Local sports digest 6/19/02

Capahas use big third inning to fuel 12-4 win

The Cape Girardeau Capahas used a pair of third-inning home runs to grab the lead and momentum in a 12-4 victory Tuesday over the Saline County Monarchs at Harrisburg, Ill.

After Jeremy Barrow gave Saline County a 2-1 lead with a two-run double in the first, the Capahas took the lead for good in the third inning, scoring four runs on a pair of home runs. Denver Stuckey tied the score 2-2 with a leadoff homer and Tom Bolen gave Cape the lead for good with a one-out, three-run blast.

Saline County countered with two runs in the bottom of the inning on a home run by Henry Rodriguez, but Capahas starting pitcher Jason Chavez (2-0) and Stuckey blanked the Monarchs over the final six innings.

The Capahas opened breathing room with a three-run sixth, single runs in the seventh and eighth and two runs in the ninth. The offense included a solo home run by Tristen McDonald.

Bolen led a 13-hit attack by going 4-for-6 with five RBIs. Stuckey also had a double in going 3-for-4 and Brian Hopkins was 3-for-6.

"I'm happy because we scored 16 last night and scored 12 today," Capahas manager Jess Bolen said. "We hadn't been hitting ball well."

Chavez struck out nine batters in seven innings, allowing nine hits and walking two. Stuckey provided two hitless innings of relief, striking out two.

Hillis tied for lead at Missouri Amateur

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Matt Hills of Poplar Bluff shot an opening-round 69 at the Missouri Amateur Golf Championship at Twin Oaks Country Club on Tuesday, tying with two other players for the top score in the 156-man field.

Also at 69 were Connor McHenry of Jefferson City and David Johnson of St. Louis.

Mark Allen of Jackson, Mo., (71) was one of 15 golfers within two strokes of the lead entering today's final round of medal play. Other players of note: former Southeast MIssouri State golfer Bryan Johnson (72); Mark McDowell (75), Cord Dombrowski (80) and Chris Curtis (83), all of Cape Girardeau; and Alan Dombrowski of St. Louis (82).

The field will be cut to 64 players after today's round and match play will begin Thursday.

Cape Junior Legion sweeps aside Jackson

Best Mortgage Cape Junior Legion swept Jackson Junior Legion 3-1, 3-2 Tuesday night at Capaha Field.

Blake Essner notched the win in the opener, striking out nine and allowing four hits.

Matt Hellrich had a double, one of five hits for Cape (14-11).

Lee Essner recorded the win in the second game, striking out 12 and allowing four hits.

Sean Bard had a double as Cape finished with four hits.

Jackson Senior Legion sweeps in Kentucky

LA CENTER, Ky. -- Jackson won both ends of a Senior American Legion doubleheader late Monday against Ballard Co., Ky.

In the opener, Dusty Roberts pushed across the go-ahead run and Jake Carter tripled in another run in Jackson' 8-6, eight-inning win. Brennan Gibson had a three-run home run and Trevor Thompson a two-run double. Josh Vandeven pitched two innings for the win.

Jackson (9-5) won the second game 7-1 behind a seven-inning game by Brian Austin. Josh Parham was 3-for-4 with a home run, triple and double. Gibson was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and Vandeven was 2-for-4. Jackson scored five runs in the seventh to pull away.

-- From staff reports