Post 114 walks all over Metropolis

Wednesday, June 25, 2003
Mac Taylor tries to catch up to a hard fastball in the bottom of the second inning for Sikeston (Photo by Kyle Carter, Staff)

Sikeston Legion gets 12 free bases in 16-6 victory

SIKESTON -- Both Sikeston and Metropolis had trouble with the high grass at VFW Stadium during warmups for Tuesday night's American Legion game.

And during the game, both teams got to watch it grow even more as Sikeston walked 12 times in a 16-6 victory.

The walkfest was at its peak in the bottom of the third inning, when Sikeston walked seven times.

"Tonight we wanted to get a lot of the kids that don't get to play a lot in, and we did that," said Sikeston coach Charlie Dye. "I am very pleased with how everyone played tonight and with the patience that everyone showed at the plate."

Willie Dooley

Sikeston (5-4) did have problems early. Metropolis (10-5) put a three spot on the board in the top of the first.

Back-to-back single by Matt Jacobs and Jared Gurley gave the Illinois squad the early lead and a two-bagger from Pedro De la Cruz made the score 3-0.

Although they loaded the bases in the bottom of the first inning, Post 114 was not able to get a runner across as Mac Taylor grounded out 4-3 to end the inning.

Bryce Wibbenmeyer set down the only three batters he faced in the top of the second, allowing his team to bat in the bottom of the second down only three.

Sikeston responded by send nine players to the plate, scoring four of them and leaving two on base.

Wibbenmeyer struck out two in the top of the third to hold the one run lead.

In the bottom of the third inning Sikeston exploded, sending 14 batters to the plate. The inning included seven walks, three singles and a first pitch double to right field by Taylor.

Taylor's shot cleared the bases and made the game 10-3.

Zach Fayette, Brad Deere, and Adam Miller all walked consecutively to bring Taylor home.

Fayette was the final runner to cross the plate in the inning as he came home on a single to left by Nathan Eaves.

Taylor took over pitching duties for Sikeston in the top of the fourth.

He squeezed through the top of the fourth and only allowed one run to cut Sikeston's lead to eight at 12-4.

Post 114 picked up three more runs in the bottom of the fourth as Jake Kimball and Drew Lawrence traded places on separate doubles and Taylor singled to center.

Sikeston tacked on an insurance run in the sixth as they closed the game 16-6.

"Mac and Bryce both threw well for us tonight," said Coach Dye. "I think we did a good job of using what they gave us tonight."

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