Sikeston All-Stars capture state crown

SIKESTON -- The 10-year-old Sikeston All-Stars clinched the Cal Ripken Missouri State Championship with an 8-2 win over Mineral Area in Boonville, Mo., on Monday.

The victory marked the second over Mineral Area, a team Sikeston had pushed into the losers bracket in an earlier round.

Clinging to a 4-2 lead with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning, Lucas Houchin blasted a grand slam homer over the 200-foot centerfield fence to give Sikeston some insurance runs on the way to the title.

Sikeston's Tyler Anderson went the six-inning distance for the win, which advances the All-Stars to the Midwest Regional Tournament in Baxter, Minn., on July 22-26.

Sikeston will meet the Minnesota champion on Friday at 10 a.m.

Front row: Trey Tigart, Caleb McCord, Josh Hampton, Taylor Scott, Tyler Anderson and Zach Shaw; middle row: Drew Harper, Cord Sheehy, Lucas Houchin, Connor Landers, Tyler Neal, and Brandon Goodwin; back row: coach Rod Anderson, manager Brian Harper and coach Rick Landers.