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Silver Sox run-rule DeSoto to open Fighting Squirrel Classic
SIKESTON, Mo -- A no-hitter from Jordan Kluesner combined with a hot night at the plate made for a dominant outing Friday as the Sikeston Silver Sox opened up play in the Fighting Squirrel Classic.
Playing DeSoto in Pool B of the tournament, Sikeston racked up 12 hits and broke out for a six-run fifth inning to end the game 12-1 via the mercy rule.
"There's some things that need to be cleaned up obviously," Silver Sox head coach Ryan Moses said. "But that's the last of the concerns right now. They finally got the approach of small-ball, singles and taking extra bases. Just putting the ball in play and letting their legs work.
"They're too athletic to try to be hitting home runs and fly balls. They got it through their heads that they can manufacture runs at any time."
Nine of Sikeston's 10-man batting order produced at least a hit and the entire lineup reached safely at some point in the game. A four-run rally in the top of the second inning got the scoring started and another two runs in the third made it 6-0.
DeSoto's only run came thanks to a leadoff walk in the bottom of the third, but Sikeston answered with its biggest outburst of the game in the top of the fifth to shorten the game.
Six hits were aided by three walks in the frame to produce the six runs that made up the 12-1 final as Sikeston batted around the order.
Pete Brown led Sikeston's attack with a 3 for 3 effort that also included a walk to reach in all four appearances. He also drove in a run, stole two bases and scored three runs.
Wyatt Barnett
Derez Tipler and Wyatt Barnett collected two hits each. Both players also drew a walk to reach three times apeice with Tipler driving in three runs batting cleanup.
"One through nine we're extremely quick and we decided to take advantage of that finally," Moses said.
Kluesner's no-hitter may not have been of the classic variety, allowing eight baserunners, but the hurler kept the DeSoto most the afternoon when facing adversity.
His one run allowed came on a fielder's choice in the third as part of a three-walk inning that also saw a passed ball.
Kluesner stranded the other two runners with a strikeout to end the inning and didn't allow another free pass the final two frames.
In a complete game effort he allowed five walks and no hits while striking out four. Fielding errors accounted for the other three DeSoto baserunners.
Knowing he needs his pitching staff to last through Sunday if they want to win the tournament, Moses said it was a tough decision to leave Kluesner in to finish his no-hit bid with the game well in hand.
"I have a hard time pulling a kid throwing a no-hitter," Moses said. "It doesn't matter the situation. I don't want to take that from him. I honestly would have liked to pulled him an inning or two earlier, but I let the kid have a little fun.
Sikeston will play their second and final pool play game today at 5 p.m. at VFW Stadium against Kennett.
The final pool standings will set up Saturday's action.
All three teams from each pool will advance to Saturday's elimination play, but only the top four teams will make it to Sunday where the semifinal and championship games will be played at Hillhouse Park in Charleston, Mo.
If Sikeston wants to be competitive in the the rest of the tournament Moses expects offense to be the key, with run production having been a problem through the early part of the season.
"I think we'll be alright with our pitching," Moses said. "We're pretty deep. We'll be able to have guys throw a few innings here and there, then turn around and throw some more. Pitching isn't really my concern with this team.
"As long as we can keep the bats going I think we'll have the pitching to compete throughout the tournament."
Sikeston 042 06 12 12 3
DeSoto 001 00 - 1 0 1
WP -- Jordan Kluesner. LP -- Cole Valle. Multiple hiters -- Sikeston: Pete Brown 3-3, Wyatt Barnett 2-3, Derez Tipler 2-3.