Ford & Sons fails to hold off Sikeston

Cape suffered a 6-5 district loss at home.

Southeast Missourian

Whatever the Cape Girardeau American Legion team dished out on Monday, Sikeston was ready to return.

In a game which saw four different lead changes, Sikeston prevailed 6-5 in the opener of a doubleheader at Capaha Field. Cape Ford & Sons fell to 1-3 in District 14, while Sikeston improved to 4-1.

"We played hard again; we just couldn't come up with the little extra to get over it," Cape manager Dave Meyr said.

The game came down to one mistake-filled inning. After recapturing the lead with two runs in the bottom of the seventh, a three-error eighth inning led to two Sikeston runs which decided the game.

With closer Mike Taylor in to protect a 5-4 lead, Ford & Sons looked primed to even its district record. Taylor allowed a leadoff double to cleanup hitter Cullen DeHart, which was followed by an error by shortstop Kendal Deason that put runners on first and third.

Next was Taylor's turn for a mistake. His pick-off throw to first sailed wide of the bag, allowing one run to score and the runner on first to advance to third. Ben Walters drove in the runner from third with a ground out, as Sikeston took the lead for good.

"We just can't seem to get over the hump," Meyr said. "But the kids are working hard at it. They're playing hard."

Ford & Sons finished with six hits, none bigger than Ty Craft's two-out, two-run home run in the seventh inning. Craft sailed a 2-2 pitch off Sikeston starter Jordan Kimball over the 380-foot sign in left-center field. Craft, Scott Brueckner and Kendal Deason each finished with two hits. Craft had three RBIs.

Cape starter Cory Huskey pitched seven innings and allowed four runs on nine hits. Taylor, who took the loss, struck out four and allowed just one hit in two innings.

"Cory Huskey pitched a good game," Meyr said. "And Ty Craft had a big hit to get us out in front, but we couldn't hold them. Sikeston's a good team. They don't make many mistakes."

Ross Merideth relieved Kimball with two outs in the seventh and pitched the final 2 1/3 innings for the win. Merideth allowed one hit and struck out two. Kimball allowed five hits, four earned runs and struck out seven.

Offensively, J.R. Bizzell, DeHart, Matt Limbaugh and Kimball had two hits apiece for Sikeston.

Ford & Sons now has just one more game which will count toward district standings against Scott County.

"We know now we're not going to have the best record, but we'd like to beat Scott County," Meyr said.