Sikeston romps to title

SIKESTON -- Sikeston Ladies Auxiliary Post 114 Junior American Legion team steamrolled its opponents on the way to a District 14 Tournament championship.

Post 114 now advances to the Eastern Zone playoffs at Heinie Meinie Park in St. Louis, opening play on Thursday. Zone playoff champions compete at the four-team state tournament in Columbia later in the month.

Sikeston (33-6), the No. 1 seed, outscored its opponents 38-5 in the three district tournament games. They opened with a 11-1 win over Cape Girardeau, then followed with a 13-4 semifinal victory over Twin Rivers on Saturday.

In the championship game on Sunday, Sikeston again ran past Twin Rivers, which advanced out of the losers bracket, with a 14-0 mercy-run rule win.

"I don't have to do much rah-rahing to get these guys up to play," said Sikeston coach Jeff Limbaugh. "They come ready to play. All I have to do is make a move every now and then and put out the lineup. Those guys know how to play the game. They swing the bats well; they run the bases well. We're just really playing well right now."

Leading Sikeston's 16-hit attack in the championship game were Dylan Harris (4-for-4 including an inside-the-park home run and a double for five RBIs), Nick Niemcyzk (3-for-4, three runs scored and three RBIs), Kody Campbell (3-for-3, two RBIs), Chase Ferrell (2-for-3), Clayton Mayfield (1-for-2, RBI), Tyler Dame (1-for-3 with a double and RBI), Josh Pierce (1-for-3) and Caleb Seyer (1-for-3).

Trey Sullenger pitched the five-inning shutout, allowing three hits with four strikeouts and two walks. The Sikeston defense supported Sullenger with two double plays.

The order of finish behind Sikeston in the six-team tourney was: Twin Rivers, second; Jackson, third; Scott County, fourth; Dunklin County, fifth; Cape Girardeau, sixth.