NMCC storms back for win over Sikeston

NEW MADRID, Mo. — After finding itself in an early hole, the New Madrid County Central baseball team refused to give up, and mounted a furious comeback to secure an improbable victory over Sikeston.

The Eagles (3-2) trailed by five runs midway through the three innings but scored 13 runs over the next three innings to secure a 13-6 win over the Bulldogs (1-5) at Eagle Park on Monday, April 3.

“Man we battled,” said NMCC Joseph McClarty. “[Brady] Swims finally settled in after the second inning and he was fantastic. We took advantage of some walks and some timely hitting. Sikeston has some great players and our coaching staff is extremely proud of our boys for being prepared and never giving up today.”

Sikeston took a 1-0 advantage when Trace Sullivan scored on a line drive double Joseph Heckemeyer in the top of the first inning. Sullivan reached base after he was hit by a pitch.

The Bulldogs extend the lead to 5-0 in the top of the second inning after Brice Gordon scored on an error, Rush Ault doubled to score Jacob Leavitt, Sullivan doubled to score Ault, and Noah Pruitt doubled to score Sullivan.

“I think overall the effort and competitiveness were there,” said Sikeston coach Wyatt Pratt. “We are just looking to put an entire game together. I think we pitch, hit, and field well at times. We just need to put it all together for a complete seven innings.”

NMCC tied it 5-5 in the bottom of the third inning after Ty Williams and Clay Cope scored on bases-loaded walks, and Chris Grissom doubled on a line drive to score Carson Pfeffer, Makalen McFerren and Ayden McCanless.

“We got down by five early but we never gave up,” McClarty said. “We were able to build off momentum from Grissom’s big bases-loaded double.”

The Eagles gained their first lead in the fourth inning when Brandon Waters scored on a passed ball, and extended to lead to 8-5 after Swims doubled to score McCanless and Swims scored on an error.

John Harris scored on a single by Clay Cope in the fifth inning to make it 9-5, and McCanless had a grand slam home run later in the inning to score McFerren, Cope and Williams and push the lead to 13-5.

Sikeston was able to add one final run in the top of the seventh inning when Leavitt scored on a sacrifice fly by Pruitt.

Swims earned the complete-game win on the mound after slowing three earned runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and two walked batters.

Phillip Johnson took the loss for Sikeston. He pitched just one inning and allowed five earned runs on seven hits with a walk. Pruitt started the game for the Bulldogs and threw the first three innings, surrendering five earned runs on one hit with four strikeouts and seven walks. Levitt pitched the final two innings and allowed an earned run on a hit with two strikeouts and five walks.

Sikeston hosts Poplar Bluff (4-5) on Tuesday, April 4, and travels to Ste. Genevieve (1-5) on Friday, April 7.

NMCC is on the road at Malden (1-3) on Tuesday, April 4, and at Kelly (6-2) on Thursday, April 6.

__NMCC 13, SIKESTON 6__

Sikeston 140 000 1 — 6 6 3

NMCC 005 350 0 — 13 6 1

W—Brady Swims. L—Phillip Johnson. 2B—Sikeston: Noah Pruitt, Trace Sullivan, Joseph Heckemeyer, Rush Ault; NMCC: Chris Grissom, Swims. HR—NMCC: Ayden McCanless.