Sikeston softball, netters both lose to Cape Central

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The Sikeston Lady Bulldogs softball team fell to the host Cape Central Lady Tigers 10-0 in six innings on Tuesday.

Sikeston (1-16) hung around early, trailing 3-0 after three innings, but never got the bats untracked in the wake of a no-hitter by Cape Central's sophomore pitcher Amanda Nichols.

The Lady Bulldogs best opportunity to score was negated on a rather unusual play in the top of the fourth.

With Kaitlyn Turnbow aboard on a walk and stolen base, right-handed hitter Kelsie Cooper ripped a two-out liner just past the Cape first baseman, which appeared to be a sure RBI hit. But the right fielder, inexplicably positioned near the line, fielded the ball on one hop and threw Cooper out at first base, a rare 9-3 putout.

According to Sikeston coach Tiffany King, Cooper hesitated a split second at the plate, assuming the hard-hit ball would be caught.

Cape Central (9-11) opened the scoring with two unearned runs in the second frame. Two Sikeston errors -- the Bulldogs committed five overall -- combined with a RBI single in the hole at shortstop by Kelsy Holloway accounted for the Cape runs.

Cape tacked on another unearned run in the third, again with the aid of two Bulldog errors.

"When we make those crucial errors, it gets the girls down," said King of her young, relatively inexperienced squad. "We've been focusing a lot on mental toughness and effort, but the mental toughness is not there yet and it should be by this point in the season."

The Lady Tigers added two runs in the fourth, three in the fifth and two in the sixth to end the contest.

The Bulldogs final offensive threat came in the top of the sixth as they loaded the bases with two outs, aided by Cape Central's only two errors of the game. But Mary Deason's well-hit flyball to left field was caught to end the inning.

"We came out hitting the ball at the end, but a little too late," King said.

Senior Kaycie Williams was the defensive standout for the Lady Bulldogs. She had four assists and two putouts in an errorless performance at third base.

"We pulled Kaycie out from behind the plate and put her at third the last couple of games," said King, "and she's been playing real well over there. She's taken over that position."

Williams also relieved tiring freshman starter Mara Krokstrom in the fifth inning, allowing two runs -- one earned -- on one hit in 1 2/3 innings of work.

Krokstrom went 4 1/3 innings, giving up eight runs -- four earned -- on four hits with seven walks and one strikeout.

Cape Central's Nichols had eight strikeouts and four walks in her complete-

game no-hit effort.

Lindsey Greene led Cape Central with a 2-for-4 day, including a RBI triple and three runs scored. Christina Sexton, Paige Rothenberger and Holloway added RBI basehits to account for the Tigers' five-hit total.

Sikeston stays on the road for a makeup game against Jackson today at 4 p.m.

Originally scheduled for Monday, the game was rained out. A cancellation by Egyptian, Ill., opened the date.

SIKESTON -- The Sikeston girls tennis team lost to a tough Cape Central team on Tuesday, 8-1.

Sikeston's singles player Jenni DeWitt was the only victorious player for the Lady Bulldogs as she defeated Sarah Ford 8-5.

"This match was probably one of the toughest Jenni has played all year," said Sikeston coach Lynne DeWitt. "Sarah and Jenni both played well and it was a great match."

In doubles action, Danielle Ahlfield and Megan Underhill had a tough match, but ended up losing 8-5.

"They had a good doubles match and fought hard the whole match," said DeWitt.

Here are the results from Tuesday's matches.

Singles

1. Jenni DeWitt (S) def. Sarah Ford, 8-5

2. Tess Marshall (S) lost to Lindsey Pingel, injury default

3. Danielle Ahlfield (S) lost to Kristen Ford, 2-8

4. Megan Underhill (S) lost to Claire Segar, 0-8

5. Hannah Moore (S) lost to Brooke Morris, 0-8

6. Caroline Murray (S) lost to Carsen Bahn, 0-8

Doubles

1. DeWitt/Marshall lost to Ford/Pingel, 3-8

2. Ahlfield/Underhill lost to Ford/Segar, 5-8

3. Moore/Murray lost to Morris/Bahn, 1-8

Junior varsity winners

none

Sikeston will play at Kennett tomorrow at 4 p.m. Sikeston won't return home until Sept. 28 when they host Kennett.