Post 114 loses slugfest, 17-16

~Dunklin Co. advances to championship game

SIKESTON - The Sikeston Legion Post 114 baseball team has had some problems in recent weeks closing out ballgames.

The problem struck again on Thursday evening in the District 14 Legion Tournament at VFW Stadium as top-seeded Dunklin County rallied for a 17-16 win in the winner's bracket finals.

Sikeston, the No. 2 seed, will play Jackson (8-4 winners against Chaffee) tonight at 6:30 in the loser's bracket.

The winner of that game will have to defeat Dunklin County twice on Saturday in the championship, which has been pushed back to 5 p.m. after originally being scheduled for 1 p.m.

On Thursday, Sikeston held leads of 9-3 and 16-11 but couldn't close the deal.

Dunklin County (34-6) won the game on a two-out, two-run single by Billy Palmer in the bottom of the ninth.

The hit was a "seeing-eye" single just between diving defenders at shortstop and third base. Leftfielder Drew Lawrence charged hard and attempted to gun down Jeremy Lyons at home plate, but it was not in time.

Lyons slid in safely with the winning run, setting off a wild celebration among the Dunklin County players and fans.

Sikeston's players and fans watched in stunned silence, realizing a golden opportunity to pull off a massive upset had just slipped through their fingers.

After the game, Dunklin County head coach Jamie Johnson was ecstatic.

"Great game," he said. "That's a battle. It was a war with the bats. That's the kids' win there. It's a great win for us -- to be down that much and come back is outstanding. It's nice to be sitting where we're sitting."

Sikeston head coach Charlie Dye felt if Palmer's hit was a couple of feet either way, a play could've been made and Post 114 wins the game.

"We just couldn't get the ground ball to go to one of our infielders," said Dye. "We got what we were hoping for, a ground ball, but it just found a hole."

It wasn't the championship game but if Dunklin County wins the tournament, it can point to Thursday's game as the turning point.

While DC will rest its pitching, Sikeston (18-8) will have to fight through the loser's bracket tomorrow and use another arm on a pitching staff already wearing thin.

And then to defeat Dunklin County twice on Saturday is no small task.

"That's probably as tough a loss as we've had, especially under the circumstances with it being the finals of the winner's bracket," said Dye. "Both teams pretty much left it out there. We gave them our best shot but tonight it just wasn't good enough."

It's the fourth time in five games Sikeston has blown a ninth inning lead, including one to Dunklin County two weeks ago.

"We had them down three or four different times but they kept coming at us and coming at us," said Dye. "They could've folded their tents very easily. Dunklin County is an experienced, seasoned ballclub. They've been through big games and they played like it today. They didn't give up."

Dunklin County took an early lead on Nathan Baker's three-run home run over the left field fence in the bottom of the first inning.

Sikeston retaliated in the third inning with six runs, including a two-run double by Blake DeWitt.

Leading 6-3, Post 114 added three more runs in the fourth inning highlighted by Lance Rhodes' two-run double to chase Baker from the hill.

DC came right back with five runs in the bottom of the fourth. Matt Thomas lined a two-run homer over the left field fence and Palmer plated two runs with a triple to cut the lead to 9-8.

After Sikeston added another run in the fifth, Dunklin County responded with three runs to take an 11-10 lead.

That's where things stood until the top of the seventh when Sikeston recaptured the lead with three runs.

Lawrence had a run-scoring double and Jacob Priday had a two-run double to take a 13-11 lead.

Post 114 added even more insurance in the top of the eighth when DeWitt bombed a three-run homer over the right centerfield fence off Dustin Pritchett to make it 16-11.

"I thought we were in a little bit of trouble because (DeWitt) hit it a ton right there," said Johnson. "But it kind of stirred us up a little bit. We hung around, and as long as we hung around, we had a chance. That's all we were asking for, was a chance."

He got it.

Dunklin County plated three runs on just one hit, a walk and a hit batter in the bottom of the eighth to make it 16-14.

After holding Sikeston scoreless in the top of the ninth, Dunklin County had its No. 6, 7 and 8 hitters due up in the bottom half of the inning.

With one out, Hunter Butler singled, Jonathan Winston was hit by a pitch and Brian Lacey had an infield single to load the bases.

Lyons hit a soft liner barely out of the reach of a leaping DeWitt at shortstop, plating one run. But centerfielder Andrew Lambert came up throwing to get a fielder's choice at third base when the runner froze on the line drive.

A wild pitch moved the runners up to second and third to set up Palmer's walk-off single.

"He's the guy I want up there, no doubt," said Johnson of Palmer. "Out of our two through six, who are pretty strong, he's been there all summer for us. He's hitting about .500. Billy Palmer has been the one kid on this team that has carried us for a long time and he did it today."

Adam Garrett took the loss in one inning of relief.

Pritchett picked up the win in 5 2/3 innings of work. He allowed seven runs (six earned) off seven hits. He struck out six and walked three.

Baker, Dunklin County's ace, lasted only 3 1/3 innings, allowing nine runs (eight earned) off eight hits while striking out three and walking two.

Sikeston's pitching wasn't much better. DeWitt started and went five innings, allowing 11 runs (nine earned) off nine hits with three strikeouts.

Scotty Keenan pitched well for 2 2/3 innings, allowing three unearned runs off two hits. He struck out the side in the seventh and walked two.

"I expected a 4-3 or 3-2 game with the pitching that we both have," said Johnson. "But it didn't work out that way. I know me and Charlie were looking for field goal kickers in the end there. Sikeston's got a bunch of great hitters with DeWitt, Garrett, (Jake) Kimball and a few of those other guys. They're going to hit the baseball. They're a very talented bunch. But we've got some guys that can swing it too. Pitching wasn't great today so it was an offensive game. You never can expect a game like that. To win one is great."

Dunklin County had six players with two hits each. Palmer was the most productive, picking up four RBIs.

DeWitt led Sikeston at the plate, going 3-for-6 with five RBIs. Sikeston had four other players with two hits each.

"We were just one out short of beating them," said Dye. "I cannot fault the effort my kids gave. They played exceptionally hard and from a coaching standpoint that's all you can ask of them. It was a very exciting ballgame. Both sides gutted it out. For our ballclub it's a tough loss."