Bulldogs earn huge road win

Thursday, April 11, 2002

Sikeston hands Kennett its first loss, 4-3

KENNETT - The Sikeston Bulldogs baseball team picked up a huge road win on Wednesday by defeating district rival Kennett 4-3.

Kennett entered the game undefeated and is considered one of the favorites in 3A District 1.

It's the Bulldogs' fifth straight win after losing their season opener to Cape Central.

"This was the big one for the week," said Sikeston head coach Kevin Self. "We want to win the conference but district is more important and we want that No. 1 seed. That's very important because of the pitching. Our district is more balanced than its been. We were happy to get out of there with a 'W'."

Adam Garrett provided the eventual game-winning hit in the top of the sixth inning when he singled past a diving shortstop, scoring Lance Rhodes from second base with two outs to give the Bulldogs a 4-3 lead.

Pitcher Blake DeWitt retired the final six batters in order to close out the game.

"We lost four baserunners with missed signs and that could've been big," said Self. "A couple of them might've been my fault because I was switching them up. We didn't run the bases well, but we swung the bats extremely well. Most of the balls we hit were line drives right center. We just peppered that spot."

Jacob Priday led the team offensively, going 3-4 with two doubles and a run scored.

Garrett went 2-3 with two RBIs and a stolen base while Rhodes went 2-3 with two runs and two RBIs.

Others were DeWitt (1-3, BB, 2B), Drew Lawrence (1-4, run, 2B), Scotty Keenan (1-3, 2B).

The Bulldogs (5-1) had a season high 10 hits off Kennett's Dustin Pritchett, who took the loss, throwing six-plus innings and allowing four runs (two earned) with three walks and seven strikeouts.

DeWitt got the win, pitching all seven innings and allowing three runs off five hits and four walks with four strikeouts.

Kennett took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning only to see Sikeston come back with three runs in the fourth inning to lead 3-2.

Kennett tied the game in the bottom of the fifth but couldn't plate any other runs.

Self said the biggest play of the game came in the bottom of the fifth when Kennett had a runner on third with two outs and star player Nathan Baker batting. DeWitt was able to strike him out with a 2-2 breaking ball to end the threat.

"This is the week we usually break out," said Self. "Hopefully this will propel us."

Sikeston plays at SEMO Conference rival Jackson today at 4 p.m. at Legion Park.

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