Jr. Legion Silver Sox fall to Cape 15-1

SIKESTON -- The Sikeston Silver Sox Junior Legion baseball team hasn't found a way to put it together this season.

Their winless streak continued Thursday when the Cape Ford & Sons Junior Legion smacked eight runs on the board in the first inning and never looked back during a 15-1 loss in five innings at VFW Memorial Stadium in Sikeston.

Sikeston was without several of its members due to a football camp in Cape Girardeau Thursday evening, but absences have been the norm for a team struggling to find its footing.

Sikeston's Jordan Barker delivers a pitch to a Cape Junior Legion hitter Thursday evening at VFW Memorial Stadium in Sikeston. (David Jenkins/Standard Democrat)

Sikeston's Jordan Barker delivers a pitch to a Cape Junior Legion hitter Thursday evening at VFW Memorial Stadium in Sikeston. (David Jenkins/Standard Democrat)

"A lot of our players aren't here today and that's kind of been the season," Silver Sox coach Zach Pobst said. "Every game we've had starters not here and it hurts us. We're trying to find that mix for us to jell together at the same time. Maybe we'll come together at the end, hopefully."

Reid James kickstarted Cape's big first inning with a two-run double off of Sikeston starter Jordan Barker. Cooper Crosnoe highlighted the frame with a bases-clearing triple that made it 8-0. Nathan Patterson, Wyatt Ledure and Elijah Huey each added RBI singles.

Crosnoe, who also got the pitching win, plated two more in the third to make it 11-0 with his second triple of the game. He finished 3 for 4 with five RBIs at the plate. He pitched all five innings giving up one run on five hits while walking one a striking out six.

"I think we hit well against them," Pobst said. "I think we still need to be patient at the plate. We're swinging at a lot of balls we shouldn't swing at."

Cape scored three more runs in the fourth when a single from Ledure plated Reid James. A double from Cole Emmenderfer scored two others giving the away team a firm 14-0 lead.

Sikeston's Barker gave up 12 hits and walked seven.

"Just not enough arms to finish out games," Pobst said. "We were going to throw another guy but he sprained his ankle. So, we threw Jordan and he threw already this week. Just not enough pitching to get through."

Barker was one of four Silver Sox players with a hit, which was a double in the second inning. Kaden Wilbourn had a pinch-hit double in the fifth and was eventually pushed across home by a double from Ben Ray. Hayden Alcorn led Sikeston with two singles.