Sikeston’s comeback falls short in spirited battle on senior night

SIKESTON — On a night dedicated to honoring the seniors, the Sikeston softball team fought valiantly until the last pitch and poured their hearts out on the field.

The Lady Bulldogs (3-13) were determined to make their farewell game a memorable one, but ultimately fell 8-7 to the North County Lady Raiders (6-17) at the Sports Complex on Monday, October 2.

“This senior class set the bar high for other senior classes,” said Sikeston coach Allison Conder. “They were productive on the field and were great leaders during practice and games. They brought great energy and support to younger players. They were all quickly able to make bonds with the younger players and were always ready to give tips and advice to anyone. I wish we could keep them all for another year.”

In the bottom of the first inning, Sikeston took an early 2-0 lead after Abigail DeShaney hit a triple, bringing home Dakota Thompson and Chloe Hamby followed up with a single on a pop fly to left field, scoring DeShaney.

However, in the top of the third inning, North County turned the game around and surged ahead, gaining a 5-2 advantage.

The Lady Raiders’ lead continued to grow in the top of the fifth inning, stretching to 7-2.

The Lady Bulldogs fought back in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring one run as DeShaney singled to bring home Thompson, narrowing the deficit to 7-3.

Unfortunately, North County quickly responded with a run in the following inning, extending the lead to 8-3.

In a game where the odds seemed stacked against them, Sikeston refused to back down, attempting to rally in the bottom of the sixth inning as Cambree Scott’s triple brought home Thompson, Alexa Lee and Ja’Naye Moore, closing the gap to 8-7.

Despite the surge of momentum, Sikeston was not able to capitalize on its newfound energy, falling just short of completing the comeback.

Thompson, DeShaney and Lee led the offensive charge for Sikeston with two hits each.

Hamby took the loss after a resilient performance on the mound. Over the course of seven innings, she allowed four earned runs on 12 hits with eight strikeouts and two walked batters.

As the final inning came to an end, it was clear that seniors had left a lasting legacy on the rest of the team. Throughout the season, this group of girls’ infectious positivity, unwavering leadership and versatility on the field propelled the team forward, instilling a sense of confidence and camaraderie among their peers.

“What I’ll remember most from this [senior] group is the way they were able to have fun while playing and the way they approached each game,” Conder concluded. “They always brought positivity, experience, and leadership both on and off the field and they are going to be missed next year. As a group, they were always prepared and would step up and play any position that was asked of them. Their confidence helped the rest of the team to believe in themselves and to be ready to play each game.”

Sikeston will wrap up the regular season at East Carter (9-11) on Tuesday, October 3, and at Farmington (16-8) on Wednesday, October 4.