CHAFFEE, CAPE POST WINS; LEGION TOURNEY CONTINUES

JACKSON -- Chaffee Medicap Pharmacy remained undefeated while Cape Girardeau Ford & Sons stayed alive as the District 14 American Legion Tournament continued here Wednesday night.

Second-seeded Chaffee moved into the winner's bracket finals and became one of only two unbeaten squads left in the seven-team, double-elimination affair by downing fifth-seeded Poplar Bluff 8-4.

Fourth-seeded Cape bounced back from Tuesday's first-round loss to Poplar Bluff by eliminating seventh-seeded Charleston 12-1 in a game stopped after the top of the seventh inning by the 10-run rule.

There will be two more games today, both elimination contests. At 5 p.m., Poplar Bluff takes on sixth-seeded and host Jackson while Cape faces third-seeded Sikeston at 8.

Chaffee has the day off as the team awaits Friday's winner's bracket final against top-seeded Dunklin County.

"It's nice to be in that game," said Chaffee coach Jeff Graviett of the showdown with tournament favorite Dunklin County. "We're trying to raise our program another level and this is another step for us."

Chaffee (26-13) staved off a determined effort from Poplar Bluff (14-17), which was looking for its second straight tourney upset.

"They've given us trouble at the plate all year so we expected a tough game," Graviett said.

Brian Obermann was the winning pitcher, working seven shutout innings. The left-hander allowed seven hits while striking out one and walking three.

Obermann got into some trouble during the early innings, stranding nine Poplar Bluff runners over the first five frames. But Obermann retired the final seven batters he faced before coming out after Chaffee had opened up a 6-0 lead with a three-run eighth.

"Brian got behind the hitters early, but he got stronger around the middle of the game," said Graviett.

Tommy Stidham fanned three in 1 1/3 perfect -- although somewhat unusual -- innings.

Stidham fanned the side in the eighth, then Graviett wanted to give Dustin Dannenmueller some work. Dannenmueller, who had missed the last three weeks with a cut hand, allowed four runs while retiring two batters in the ninth. So Stidham came back in to get the final out.

"I wanted to give Dustin some work," said Graviett. "He hadn't picked up a ball in three weeks but he's got a live arm and we'll probably start him Friday."

Poplar Bluff pitcher Chris Reeves was impressive before running out of gas late.

Chaffee had 11 hits, led by Obermann and Tory Meyr with three each. Lance Amick had two hits. Amick belted a two-run homer while Josh Eftink ripped his 22nd round-tripper of the season, also a two-run shot.

Cape (22-21) then had no trouble at all with Charleston (5-25) as Joe Hamilton pitched all seven innings, allowing five hits while fanning five and walking none.

"Joe gave us another good game," said Cape manager Ron Michel. "Just like the last few outings, he got ahead of people."

Tommy Wencewicz had four of Cape's 12 hits while Daniel Turner had three and Steve Fowler added two.

Mark Fisher had the game's lone home run, a three-run shot in the second that helped break the game open. Fisher drove in four runs while Turner had three RBIs.

"It was nice to bounce back after the tough loss (Tuesday)," said Fisher. "We just have to keep hitting the ball."

Hammill Corse took the loss, allowing all 12 runs and eight hits in 3 1/3 innings. Lezcano Dean hurled 2 2/3 shutout frames to close things out.