Charleston mounts comeback against Sikeston

SIKESTON — The Charleston baseball team rallied from an early deficit to secure a fierce 8-4 win over Sikeston at VFW Stadium on Tuesday, April 18.

The win completes the trifecta for the Bluejays (5-7), who have now defeated the Bulldogs (2-11) in baseball, basketball, and football in the same school year for the first time.

“High school games come down to execution,” said Charleston coach Michael Minner. “We got bunts down and rant the bases at times. If we cut out a few miscues we would have been in a better spot. But any time Charleston comes to Sikeston and wins a baseball game that’s a good thing. Most people think that’s not supposed to happen, but it sure is nice when it does.

Charleston's Chase Worthy takes a swing during an 8-4 win over Sikeston at VFW Stadium on Tuesday, April 18. (Dennis Marshall/Standard-Democrat)

“We’re glad to sneak out of there with a win.,” he continued. “We did some baseball things but we butchered some things that cost us. We have to be sharper at times. But we’re finding ways to be in games. Tonight we finished one.”

Sikeston roared out of the gate, taking a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning after Noah Pruitt scored on an error. Pruitt drove Luke Gadberry home for the team’s first run a short time earlier with a triple.

Charleston gained its first lead in the top of the third inning after Bennett Logan doubled to score Will Dixon, Lane Morrow doubled to score Bennett, and Bryant Gun doubled to score Morrow.

Sikeston's Trace Sullivan tags out a base runner during an 8-4 loss to Charleston at VFW Stadium on Tuesday, April 18. (Dennis Marshall/Standard-Democrat)

The Bluejays extended the lead 4-2 in the top of the fifth inning when Logan scored on a sacrifice fly by Chase Worthy, but the Bulldogs tied the game 4-4 in the ensuing inning after Trace Sullivan singled to score Gadberry and Sullivan scored on an error.

Charleston snapped the tie in the top of the sixth inning with four runs to take an 8-4 lead. Those runs came when Zach Rosson scored on a bases-load walk, Brian Simmons scored on a sacrifice bunt by Logan, and when Will Dixon and Ty’Kireous Farries scored on a double by Morrow.

“Lane Morrow had a couple of big hits for us,” Minner said. “But we got some bunts down too. Bennett Logan had a big squeeze there to give us an insurance run. We had a couple of seniors step up and wanted to win.”

Charleston's Bennett Logan sprints for first base during an 8-4 win over Sikeston at VFW Stadium on Tuesday, April 18. (Dennis Marshall/Standard-Democrat)

Logan earned the win on the mound after 6.1 innings of work. He allowed two earned runs on four hits with six strikeouts and four walked batters. Simmons finished the game by securing the final two outs. He didn’t give up any runs or hits.

“[Logan] was tough on the mound,” Minner said. “It was really impressive that he worked that deep in the game after throwing 24 pitches in the fourth inning. Brian Simmons came in pumping strikes in the seventh. It was a good ending.”

Joseph Heckemeyer took the loss after allowing three runs on one hit with two walked batters. Carter Goodman started the game and pitched the first five innings. He allowed three earned runs on five hits with eight strikeouts and three walks. Rush Ault threw the final two innings and allowed one earned run on three hits with one strikeout and two walks.

Sikeston's Carter Goodman throws a pitch during an 8-4 loss to Charleston at VFW Stadium on Tuesday, April 18. (Dennis Marshall/Standard-Democrat)

“I liked what I saw from Carter Goodman in his start on the mound,” said Sikeston coach Wyatt Pratt. “I thought Luke Gadberry had a really good game behind the plate.

“Not much else to say other than they just beat us today,” he continued. “They got the momentum and turned the lineup over to their hitters and they did what they had to. I think we’re getting better we just need more leadership in that lineup and we need to find the competitiveness to win a baseball game.”

Sikeston travels to Cape Central (7-8) on Thursday, April 20, and hosts Notre Dame (7-5) on Tuesday, April 25.

Charleston will host Kelly (10-5) on Thursday, April 20, and travel to Oak Ridge (5-7) on Tuesday, April 25.

“Wyatt Pratt is doing a great job,” Minner concluded. “He’s a former player and he’s going to get Sikeston back to the top. He’s a hard worker and knows the game. Give him a few years and he’ll be a household name. He’s one of the best baseball minds I’ve had the pleasure of coaching.”

__CHARLESTON 8, SIKESTON 4__

Charleston 003 014 0 — 8 9 3

Sikeston 200 020 0 — 4 4 0

W—Bennett Logan. L—Joseph Heckemeyer. 2B—Charleston: Lane Morrow (2), Bryant Gunn, Logan. Sikeston: Luke Gadberry. 3B—Sikeston: Noah Pruitt.