Post 114 falls to Paducah in final inning

SIKESTON -- In the span of just one inning the mood in Sikeston American Legion Post 114's dugout turned from excitement to despair Tuesday as they watched a late lead slip away against Paducah, Ky., American Legion Post 31.

After losing their late lead during a two-run Paducah rally, Post 114 saw a comeback bid come up short, falling 5-4 to stretch their losing streak to four games.

"They got some big hits in key situations and we didn't," Sikeston head coach Pete Kennard said. "That's the bottom line and what it came down to there at the end."

Paducah's rally came just a half-inning after Post 114 scored the potential winning run in the bottom of the sixth. Replacing Jarett Sandlin on the base paths after a two-out single, Patrick Smith proceeded to steal second before moving to third on a passed ball.

Smith forced Post 31 pitcher Mason Weir into a balk to cross the plate as the go-ahead run, allowing Sikeston to take a 4-3 lead into the seventh.

"That's a senior doing what he knows he can do," Kennard said of Smith. "He took a chance and the kid could have easily thrown him out at third, but we were able to take advantage of it."

Needing just three outs to bring home the win Post 114 ran into some trouble when Paducah's Nick Schumaker led off the inning with a single. A strikeout followed, but soon after cleanup hitter Colby Griggs drove a ball to deep centerfield for a standup triple that tied the game.

"That kids a tremendous, big time hitter," Post 31's head coach Dennis Quigley said of Griggs. "He's pulled us out of several games. Colby's an outstanding young man and a good baseball player."

After a potential double play ball left Paducah with two outs Griggs came in to score on an infield error to give Post 31 their first lead of the night, 5-4.

With one last shot to at least force extra-innings Post 114 came up to bat in the bottom of the seventh where a pair of quick outs took away any room for error. Pinch-hitter Austin Lynn gave Sikeston some hope by getting hit by a pitch before moving over to third base on a wild pitch and a passed ball to put the tying run in scoring position.

A walk to Lane Chamberlain left runners on first and third. Unfortunately for Post 114 a hard hit fly out to right field closed out the game before any damage could be done.

"We didn't hit the ball as well as I would have liked to have seen and we left too many kids on base in scoring position," Quigley said. "We had a couple errors and we were lucky to win the game."

Paducah out-hit Sikeston 9-8 with Griggs leading the way with a 3 for 4 effort that included the game-tying triple and two runs scored.

For Post 114, Adam Kennard was 2 for 3 with a double while Chamberlain collected the team's only other extra-base hit, a double.

Both pitchers, Weir and Sikeston starter Sandlin went all seven innings with Weir taking the win. He allowed eight hits and a walk while striking out four.

In the loss Sandlin gave up nine hits and a walk. He fanned six batters, including the side in the top of the sixth.

"If you get to him early he's going to struggle, but if you let him get deep in the game he tends to get stronger," Kennard said of Sandlin. "I thought about the fourth and fifth innings he really started to throw the ball well."

The loss drops Sikeston to 11-9 while Post 31 improves to 13-2. Post 114 will host Jackson tomorrow in a doubleheader starting at 6 p.m.

Paducah 100 020 2 - 5

Sikeston 200 101 0 - 4

WP -- Mason Weir. LP -- Jarett Sandlin. Multiple hitters: (P) Colby Griggs 3-4; (S) Adam Kennard 2-3. 2B -- (P) John Higgins; (S) Lane Chamberlain, Kennard. 3B -- (P) Griggs.