Sikeston baseball team routs East Prairie 20-2

Sikeston second baseman Will Pratt throws over the head of East Prairie's Brian Shoffner while turning a double play during a high school baseball game Thursday, March 23, 2017, at H.A. Jones Park in East Prairie, Mo. (David Jenkins/Standard Democrat)

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. -- Sikeston scored six runs in the top of the first and never let up, taking down host East Prairie 20-2 Thursday afternoon.

The Bulldogs opened the game with a leadoff walk to Trey Smith before Sam Cox singled and Wyatt Pratt reached on an error. McKenzie Worth then plated Smith and Cox with a single and Pratt scored on a single from designated hitter Bryce Bays, giving Sikeston a 3-0 lead before recording an out.

When the smoke settled in the top of the inning, Sikeston held a comfortable 6-0 lead for starting pitcher Will Pratt.

Sikeston's Nate Self watches his double leave the bat against East Prairie during a high school baseball game Thursday, March 23, 2017, at H.A. Jones Park in East Prairie, Mo. (David Jenkins/Standard Democrat)

"It's great," Sikeston head coach Brett Kolons said of the fast start. "We preach have fun, be competitive and be aggressive because we want to put pressure on them and the guys today came up swinging it."

East Prairie didn't back down, however, and plated two runs in the bottom of the inning. Leadoff hitter Derez Tipler doubled and advanced to third when Luke Marcum reached on an error. Pratt then coaxed a ground out followed by a strike out before Brian Shoffner singled, scoring Tipler. Nate Owen then hit a towering fly ball in the infield that Sikeston misplayed, scoring Marcum. However Sikeston recovered and threw out Shoffner trying to score, ending the inning.

After Sikeston was held scoreless in the top of the second, the Bulldogs added four runs in the third, followed by three runs in the fourth and seven more in the fifth.

East Prairie, playing their fourth game in six days, had limited pitching for the game and Sikeston took advantage. The Bulldogs banged out 12 hits while drawing 10 walks, led by catcher Noah Hicks who finished 3 for 5 with four runs scored. Bays and Will Pratt each finished with two hits apiece while Wyatt Pratt drove in four runs and Bays and Worth each had three RBIs.

Kolons was happy with his team's approach at the plate against the Eagles.

"A lot of times they are looking for a first pitch strike to hit but if they don't get it we're preaching one pitch, one spot," Kolons said. "We want to be aggressive and get after that pitch."

East Prairie's Brian Shoffner dives back to first base safely as Sikeston first baseman McKenzie Worth prepares to catch the pickoff throw during a high school baseball game Thursday, March 23, 2017, at H.A. Jones Park in East Prairie, Mo. (David Jenkins/Standard Democrat)

Will Pratt earned the win on the mound for Sikeston allowing three hits and two unearned runs in three innings while striking out three and walking one. PJ Kennard threw two scoreless frames allowing two walks while striking out one.

"There was a couple new guys who threw today that didn't get a lot of time last year and that's kind of what we want to see," Kolons said. "We want to see what we've got."

East Prairie fell to 2-2 with the loss and got hits from Tipler, Marcum and Shoffner. Marcum took the loss on the mound for the Eagles who will travel to Kelly today.

Sikeston improved to 2-0 on the season and will host Jackson today at 4:30 p.m. in a SEMO Conference matchup.

"Jackson's got a good team and we're excited to see what they've got," Kolons said.

Sikeston 604 37 -- 20 12 2

East Prairie 200 00 -- 2 3 7

WP -- Will Pratt. LP -- Luke Marcum. 2B -- (S) Max Ault, Wyatt Pratt, Nate Self, (EP) Derez Tipler. Multiple hitters -- (S) Noah Hicks 3-5, Bryce Bays 2-3, Will Pratt 2-3.