Sikeston Junior Babe All Stars eliminated

Tuesday, August 6, 2002

SIKESTON - The Sikeston 14-year-old Junior Babe Ruth All-Star team was eliminated in the Midwest Plains Regional Babe Ruth Tournament on Sunday at VFW Stadium.

Sikeston, which received an automatic bid in the tournament by virtue of its host status, lost to Iowa 5-4 in the double elimination event.

Sikeston lost to Minnesota on Saturday 6-3.

"I think we showed we belonged," said Sikeston head coach Phil Black. "We've played at this level before. We knew we could stay on the field with them but we didn't know for sure since we hadn't measured ourselves against anybody at the district or state level. I think we gave two teams all they wanted."

Sikeston ran into a hot pitcher from Iowa on Sunday. Curtis Graham allowed Sikeston just five hits while striking out 13.

Despite the strong pitching, Sikeston tied the score at 4-4 in the top of the sixth inning.

Iowa managed to scrape across the eventual game-winning run in the bottom of the sixth to win the game.

Andy Gantner took the loss in one inning of relief. Jerod Scott started for Sikeston, throwing five innings and allowing four runs.

Scott also led Sikeston at the plate, going 2-3 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. Joe Lincoln also had two hits with a run.

Cody Black had Sikeston's only other hit. Tyler Baker and Cody Cooper each scored a run.

"I think we showed ourselves well," said Black. "All of the games have been close. There's been some good baseball played."

In loser's bracket games played Monday, Minnesota defeated Colorado 11-5, and Mineral Area (Mo.) defeated Iowa 8-6.

North Dakota and Kansas were set to square off in the winner's bracket final late last night but results were not available at press time.

Black said the tournament was a successful one judging by the fans' reactions over the weekend.

"We had lots of good comments about the tournament," said Black. "Everybody enjoyed everything except the heat and humidity. Of course we can't control that, but everybody liked the ballpark facilities and hospitality here."

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