaffee is 15-4 and has won 13 of its last 15 games.

The Red Devils suffered two quick losses this season, one to Cape Central in extra innings and the other a 4-1 loss to Notre Dame in which Chaffee gave up three unearned runs. Since then, the Red Devils have quietly taken care of business.

In addition to some losses to tough teams, Chaffee has also posted some impressive wins, including South Pemiscot, state-ranked Sikeston (eighth in 4A), Shawnee (Ill.) and Oran (previously state ranked in 1A) twice.

But dropping out of the state poll didn't seem to bother coach Brian Horrell.

"We just let those things take care of themselves," he said.

The knock on Chaffee this season has been its ability to score runs. Chaffee, which has a team ERA of 2.11, was winning low-scoring games earlier this season. But lately, the Red Devils have picked up the pace with the bats. The team is now hitting .315, led by Travis Hanback's .446 average.

Area athletes sign

Several athletes have signed with colleges recently.

Among them include Cape Central ace Justin Cook, Chaffee pitcher Tommy Stidham and Jackson soccer player Jimmy Sievers.

Cook, who will be attending Shawnee Community College in Ullin, Ill., has been one of the top pitchers in the region this year and certainly Central's most consistent pitchers.

Heading into this past week, Cook was among the area leaders in earned run average (1.59), strikeouts (29) and innings (39.2).

Stidham is also one of the area's top pitchers and has signed to play baseball at Florissant Valley College. Stidham is 7-1 this season with a 2.01 earned run average. He has fanned 58 batters this year.

Sievers will play soccer at Lindenwood University next year. He plays striker and right wing and is currently playing for the Metro Futbol Club Team in St. Louis.

District tournaments seeded

Some of the upcoming district tournaments have already been seeded.

In the Class 2A, District 2 baseball tournament which will be held May 15-18 at Chaffee, Notre Dame got the top seed and an important first-round bye. Chaffee got the second seed, followed by Woodland, Kelly, Scott City, East Prairie and Bloomfield.

In the Class 1A, District 2 tournament which will be held May 13-18, Advance got the first seed and will play either No. 8 Delta or No. 9 Scott Central in the first round. Oran got the second seed, followed by St. Vincent, Bell City, Oak Ridge, Valle of Ste. Genevieve and Richland.

Jackson got the top seed in the Class 4A, District 1 girls soccer tournament which will begin May 15. Jackson will take on No. 4 Farmington and No. 2 Cape Central will take on No. 3 Poplar Bluff in the four-team tournament.