Cape Legion falls to Sikeston in district tournament

SIKESTON, Mo. -- It's been a struggle of late to even make an appearance in the Senior Legion District 14 tournament for Sikeston Post 114. That's because for two of the past four seasons, Post 114 has failed to hold together a team long enough to even take part.

All in one motion, Post 114 -- somewhat rejuvenated with a new attitude and a new name, the Silver Sox -- helped erase a few tumultuous first round absences with a 7-5 victory over the Cape Girardeau Ford & Sons Post 63 Senior American Legion team Thursday during the first round of the tournament at VFW Memorial Stadium.

"When me and Craig [Templeton] took over, one of our first objectives was to steer this program in the right direction," Sikeston coach Jacob May said. "We wanted guys that wanted to make a commitment to this team. The core guys that have been a part of this team for a few seasons understood that, and they've wanted this for a while now. They just wanted to play."

The Silver Sox move into the tournament semifinals where they will play Jackson Post 158 at 6 p.m. today. Post 63 will play the loser of that game directly after in the double-elimination format.

Backed by a stellar defensive outing, the Silver Sox (12-11) got a strong performance from winning pitcher Jordan Kluesner, who pitched eight innings and allowed 12 hits and two walks. Colton Hampton earned the save, inheriting two of Kluesner's three base runners and keeping Sikeston's two-run win intact in the ninth.

"I was up in the air as to who I was going to throw to set up our rotation for the tournament, but Jordan stepped up big for us," May said. "He hit his spots and didn't try to do it all by himself. He let his defense work behind him. Our defense played awesome, and that's been something we've done well all year."

Michael Ralls picked up the loss for Post 63 (17-15) after throwing six innings and allowing six hits. Post 63 outhit Sikeston 12-8 and stranded six runners.

"We were hitting the ball well, we just couldn't get any runs across," Post 63 coach Justin Lieser said. "We had no momentum in spots and I really felt like we couldn't get going."

Sikeston got the upper hand in the second inning after Colton Davis hit into a bases-loaded double play that scored Luke Williams from third. Trent Pobst showed off his speed and craftiness on the basepaths by stealing home to give Sikeston a 2-0 advantage.

Pobst, who finished 2 for 4 with three stolen bases, also stole third in the eighth inning which led to a crucial insurance run. May said his awareness on the basepaths helped the Silver Sox keep its momentum early.

"Him taking bases and making things happen gave us the advantage," May said about Pobst. "Against a good team like Cape you have to take what they give you."

After Post 63 scored its first run in the top of the fourth, it took the lead the next inning. Cape scored three runs on four hits, which started with a single by Cramer McGarr and an error by Pobst in left field that allowed Logan Callahan to score.

A sacrifice fly by Matt Chism soon followed. An RBI single by Chase Hagerty gave Post 63 a 4-2 lead.

"We had a feeling just two runs weren't going to win i,t so we just had to keep battling," Lieser said.

Sparked by a leadoff double from Colton Davis, Sikeston turned retook the lead in the fifth. A single from Wyn Roberds pushed Davis home an at-bat later, and Roberds was moved ahead to third on a bunt single by Logan Hampton.

Roberds scored the tying run after a wild pitch from Ralls was called a dead ball for getting hung up in the backstop fence. An argument from Lieser didn't change the outcome.

"That's something I've never seen before," Lieser said. "But, not one play makes or breaks a game for us. Was it a big play? Yes. But was it 'the' play. No."

A sacrifice fly by Nathan Hampton scored Logan Hampton and gave the Silver Sox a 5-4 lead.

Sikeston struck again in the eighth with two more runs for extra breathing room. Chism was called for a balk while attempting a pickoff move that allowed Pobst to score after he had stolen third.

Roberds beat out a slow roller to first where Post 63 first baseman Trevor Propst fell to the ground and heaved a sidearmed throw to Chism covering the bag that trickled away just enough to allow Josh Barber to score from second and give Sikeston a 7-4 advantage.

"We took the extra bases when they were given to us, and we played fundamental baseball," said May. "That's what you have to do this time of year."

Post 63 managed to bring the go-ahead run to the plate in the top of the ninth after a pinch-hit single by Brock Baugher scored Isaac Pender. But reliever Colton Hampton coaxed a ground ball up the middle which Cody Rodgers picked up and threw out a runner trying to score at home to keep the two-run advantage. Hampton struck out Chism and then got a ground ball to Roberds at short to strand two runners and end the game.

"All year long this kids have battled," May said. "I knew they were ready for this game and proved it."

The Silver Sox will have at least two more games to play starting today. A win against Jackson moves them into the championship game at noon Saturday, but a loss will have them playing Post 63 again later that night. Sikeston went 1-3 against Jackson, which lost just six games in the last month, this season.

"Jackson's a very solid team," May said. "They're very hot right now."

Post 63 000 130 001 -- 5 12 2

Silver Sox 020 030 02x -- 7 8 1

WP -- Jordan Kluesner. LP -- Michael Ralls. S -- Colton Hampton. Multiple hitters: (63) Matt Chism 2-4, Chase Hagerty 3-4, Isaac Pender 2-3, Logan Callahan 2-4; (S) Trent Pobst 2-3, Colton Davis 2-4, Wyn Roberds 2-4. 2B: (63) Chism, Callahan; (S) C. Hampton, Davis.