JACKSON - The Sikeston Senior American Legion Post 114 baseball team picked up a big district win on Wednesday with a 3-1 road victory against Jackson at Legion Park.
Post 114 got a stellar pitching effort out of Lance Rhodes, who had a no-hitter threw 7 2/3 innings.
He ended up allowing two hits and one run in going the full nine innings. He struck out one, hit a batter and allowed two walks. He threw 115 pitches.
"That's an outstanding effort," said Sikeston coach Charlie Dye. "He gave up one hit in the bottom of the eighth and the home run in the ninth. From the start he was in control and he threw the ball well. He was making them put the ball in play and we played good defense behind him.
"Richard Landers played an outstanding third base today. He had seven assists, so he was busy over there. And a lot of them weren't easy."
Rhodes' performance overshadowed a standout effort by Jackson hurler Jason Meystedt, who pitched nine innings and allowed five hits, striking out two and walking three.
"The Meystedt kid after the second inning was just as tough as Lance," said Dye. "We only had two hits after the second inning."
Sikeston (13-8, 3-2 district) got on the board in the first inning on Matt Smith's run-scoring double to bring home Brandon Crook.
Tyler Stahl's single then brought home Smith to lead 2-0.
Sikeston extended the lead to 3-0 in the second inning when Joey Bickings doubled and eventually scored on a Landers groundout.
Smith, Rhodes, Stahl, Bickings and Jordan Kimball were the only Sikeston players to record hits.
Jackson broke up Rhodes' no-hitter in the bottom of the eighth inning on a base hit by Chad Minson.
Jackson thwarted the shutout in the ninth on a solo home run by Brandon Gendron.
"It's a good win -- this was just a really well-pitched American Legion baseball game," said Dye.
"Two good pitchers were going at it and they both pitched well. We got a couple early and Lance made it stand up. He wasn't in any trouble at any time. I don't think there was even one inning where they had two runners on base at the same time. It was a fun game to watch, especially if you like that kind of baseball."
Sikeston plays at Fulton County (Ky.) today at 6:30 p.m.