Sikeston Junior Legion defeats Poplar Bluff, 3-2

SIKESTON - Sikeston Junior Legion pitcher Cullen DeHart averaged a strikeout every inning and knocked a triple to left center to lead Auxiliary Unit 114 to a 3-2 victory over Poplar Bluff.

"Cullen wasn't throwing hard tonight, but he did have his curveball working very well," said Sikeston's head coach Jeff Limbaugh. "We did have a couple of mistakes on defense, but the season is early and we don't want to peak just yet."

The first error that Sikeston committed was in the first inning as Unit 114's shortstop bobbled a ground ball allowing opposing pitcher John Patty on base.

Patty advanced to second on a single to center by Cannon Bagby and he would come in to score on a bloop from Brian LeCroy.

Poplar Bluff's second run would also come on an error in the top of the fourth as LeCroy dribbled a shot to Tyler Baker at third. Baker sling-shotted a throw over Joe Lincoln's head at first.

LeCroy would end up at second on the play.

After a passed ball that allowed LeCroy to reach third, he scored on an infield single by Eddie Dorich. LeCroy's run gave Poplar Bluff a 2-0 lead.

Everything was going well for Patty on the mound until the bottom of the sixth when he hit Jordan Kimball, who was attempting to bunt.

Kimball went around, but pulled back and attempted to get out of the way before the ball tagged him.

DeHart then stepped in and with a flick of his wrists made the game 2-1.

He poked a shot into left-center, banging it off the outfield fence to bring home Kimball and placing him on third base.

Rightfielder Matt Limbaugh stepped in and placed one in the same spot to score DeHart and to give him a standup double.

Limbaugh reached third on a ground out and then scored on a sacrifice by J.R. Bizzell.

Bizzell's bunt gave Sikeston all they needed as DeHart sat down Poplar Bluff in order in the seventh.

"We did some things well tonight, but we got real lucky there too. We had our best bunter in there, but if he pops that up or if Matt doesn't get his hit, we could have been sunk. This is going to be a good ballclub, but we have some work to do," said coach Limbaugh.