Woodfest wraps up: Dunklin County wins tournament, Sikeston places fourth
Jackson gets revenge on Sikeston Post 114 in third place game
CHARLESTON -- In a rematch of Friday's first round game in the Charleston wooden bat tournament, Jackson Legion Post 158 and Sikeston Legion Post 114 once again squared off Sunday, this time fighting for third place in the tournament.
In their first match up, Post 114 took the contest, holding off a late Jackson rally to take the win.
This time around Post 158 would get their revenge, pounding out seven runs in the first two innings in route to a 9-2 victory.
"We didn't hit the ball," Sikeston's coach Matt Limbaugh said. "Jackson's pitchers threw well. Story of the game was they found the holes and we didn't."
Post 114's troubles started early as Jackson kicked off the game with three straight hits as part of a four-run first.
Jackson tacked three more on in the second, capped off with a bases loaded single up the first base line by Caleb Hosey, scoring the final run from third.
Sikeston would get on the board in the bottom of the frame as designated hitter Ben Freed scored from third with the bases loaded off a misplayed ball by the shortstop with Trey Johnson at the plate.
Post 114's starting pitcher Josh Boese would settle down from the third on, pitching four scoreless innings to keep his team within reach.
Unfortunately for Sikeston, they would also go scoreless in those four innings, collecting only one hit in that time frame, a single in the sixth.
In the seventh and final inning, Post 158 would tack on two more insurance runs leaving Post 114 with eight runs to make up and only three outs to go.
After Bryan Freed started off the seventh with a walk Sikeston would throw one last run on the board as Johnson would score from second off a Mikey Russell single to right field.
Any hopes of a comeback were dashed however, when with two outs, Evan Underwood grounded into a force out with runners on first and second to end the rally.
"We've been hitting the ball well all weekend today we just couldn't find anything," Boese said.
Limbaugh said he was proud of how his kids responded after a tough start.
"For having two rough innings it was good staying in it and not sitting there and blowing the game out of proportion," Limbaugh said. "Kept us in it, but our bats just didn't come alive today."
Though Post 114 drew seven walks on the day, they only collected three hits with Russell, Underwood and Ross Bohannon each collecting a single.
In earning the loss Boese went six innings, allowing seven runs on seven hits while striking out three.
"After giving up seven, he came back and threw four scoreless innings," Limbaugh said. "That showed a lot of character for him to be able to come back.
"When you don't get the plays made behind you sometimes a lot of pitchers want to just sit there, get down and they just lose everything. He showed a lot of class coming back and shutting it down."
With his team coming in to the tournament still looking for their first win, third baseman Nathan Rodgers was happy to see his team start the weekend off strong.
"We came in winless and we beat Charleston and Jackson," Rodgers said. "Jackson just happened to come back and get some revenge on us."
Staying on the road for their next match up, Post 114 heads to Poplar Bluff Wednesday. where they will take on its Legion team at 5 p.m.
Jackson 430 000 2 - 9
Sikeston 010 000 1 - 2
WP -- Caleb Hosey. LP -- Josh Boese. Multiple hitter -- (J) Chad Scroggins 2-3, Logan Bartels 2-5, Caleb Hosey 2-4.