Season ends for Silver Sox after consecutive losses to Jackson, Cape

Saturday, July 18, 2015
Sikeston batter Luke Williams watches a pitch go by against Jackson Friday during the Senior American Legion District 14 Tournament at VFW Memorial Stadium in Sikeston. (Chris Pobst/Standard Democrat)

sports@standard-democrat.com

SIKESTON -- One night they made history and the next they were history.

The Sikeston Silver Sox Post 114 Senior American Legion baseball team lost back-to-back games during the District 14 double-elimination tournament Friday at VFW Memorial Stadium in Sikeston.

Sikeston lost to Jackson Post 158 via a 13-3 mercy-rule in seven innings and then 5-2 to Cape Ford and Sons Post 63 after a dramatic pinch-hit double by Cape's Clayton Reynolds in the top of the ninth.

Just 24 hours before, the Silver Sox defeated Post 63 for its first district opening game win since 2011. Since then, Sikeston failed to make a District 14 tournament appearance due to the lack of players two of the past four seasons.

"This was a tough way to end our year but I'm proud of my guys," Sikeston coach Jacob May said. "The main thing we're proud of is the commitment that we got from the guys this summer. The way they stuck it out even when times were tough through the middle of the season. They were here through the end and we were able to field a team for the district tournament. We feel very accomplished in what we were able to get done and see a bright future ahead as our program continues to grow."

Post 63 (18-15) will now play top-seeded Jackson at noon Saturday for the tournament championship and a spot in the Zone 4 tournament that starts Thursday in Farmington. Cape hasn't won the District 14 championship since 2010.

Chase Hagerty kept the season alive for Post 63 with a complete game victory on the mound which included 14 strikeouts.

"I got a good understanding of the strike zone early and I was able to hit my spots inside and out," said Hagerty, who signed to play baseball for Southeast Missouri State University in December of last year. "(The umpire) was giving the inside and outside pitches and I knew if I could paint that it would make it harder for their hitters. I was able to pitch my fastball really well and my curveball, I was really iffy on the location but, it came up big when I needed it."

Silver Sox starter Nathan Hampton matched Hagerty in both innings and big pitches. Hampton struck out eight, walked four and gave up four hits. Before the ninth inning, Hampton had just given up one hit -- a double in the fourth -- through eight innings.

"Nathan battled for us and did everything he could to keep us in the ball game," May said. "He's a grinder and he wanted that matchup. He knew Hagerty was getting the start and he wanted to go blow for blow with him. There for eight innings he matched him pitch for pitch."

Sikeston and Post 63 have played each other four times in the past five days with the Silver Sox winning three of the four. But not the most important one.

With both seasons on the line, the game was tied 2-2 going into the ninth and Cape's Josh Morse and Hagerty hit back-to-back singles to start the frame.

Sikeston third baseman Colton Davis readies himself before a pitch Friday during the Senior American Legion District 14 Tournament at VFW Memorial Stadium in Sikeston. (Chris Pobst/Standard Democrat)

"It doesn't start without Josh and Chase. We've gone how they've gone pretty much all year," said Lieser. "It's no secret those are our top two guys."

Looking for the right spot to insert one of his hottest hitters, Post 63 coach Justin Lieser knew exactly the right time to send Reynolds in to pinch hit.

"I was talking to him all night about trying to find the right spot to get him in. As soon as Josh and Chase got on that made the decision very easy for me," Lieser said. "Clayton's been swinging it really well lately."

The switch worked as Reynolds took the first pitch he saw over the head of Sikeston centerfielder Trent Pobst that scored both Morse and Hagerty with ease.

"We faced him the other night and I felt like I hit him pretty well," said Reynolds, who hit two doubles against Hampton during Monday's regular season contest. "I knew he'd probably throw me a fastball the first pitch and I'm a fastball hitter. I saw it, took it."

Reynolds would later score after a sacrifice fly by Ryan Tegal to give Post 63 its 5-2 lead.

"Clayton's been hitting the ball really well lately," said Hagerty. "He's always ready to go because he's a competitor. He came through huge for us and I can't be any more happy or proud for him."

With a three-run cushion, Hagerty never wavered when it came time for him to close out the ninth. He coaxed two quick outs after a pop fly by Wyn Roberds and a groundout from Logan Hampton. He caught Nathan Hampton looking for his 14th strikeout of the night.

"Chase Hagerty," Lieser said. "What else can you say?"

After getting just one baserunner through the first two innings, Sikeston scored first in the bottom of the third with a little help from two Post 63 errors.

Roberds advanced safely to first after a bobbled ball by Cape first baseman Logan Callahan couldn't be handled. Logan Hampton followed with a double to right-center then Tegal allowed a ground ball to get through his legs at short that gave Roberds an easy run. A sacrifice bunt by Cody Rodgers scored Logan Hampton from third to give Sikeston a 2-0 lead.

Post 63 sliced its deficit to one run the very next inning when Cramer McGarr led off the fourth with a double. Consecutive groundouts by Isaac Pender and Josh Morse pushed McGarr across.

After a scoreless fifth, Post 63 began the sixth with a promising start.

A leadoff walk to pinch hitter Conner McGarr led to a throwing error by Silver Sox third baseman Colton Davis and put runners on second and third with no outs. After Isaac Pender struck out, Sikeston elected to intentionally walk Josh Morse to load the bases for Hagerty. Like most of the night, Hagerty made them pay after muscling a bloop hit to right that tied the game at 2-all.

Sikeston wasn't without its chances to regain its lead after the fifth inning. Those opportunities fizzled though after puting the go ahead run on third in the bottom of the seventh after a two-out walk to Nathan Hampton, a single by Rodgers and a passed ball that allowed both runners to advance.

Jackson starter Colten Weber delivers a pitch to a Sikeston batter Friday during the Senior American Legion District 14 Tournament at VFW Memorial Stadium in Sikeston. (Chris Pobst/Standard Democrat)

But Hagerty rung up his 10th strikeout of the night to end the threat.

"We were kind of in the same position that Cape was in (Thursday) against us," May said. "We had multiple opportunities to put a run on the board or take the lead and we just couldn't find that hit tonight. Hagerty had a great defense behind him and he did the things he needed to do to leave us stranded."

The Silver Sox (12-13) put its most dangerous base runner on with a chance to take the lead again in the bottom of the eighth. Trent Pobst, known for his speed, singled up the middle and then stole second with two outs to spare. Hagerty bared down and caught both Josh Barber and Colton Davis looking ending the inning.

"That's probably one of his better performances I've seen as far as stranding runners on base" Lieser said about Hagerty. "He was able to settle in and focus on every pitch. He threw strikes and kept the defense alive because he was around the plate all night long."

Sikeston was put in its win or go home situation after being routed by Jackson in the first game of the evening.

Jackson, the tournament's top seed, put up four runs in the first inning and four more in the seventh to close out the game early. Colten Weber earned the win for Jackson throwing the full seven innings, striking out 11 and stranding 10 Sikeston base runners.

Jackson, who are the three-time defending district champions, had 14 hits that included six doubles and led 6-1 after three innings.

Sikeston starter Jordan Griggs gave up eight earned runs, nine hits and walked three.

Colton Hampton had one of the few bright spots for Sikeston with a solo home run in the third inning.

"We had a lot of the momentum early and couldn't push across runs," May said. "They went and put the four-spot up right after that and I think that kind of got to us a little bit. Jackson's a great ball club and they're hot at the right time. They're tough for anybody right now."

If Cape Post 63 pulls the upset over Jackson on Saturday at noon, a second game will be needed to determine a district champion. That game will be played directly after.

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