Offense sputters late for Sikeston Silver Sox Jr. Legion in 11-6 loss to Jackson

SIKESTON -- An offense that was been slow out of the gate thrived the first few innings as the Sikeston Silver Sox Junior Legion baseball team raced out to a four-run lead after three innings.

But the production stalled shortly after as Jackson's Junior Legion stormed back to take an 11-6 win over the Sox on Tuesday at VFW Memorial Stadium in Sikeston.

Sikeston, who entered the first game of the doubleheader with an 0-6 record, had all six of its hits in the first three innings and managed just two baserunners the rest of the way.

Sikeston's Seth Blanchfield is tagged out trying for a double in Junior American Legion baseball action Tuesday night at VFW Memorial Stadium in Sikeston. (David Jenkins/Standard Democrat)

Sikeston's Seth Blanchfield is tagged out trying for a double in Junior American Legion baseball action Tuesday night at VFW Memorial Stadium in Sikeston. (David Jenkins/Standard Democrat)

"We just kind of stopped swinging the bats," Sikeston coach Zach Pobst said. "Early on we did good, bunted a few guys over. So far, we've really struggled with the bats this year. I was glad to see them get going, but I guess their pitcher adjusted and figured out ways to get us out."

That pitcher was Jakota Walter, who threw all seven innings. He allowed six runs (five earned) on six hits and six walks while striking out four. He found his groove after the third sitting the Silver Sox down in order twice in the last three innings.

But it wasn't before the Silver Sox tagged Walter with six runs in the first three innings.

An RBI single from Spencer Owens put the home team ahead 1-0 in the first inning. After Jackson scored two in the top of the second, the Sox answered with four of their own in the bottom half.

Two runs scored on a passed ball then Ben Ray singled in Austin Stafford and Lestyn Thompson, when an outfield error allowed Thompson to score easily.

Jackson went scoreless in its half of the third but Sikeston scored another to go ahead 6-2 after Seth Blanchfield pushed Kris Rinehart across.

Sikeston's Spencer Owens delivers a pitch to a Jackson hitter in Junior American Legion baseball action Tuesday night at VFW Memorial Stadium in Sikeston. (David Jenkins/Standard Democrat)

Sikeston's Spencer Owens delivers a pitch to a Jackson hitter in Junior American Legion baseball action Tuesday night at VFW Memorial Stadium in Sikeston. (David Jenkins/Standard Democrat)

Jackson had its answer though when they posted four runs with two outs in the top of the fourth.

Sikeston starter, Spencer Owens, who threw six innings and gave up eight runs, on seven hits and two walks, ran into some trouble after getting the first two outs on just two pitches. He walked the next two to extend the inning which led to an RBI single from Coley Leimbach and a two-run double from Walter to tie the game at 6-all after four.

"He got behind on a couple batters," Pobst said. "(Jackson) started to figure it out and they hit him."

A dropped third strike allowed Andy Hartman to keep the fifth inning alive after the Silver Sox secured the first two outs after the first two batters. Hartman was later pushed across to give Jackson the lead after an infield error by Sikeston.

Jackson added one more run in the sixth and three more in the top of the seventh to squash any hopes of a Sikeston comeback.

"Our defense let us down a little bit too," Pobst said. "We got the offense going, for an inning at least, so I was happy to see that. We had a couple kids not here tonight so we're just trying to figure things out and working people in and out to try and get some runs in."

Leimbach and Carson Barnes led Jackson at the plate with two hits and one RBI apiece. Walter and Lane Prinie each had two RBIs.

Rinehart and Blanchfield both had two hits to pace the Silver Sox.