Jackson denied in final

The Jackson American Legion team could not take advantage of a strong start from A.J. Seiler and dropped two games to Sikeston on Saturday to finish as runner-up in the American Legion District 14 championship at Jackson.

With the RE/MAX Achievers needing only one win to clinch their first district championship, Sikeston outdueled them 6-5 and 17-7 to push its record to 4-1 against Jackson this season.

Because Sikeston is the zone host and automatically has a spot in this week's tournament, Jackson also advanced to the zone tournament, which will start Thursday.

"I think they came with a mission today," Sikeston coach Charlie Dye said of his team. "I think they came to play."

Sikeston needed 10 innings Friday night to get past Dunklin County 7-5 in the losers bracket final which ended close to 1:30 a.m. Less than 12 hours later, Post 114 had jumped on Jackson starter Seiler for three-first inning runs and an early lead.

Seiler settled down, though, and by the fifth inning Jackson had climbed back in the game and trailed 5-4. Jackson had the tying run on second with no outs in the ninth, but Jason Owen was doubled up on a line drive by Trey Busch to end the threat.

Jackson coach Mark Lewis said trying to knock off Sikeston that first game was the key.

"That was the game," Lewis said. "That was the key of the tournament. That was when we had the most pitching. I felt like we had a chance."

Seiler threw all nine innings for Jackson in the loss. Jason Meystedt led Jackson's offense with three hits, four RBIs and a home run. Busch and Tyler Profilet added two hits apiece in the opener.

Sikeston starter Ross Merideth went six innings for the win. Lance Rhodes closed out the game in the ninth for the save. Offensively, Matt Smith led Sikeston with three hits, including a home run, and three RBIs.

"That first game was a typical Sikeston/Jackson game, a nail-biter to the end," Dye said.

Sikeston sweeps

The second game matched little-used pitchers in Jackson's Owen and Sikeston's Ben Walters. Both pitchers struggled early with Sikeston and Jackson knotted at 2-2 after the first inning.

Runs continued to come easy for both teams with Jackson putting up another two in the top of the third only to have Sikeston answer with four of its own in the bottom half of the inning.

"Game 2 was just a free-for-all," Lewis said.

Walters was able to settle down for Sikeston, cruising into the sixth inning with a 7-4 lead. After allowing three of Jackson's first four batters to reach in that frame, though, Walters' day was finished. Jordan Penn relieved Walters and limited the damage. Jackson got two in the inning and cut the lead to 7-6.

The score was 8-7 heading into the bottom of the seventh when the wheels came off for Jackson. Brandon Cooper came in after Jackson reliever Tony Longman allowed the first two runners to reach. Seven of Sikeston's next eight batters reached safely, and by the time the inning was over Sikeston led 16-7.

"Mentally that's tough to come back from," Lewis said.

Rhodes provided the offensive fireworks for Sikeston in the second game. Rhodes was 3-for-3 with a two-run home run and two doubles. He had a pair of walks as well. Smith added three hits for Sikeston, and Joey Bickings had a three-run home run.

Brandon Gendron led Jackson with two hits in the second game, including a home run. Meystedt added a home run, giving him three home runs in four tournament games.