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SHS rolls past Kennett
SIKESTON - The Sikeston Bulldog offense has carried the team at times this year and it happened again on Wednesday.
In a makeup game with Kennett, the Bulldogs clubbed out five extra-base hits -- including two mammoth home runs -- to defeat the Indians 11-6 in a key district game at VFW Stadium.
The Bulldogs are now 2-0 against district foes heading into today's home game with Dexter at 4 p.m.
Sikeston, ranked No. 6 in Class 3, is now 9-3 on the season.
"I thought we played pretty well defensively and we made some plays when we had to," said Sikeston coach Kevin Self. "They're going to be a handful in our district. District wins are big because if you can get that top seed, then you get to be the home team. You don't have to flip a coin."
The Indians jumped out to the early lead with a run in the top of the second inning but the Bulldogs took control in the bottom half of the inning as they scored six runs, all coming with two outs.
"The inning before that we had second and third with nobody out and we didn't score," said Self. "But we came back with a big two-out rally in the second. It's always tough on the other team when you score with two outs."
With runners on second and third with two outs, J.R. Bizzell lined a triple to right centerfield to plate both runs.
Bizzell then scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-1.
Following back-to-back walks issued by starting pitcher Heath Storey, junior designated hitter Tyler Baker crushed a pitch deep over the left field fence to push the lead to 6-1.
The whole thing could have been avoided if not for a miscue in the field by Storey as he had Sikeston's Richard Landers caught in between third and home after a ground ball back to the box.
But Storey didn't field it cleanly and had his back turned to Landers. He then turned and threw the ball over the catcher's head and Landers was able to make it back safely to third.
"It seemed like they had a lot of two-out hits," said Kennett coach Bart McAtee. "Of course, good teams are going to do that. We couldn't get that third out and we'd make mistakes in the field. You give a team like Sikeston four or five outs then they're going to make you pay and they did."
Kennett got three runs back in the top of the third inning to cut the lead to 6
-4.
John Lancaster had a run-scoring single and Ryne Branum added an RBI-
double.
Sikeston answered with a run in the bottom of the third as Bryce Wibbenmeyer scored on a wild pitch to make it 7-4.
The Bulldogs scored a run in the bottom of the fourth on Eric Chappell's RBI-
single and they scored three more runs in the fifth on Cullen DeHart's tape-
measure home run that came to rest against the Morad Building in right field.
That pushed the lead to 11-4 and the Bulldogs appeared on the verge of getting a 10-run rule on the Indians.
But Kennett put together one final rally in the top of the seventh with two outs.
DeHart was in for relief but the Bulldogs committed back-to-back errors to keep the game going.
Ben Foster and Branum made the Bulldogs pay with consecutive run-scoring singles to make it 11-6.
But with two runners on base, DeHart was able to strike out Jared Hughes to end the game.
Sikeston starter Jerod Scott picked up the win in six innings pitched. He allowed four runs (three earned) off six hits and one walk with four strikeouts.
Both of DeHart's runs were unearned. He allowed two hits and struck out two.
"There's no doubt that we've had Kennett's number the last few years, but they've got a solid ballclub," said Self. "They're not going to quit and they can swing the bats. I just didn't think we had as much pop with our fastball, but Jerod threw the ball well. He threw his breaking ball for strikes. When he got behind they sat on the fastball and hit it hard. But overall I thought he threw well."
Bizzell led the Bulldogs at 3-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs. He was a home run shy of hitting for the cycle.
Landers had a triple and a run scored. Josh Jackson reached base four different times and scored two runs.
Storey took the loss in 2 2/3 innings pitched. He allowed seven runs off five hits. He walked three and hit three batters.
"We've been running short on pitching, we played 11 innings the other night against New Madrid," said McAtee. "Our starter today threw in that game and I think he was a little tired. Hopefully we'll get another chance at them. Our district's going to be pretty wide open I think. Hopefully we can come back and get another crack at them. They've got a good team."
Branum went 3-4 with two RBIs for the Indians. Foster was 2-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Hughes had a double and a run and Robert Lockett had a single and two runs. Chase Smith got an RBI on a successful squeeze play in the top of the second.
Kennett (7-8) will travel to play Greene County Tech in Paragould, Ark., today at 4 p.m.