Losing streak

Post 114 falls to Jackson, loses sixth straight

sports@standard-democrat.com

SIKESTON -- Still looking for their first district win, not much went right for Sikeston American Legion Post 114 against Jackson American Legion Post 158 Wednesday.

Plagued by defensive troubles all game long Post 114 saw Jackson score in all but one inning en rout to a 10-3 win that pushed Sikeston's losing streak to six games.

"Jackson is deep and they're talented at every position," Sikeston head coach Pete Kennard said. "But that's the challenge we had coming into the year. We're trying to rebuild this thing and start from the ground up."

After getting swept by Paducah, Ky., Post 31 in a two-game series the day prior, Sikeston turned to ace Jashawn McDaniel to try and right the ship against Post 158.

Though McDaniel came out sharp, striking out the first two batters he faced, Sikeston's defense limited his effectiveness with passed balls and untimely errors.

This came to a head in the top of the second inning with the game knotted 1-1. McDaniel fanned the first three batters he faced in the frame, but a dropped third strike on the last one allowed Jackson to keep the inning alive.

Post 158 made Post 114 pay for the mistake as singles from Lane Thompson and Steven Porzelt each drove in a run to put Jackson up 3-1. Jackson never looked back, scoring a combined six runs over the next three innings to take a 9-2 advantage.

"I thought we did well battling him," Post 158 head coach Mark Lewis said about McDaniel. "He had good stuff, but the kids continued to battle, grind out at-bats and got him into some long counts. That second inning rally helped us in keeping him out there on the mound.

"Then we came out and got Sikeston 1-2-3 quick on about five pitches and got McDaniel right back there, which was big because I felt like he was throwing really well. He threw the breaking ball anytime he wanted to for a strike."

Sikeston attempted to keep up with Jackson's big night at the plate, but ultimately was outhit 11-5 in the contest. By the time McDaniel doubled in Post 114's second run of the night in the fourth, to make it 6-2, Post 158 was firmly in control.

One final run came off the bat of leadoff hitter Patrick Smith, who hit a solo home run in the sixth to make up the 9-3 final.

"We had some runners on base and they made pitches to get out of some jams," Kennard said. "Timely hitting is the key to the game. when you get those big two-out hits they tend to hurt, but we didn't come through tonight."

Leading Post 114's effort was Smith, going 2 for 3 with a home run, two runs scored and an RBI. Adam Kennard also had two hits on the contest with McDaniel's double representing Sikeston's only other hit.

For Jackson, Porzelt, Cody Heisserer and Chase Simmons each had two hits, including a double by all three. Cody Harris contributed a solo home run in the top of the seventh while Kyle James had the team's only other extra-base hit, a double.

Jackson's starter, Kelby Brown, picked up the win going six innings where he allowed three runs on four hits and no walks while striking out seven. Brown struck out the final three batters he faced to end the sixth and retired Post 114 in order three times on the night.

"Kelby has been coming along," Lewis said. "I've been real pleased with his progress. He's thrown the ball the last couple of outings well.

"We're just trying to get his pitch count up and trying to get him working into starting all the time."

Taking the loss, McDaniel went five innings, allowing nine runs on 10 hits and two walks. He struck out 11 on the game.

With the loss Sikeston falls to 11-11 overall on the season and 0-3 in district play. Jackson improves to 24-4 this season and 6-0 in district.

In the second game of the scheduled double-header Jackson took a 3-1 lead after one-inning, but the contest was called due to weather.

Jackson 121 230 1 - 10

Sikeston 100 101 0 - 3

WP -- Kelby Brown. LP -- Jashawn McDaniel. Multiple hitters: (J) Steven Porzelt 2-5, Cody Heisserer 2-4, Chase Simmons 2-4; (S) Patrick Smith 2-3, Adam Kennard 2-3. 2B -- (J) Porzelt, Heisserer, Simmons, Kyle James; (S) McDaniel, Kennard. HR -- (J) Cody Harris; (S) Smith.