Sikeston pounds Herrin

By Brent Shipman

sd_sports@yahoo.com

PADUCAH, Ky - It was a good start to the annual McCracken County Tournament for the Sikeston Bulldogs as they kicked things off against the Herrin, Ill. Wildcats at St. Mary's Academy's baseball facilities.

Sikeston would hold the lead the entire contest after scoring two in the top of the first, beating the Wildcats 13-6 after six innings with the game being called on a two hour time limit.

"Kind of like we've done in the past, we've been able to score runs right off the bat," Bulldog's coach Kevin Self said. "When you get up in the first inning and score two runs it makes it a little easier on you defensively,"

On the game, the only zero Sikeston would put on the board would come in the second, with the Bulldogs biggest offensive outburst coming in the third.

After the Tigers put up a run in the bottom of the second to close the gap to 2-1 off a bases loaded walk to Travis Taitt, the Bulldogs went back on the offensive.

After Nathan Rodgers and Jordan Williams brought home a run each off base hits, Trent McMillan would clear the bases with a three-run home run to give Sikeston a 7-1 advantage.

Though Herrin would put up four of its own in the bottom of the frame, Bulldog pitching would allow one more run in the final three innings to ensure the win. Sikeston's six additional runs in those last three frames only added insurance.

Ross Bohannon earned the win for the Bulldogs, giving up five runs while striking out five.

On the offense, Self said the Bulldogs good fortunes so far has taken some pressure off the defense for any occasional miscues.

"We can overcome a lot of things whenever we swing the bats," he said. "You can make mistakes, commit errors and everything else long as you're scoring runs."

For the game, eight Sikeston players would earn a hit with Jason Isaacs, Nathan Rodgers and Blake Newman all collected two.

Unlike in year's past, this year's tournament has allowed the teams to break out the aluminum bats, where previously all team were required to use wood.

Sikeston 2053 12 -- 13

Herrin, Ill 0140 01 -- 6

WP -- Ross Bohannon (S). LP -- T.J. Clover (H). Multiple hits -- Jason Issacs (S) 2-for-5, Nathan Rodgers (S) 2-for-4, Blake Newman (S) 2-for-2, A.J. Taitt (H) 2-for-2. Extra- base hits -- 2B: Newman (S), Taitt (H). HR: Trent McMillan (S).

Lone Oak 7, Sikeston 3

LONE OAK, Ky -- In Sikeston's second game of the McCracken County Tournament, the Bulldogs took on the host team, the Lone Oak Purple Flash.

The Bulldogs would hold a slim 2-1 lead going into the fourth before eventually falling 7-3.

Drew Harper had Sikeston's lone extra base hit of the game, a double, while Cody Rice led the team with two hits going 2-for-3 and scoring a run.

In another doubleheader Saturday, the Bulldogs faced St. Mary's Academy and Calloway County, Ky. Results can be found in Monday's edition of the Standard Democrat.

Sikeston 002 010 0 -- 3

Lone Oak, Ky 010 231 x -- 7

WP -- Coleman (L). LP -- Jordan Williams (S). Multiple hits -- Cody Rice (S) 2-for-3, Dickson (S) 2-for-3, Goodic (L) 3-for-4, Neihoff (L) 3-for-3. Extra-base hits -- 2B: Drew Harper (S), Harrison (L).