Third-seeded Sikeston drops No. 6 Dexter in five innings during first round of SEMO Conference Tournament

Friday, April 28, 2017
Sikeston's Trey Smith leaps over the tag attempt of Dexter's Trevor McDonald during a first round SEMO Conference Tournament game Friday, April 28, 2017, at VFW Memorial Stadium in Sikeston. (David Jenkins/Standard Democrat)

SIKESTON -- Whatever shortcomings the Sikeston baseball team went through during their lopsided loss to Oran just a day ago, they made up for in the first round of the SEMO Conference Tournament.

The third-seeded Bulldogs raked over No. 6 Dexter 12-2 in five innings on Friday, which included a 10-run first inning and a dominant outing from starter Will Gilmer.

Due to inclement weather moving into the area on Saturday, tournament officials have cancelled weekend games and moved the semifinal round to Monday at Capaha Park in Cape Girardeau, Mo.

Sikeston shortstop Wyatt Pratt throws to first on a double play attempt as Dexter's Haden Hillis tries to break up the play during a first round SEMO Conference Tournament game Friday, April 28, 2017, at VFW Memorial Stadium in Sikeston. (David Jenkins/Standard Democrat)

Sikeston will take on No. 7 Cape Central, after upsetting No. 2 Jackson 3-2 in eight innings in another quarterfinal game Friday. The start time was not known as of press time.

Sikeston (10-3) entered Friday's game, which was moved up to a 3 p.m. start time in an effort to dodge possible incoming weather, with a newfound intensity. It was a 180-turn from their last game -- a 10-2 loss to Oran at home.

"They definitely answered the bell," Sikeston coach Brett Kolons said. "The attitudes of the kids when we came out here today was a lot different. We faced a little bit of adversity today with the different start time and getting the tarp off the field with the wind whipping around, but we responded really well today and I was proud of the guys for that."

The Bulldogs got to Dexter starter Trevor McDonald early and often to go ahead for good in the bottom of the first inning. The first seven batters reached safely on five hits a walk and Dexter error.

Trey Smith led off with a screaming double to left and eventually scored on a wild pitch in acrobatic fashion. Smith was beaten by a throw from catcher Jason Jarrell but leaped away from McDonald's first attempted tag and dodged another to touch the plate with his hand for the 1-0 Sikeston lead.

A two-run double by Sam Cox made it 3-0. McKenzie Worth followed with a 3-run home run to right field making it 6-0 in the blink of an eye.

Worth's blast chased McDonald from the game before he could record an out. He gave up six runs (five earned) on four hits.

Sikeston's Will Gilmer delivers a pitch to a Dexter hitter during a first round SEMO Conference Tournament game Friday, April 28, 2017, at VFW Memorial Stadium in Sikeston. (David Jenkins/Standard Democrat)

"We got back to the approach that we want to get into to," Kolons said. "We weren't swinging at pitches that we weren't looking for until we got two strikes. We were having solid approaches up and down the lineup. To hit good pitching that's what we have to do."

Riley Mason entered for McDonald and eventually stopped the bleeding, but not before Sikeston tacked on four more runs.

Back to back RBI singles from Smith and Will Pratt made it 8-0. Another Dexter error made it 9-0 and then a sacrifice fly off the bat of Bryce Bays closed out Sikeston's scoring in the first inning.

"It certainly put us behind the eight ball to begin with," Dexter coach Brian Becker said about Sikeston's 10-run first inning. "I think Sikeston came out with a the intention better than they did yesterday against Oran and they sure did that today. They came out swinging and swinging it well. They were aggressive on about every pitch they saw."

The Bulldogs added two more in the third following an RBI triple from Wyatt Pratt and a RBI double from Bays.

With a sizable lead to play with, Gilmer went to work on the mound for Sikeston.

The junior right-hander pitched a shutout for four innings giving up two singles and striking out six of the 15 batters he faced.

Dexter second baseman Hunter Parrott throws out a Sikeston batter during a first round SEMO Conference Tournament game Friday, April 28, 2017, at VFW Memorial Stadium in Sikeston. (David Jenkins/Standard Democrat)

"He just keeps getting better and better," said Kolons. "We got up with a big lead and we were able to work on some things with him and he responded really well. I'm proud of him for putting things behind him and just working on getting better."

Gilmer was lifted for reliever Jeffery Thornbrough to start the fifth. The left-handed sophomore ran into a bit of trouble during his 2/3 innings.

After a leadoff error allowed Hunter Parrott to advance to second, Thornbrough retired the next two Dexter batters but then walked the next three to give the Bearcats their first and only run of the game and avoid their first shutout of the season.

Ben Ray took over from there coaxing a pop fly to second to end the bases-loaded threat and finish the game in five innings.

Dexter (6-10) will play Jackson on Monday in the consolation semifinals. The game will be played at Capaha Park but the start time was not known at press time.

Sikeston will take on Cape Central for a second time this season. The Bulldogs took down their rivals 4-0 April 7. With Saturday's postponement, Sikeston will have two days to prepare and rest arms for a possible championship run.

The Bulldogs haven't won the SEMO Conference Tournament since a string of titles from 2002-04.

"We were kind of set up how we wanted to be set up with our pitching anyway, but extra days off will help pitching-wise for everyone," Kolons said.

Dexter 000 01 -- 2 2 3

Sikeston (10)02 0x -- 12 12 1

WP -- Will Gilmer. LP -- Trevor McDonald. 2B -- Trey Smith (S), Bryce Bays (S), Sam Cox (S). 3B -- Will Pratt (S). HR -- McKenzie Worth (S). Multiple hitters: Sikeston -- Smith 2-4, Will Pratt 3-4, Max Ault 2-3.

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