SIKESTON IS EXTRA TOUGH ON TIGERS; CAPE CENTRAL RALLIES IN SEVENTH, THEN FALL 4-3 IN EIGHT INNINGS

Cape Girardeau Central rallied to send the game into extra innings, but eventually fell 4-3 to Sikeston, the state's ninth ranked Class 4A high school baseball team, Wednesday at Tiger Field.

Sikeston (10-2) appeared to be cruising. It had a 3-1 lead going into the bottom of the seventh inning. Bulldog starting pitcher Ricky Fodge had allowed only one hit to the Tigers (9-5), then struck out the first batter he faced in the seventh.

Then Fodge issued a walk to Tiger shortstop Richard Harrison. Rob Carr, the next hitter, lined a single to right which was misplayed for an error, allowing the runners to advance to third and second bases. Fodge struck out the next batter, bringing Zac Fidler to the plate with two outs and the game on the line.

Fidler came through.

His two-run double, a line shot to the gap in right-center, sent Harrison and Carr home to knot the score at 3-3 and send the game into extra innings.

"I wasn't comfortable with the lead because Central has been playing solid baseball lately," said Sikeston coach Kevin Self.

Fidler's big hit was one of only three for the Cape squad.

"We had scoring opportunities early and didn't capitalize," said Cape Central coach Steve Williams. "We just didn't hit well today. We swung at too many bad pitches."

The first two batters for Sikeston in the top of the eighth were put away easily by Justin Cook, who relieved Jay Pierce in the sixth inning. A throwing error by third baseman John Snider on a routine ground ball by Ben Nelson put Nelson in scoring position at second base with catcher Kent Chappell coming to the plate.

Chappell, who had two hits and two runs batted in on the day, then slapped a hard ground ball that just scooted under the glove of diving third baseman Snider into left field. Pinch-runner Josh Mills, going on contact, scored the winning tally.

Sikeston scored a much-needed insurance run in the sixth inning to push the score to 3-1 when Chappell provided an RBI single.

Cape Central scored its first run in the first when Fidler walked and later scored on a single to right field by Dusty Barrows.

Cape Central starting pitcher Justin Welker had trouble finding the plate early and failed to retire a hitter in the second inning before being relieved by Jay Pierce with the bases loaded.

Pierce got out of the jam, inducing a double-play grounder. Pierce pitched 4 2/3 innings and gave up one run on four hits. Sikeston had eight hits total.

"Pierce did a nice job of keeping us in the game," said Williams.

Strong winds blowing in from the outfield all day did not present the best playing conditions. However, both teams played well defensively.

Cape Central turned two double plays, while Sikeston shortstop Adam Garrett made two brilliant plays to rob the Tigers of hits.

Jason Davis had two hits for Sikeston, including a double.