Girls softball: Sikeston drops first game in pool play

SIKESTON -- It was a tough start to the Midwest Plains Regional Tournament for Sikeston's 10-and-under softball team Thursday afternoon, as the Lady Dogs we no-hit by the Mineral Area Fusion, falling 13-0.

"Part of the game was definitely their pitcher," Sikeston's coach Doyle Noe said. "She came in, she threw hard and she threw strikes.

"At this age if you have a girl who can throw strikes then you're going to do pretty well."

For Mineral Area, this year's Missouri state champions, that girl was Kimmy Wallen, who only allowed one base runner while striking out seven of the 13 batters faced.

On offense, the Fusion were able to score in all four innings, scoring one, two, four and six runs respectively.

Ellie Retz was the lone Lady Bulldog to reach base, drawing a one-out walk in the second.

"We still hit the ball, but they made a lot of plays," Noe said. "We just could never get it going. (Mineral Area) pecked away on offense and got up.

"It's hard to catch up. Hopefully we'll try to turnaround and come back next game."