Cape Sr. Legion drops twin bill

The Cape Girardeau Post 63 Ford and Sons American Legion baseball team got off to a rough start in Wednesday night's District 14 matchup against Sikeston Post 114.

Visiting Sikeston took advantage of a leadoff error to score two unearned runs in the top of the first inning.

Things never got much better for Cape, which suffered a 6-2 loss in the opener of a doubleheader at Capaha Field as Post 63 completed its district schedule.

"They did things better than us," Cape coach Justin Lieser said.

That also held true in the non-district nightcap as Sikeston completed the sweep with a wild 11-8, eight-inning victory.

Cape fell to 18-21 overall and 3-5 in district play.

Sikeston (14-13, 2-5) avenged a district loss to Cape on June 21 in Sikeston as Post 63 wound up sweeping that doubleheader.

More importantly to Sikeston coach Pete Kennard, his squad -- with one district game remaining against Scott County -- appears to peaking at just the right time.

"I think we're finally turning the corner," Kennard said. "We're trying to get a little momentum for the [district] tournament."

The five-team District 14 tourney will be played next week, with Dunklin County serving as the host.

Cape Ford and Sons Post 63 Senior Legion pitcher J.C. Chapman throws a strike to Sikeston's Austin Lynn in the first inning of Post 63's 6-2 loss to Post 114 Wednesday, July 10, at Capaha Field. (Adam Vogler)

Sikeston scored four unearned runs -- Cape committed three errors -- in Wednesday's district matchup as the squads combined for just eight hits.

"Neither team hit the ball all that well," Lieser said.

While Cape struggled defensively, Post 63 also did not do much offensively.

Cape Post 63’s Thomas Crocetti heads for home off a hit by Wyatt Isom in the fourth inning of Post 63’s 6-2 loss to Sikeston Post 114 Wednesday at Capaha Field. (Adam Vogler)

Jashawn McDaniel allowed just three hits while going the seven-inning distance. Two of the hits never left the infield.

"He's really good. He's always around the plate," Lieser said.

McDaniel struck out five and walked two. Both runs against him were unearned thanks to Sikeston's only error.

Kennard said McDaniel has largely thrived when his defense has performed well behind him. Sikeston's defense turned in several strong plays to support its ace.

"Jashawn is usually around the strike zone. If we catch it he usually does pretty well," Kennard said.

Said Lieser: "Their whole infield, if they got to the ball, they made the plays."

Wyatt Isom, who had two of Cape's three hits, credited McDaniel with a solid performance. But Isom said Post 63 should have done more with the bats.

"He was a good pitcher but we should have hit better," Isom said.

It didn't take Sikeston long to take charge.

Patrick Smith, the night's first hitter, reached on an error as his ground ball was booted.

Smith went to second on a wild pitch and moved up to third on a single by Trip Keene. The pair then pulled off a double steal, with Smith scoring.

Adam Kennard, the coach's son who made several nifty defensive plays at third base, delivered a two-out RBI single.

"We got a couple of good breaks," Pete Kennard said.

Sikeston made it 4-0 in the second inning, getting two more hits. Post 114 had only one hit the rest of the contest but its cushion was enough.

Post 63 scored its two runs in the fourth inning, taking advantage of a leadoff error, Sikeston's lone miscue of the game.

Isom had an RBI single and later scored on a wild pitch.

Post 114 rounded out the scoring in the fifth inning, getting two runs without the benefit of a hit as Cape committed two errors.

J.C. Chapman, Cape's ace, took the loss although he could have fared much better. He allowed four hits and two earned runs in five innings, striking out five and walking three.

"He labored a little bit. He said coming in from the bullpen before the game he didn't have his best stuff," Lieser said. "But if we make some plays behind him ... He battled."

Chase Eubank and Devin Austin both pitched a scoreless inning for Cape.

Sikeston then completed the sweep despite Cape rallying from an 8-1 deficit to force extra innings.

Drew Bartels two-run double with two outs in the bottom of the seventh forged an 8-8 tie.

Sikeston broke the deadlock with a three-run top of the eighth. Josh Hampton led off with a triple and scored the go-ahead run on Kennard's RBI single.

Keene was the winning pitcher and Austin took the loss as Sikeston had a 10-6 edge in hits.

Cambron Womack led Cape with three hits, including two doubles.

Cape returns to action Sunday with its final home game, a 1 p.m. contest against Blytheville, Ark.