June 28, 2016
Sox, Squirrels raise money for Challenger Baseball
The 1st Annual Challenger Baseball game between the Sikeston Silver Sox American Legion baseball team and the Charleston Fighting Squirrels Senior Babe Ruth baseball team featured a special first pitch by Marshall Pullen.
By Chris Pobst ~ Standard Democrat
SIKESTON -- Neither team was worried about the final score as the spirit of Monday night's baseball game wasn't really about winning.
It was about awareness and raising money for an organization in Sikeston that gives children with disabilities a chance to play baseball and one of its participants was the highlight of the night.
The 1st Annual Challenger Baseball game between the Sikeston Silver Sox American Legion baseball team and the Charleston Fighting Squirrels Senior Babe Ruth baseball team featured a special first pitch by Marshall Pullen, who was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor in 2012 and has enjoyed the Challenger Baseball league for the past two years.
Monday's game, which was won by Charleston 7-4 in a scheduled nine-inning contest, was designed to raise funds through t-shirt sales and donations for a new state of the art field specifically for Challenger Baseball and the kids with special needs who'll use it.
"It's a great night whenever you do something for Challenger Baseball. It's a great cause," Charleston coach Michael Minner said. "With little man throwing out the first pitch it just gives you chills. Our prayer tonight in the huddle was for the money raised to just touch one kid and to make sure to let people know there's a bigger picture than just baseball."
Challenger Baseball, which offers kids with disabilities a safe and fun-filled place to play baseball each Saturday during its season, is based out of Sikeston but caters to many others from the surrounding area. An estimated 50 kids the past two years have enjoyed the game played at the Sikeston Sports Complex basketball courts.
Plans for Challenger's new field, which will feature turf and rubber padding to ease the wear on wheelchairs and walkers as well as provide a safer environment for all, costs around $250,000 and will be situated at the Sikeston Sports Complex. They are halfway to their goal and are hopeful the new field will be complete by next spring.
Pullen, who's Facebook page, Pullen For Marshall, is followed by nearly 63,000 people, was wheeled in front of home plate by his father Derrick, who runs the Challenger Baseball league, and mother Stephanie as the biggest crowd the Silver Sox have hosted this season cheered and snapped pictures.
From his wheelchair and with a little help from his father, Pullen let the ceremonial first pitch drop from his left hand. Both teams formed a line to give the guest of honor handshakes, fist bumps and hugs soon after.
"Tonight was a whole lot more than wins and losses," Sikeston coach Ryan Moses said. "I told our guys to really appreciate the opportunity we have to help others."
The Squirrels jumped out to a 7-0 lead after the first three innings. They tagged Silver Sox starter Jordan Griggs with six hits during that span.
Blake Wolferding hit a run-scoring double in the first, Gavon Turner added a two-run single to highlight a five-run third inning for the Squirrels.
Charleston (14-11) wasn't able to push across any more runs after that and was limited to three hits in the last six innings combined.
"It was a good start and then it got pretty boring in the middle with stuff that's not fun to watch," Minner said. "We're getting in that postseason mode and we need to get going. We had some bad at-bats tonight. We need to be self-motivated now. We have to want to impress and be good in every at-bat. When it gets close to the end this is our time of the year."
The Silver Sox ended the shutout in the bottom of the fifth when Colton Davis' fielder's choice scored Spencer Owens from third. Sikeston (8-10) chased relievers Levi Alsup and Chandler Young in the seventh after cutting Charleston's lead to three.
An error and three walks with Alsup on the mound pushed two runs across for the Sox before Young entered. Wyn Roberds hit into a fielder's choice scoring another during Youngs' first batter.
"It was good to see our guys fight to the end," Moses said. "We stayed up, made plays and we gave ourselves opportunities to score runs."
The Silver Sox loaded the bases with two outs after Young hit two batters, but the inning's third pitcher, Gavon Turner, caught Griggs looking for the third out.
Turner pitched the final 2 1/3 innings allowing one hit and striking out two.
"Gavon came in and filled it up with strikes at the end," Minner said. "That's as good as he's thrown all year."
Charleston starter Wyatt Pratt earned the win after five innings of work. He allowed one unearned run on four hits and two walks. He also struck out eight.
"Wyatt was at 96 pitches after five innings and we have to get more outs early in counts," Minner said.
Griggs was charged with all of Charleston's seven runs. He walked three and struck out five. Jarred Sandlin pitched the final four innings giving up two hits and striking out four.
"Jordan didn't have his full command," Moses said. "I thought he threw well, but [Charleston's] a good team and they hit him a bit. I'm still encouraged with how he's throwing but it just wasn't his night."
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