Underdog Sikeston shows grit in a close loss to state-ranked Kennett

KENNETT, Mo. — Sikeston may have had a rough season so far, but the team proved their mettle in a hard-fought loss to a talented and state-ranked Kennett team.

Despite being an underdog, the Bulldogs (1-9) put up a strong fight and kept the game close before ultimately losing by a 7-6 margin to the Indians (9-4) at Kennett High School on Wednesday, April 12.

“I saw some encouraging things,” said Sikeston coach Wyatt Pratt. “I thought both my pitchers competed well on the mound. I’m proud of our late-inning rally attempts. Again we were just one swing away. I liked what I saw from my two freshmen that got an opportunity against a good team.”

Kennett opened the game by scoring a couple of runs in the bottom of the first inning to take a 2-0 advantage. Those runs came when Brooks Nigut doubled to score John Poole and Hayden Gilmore singled to score Nigut.

Sikeston tied to game 2-2 after Noah Pruitt scored on a double by Jacob Leavitt in the second inning and Keane Atkins Jr. scored on an error in the third inning.

However, the Indians responded in the bottom of the third inning, taking a 6-2 lead after Poole scored on a double by Trey Gardner, Nigut and Trey Gardner scored on an error, and Gilmore scored on a double by Matt Gardner.

The Bulldogs narrowed the lead to 6-4 after Joseph Heckemeyer and Trace Sullivan scored on an error in the fifth inning.

Kennett added its final run in the bottom of the inning when Matt Gardner scored on a single by Tanner Pierce.

Heath Poindexter stole home base to make 7-5 in the top of the sixth inning, and Pruitt scored on an error in the seventh inning.

Sikeston loaded the bases with two outs after Rush Ault was hit by a pitch following Pruitt’s scoring play, but Gilmore struck out the next batter to end the game and secure the victory for the Indians.

Trey Gardner earned the win after 5.1 innings. He allowed one earned run on six hits with four strikeouts and two walked batters.

Gilmore threw the final 1.2 innings, allowing one earned run on two hits with four strikeouts and one walk.

Ault took the loss after pitching three innings. He surrendered two earned runs on four hits with one strikeout and four walks.

Pruitt finished the game for Sikeston, throwing the final three innings. He didn’t allow any earned runs on three hits with five strikeouts.

Sikeston will host Jackson (12-5) on Thursday, April 13. Jackson is the ninth-ranked team in Class 5 according to the latest MHSBCA Rankings. The Bulldogs will also compete against Marshall County (Ky.) and Mt. Vernon (Ill.) on Saturday, April 15.

Kennett is the third-ranked team in Class 4 and will host Greene County Tech (Ark.) on Thursday, April 13, and travel to Dexter (4-4) on Saturday, April 15.

__KENNETT 7, SIKESTON 6__

Sikeston 011 021 1 — 6 8 4

Kennett 204 010 x — 7 7 6

W—Trey Gardner. L—Rush Ault. 2B—Sikeston: Jacob Leavitt; Kennett: Trey Gardner, Matt Gardner, Brooks Nigut.