Sophomore Phillip Sikes is a solid baseball prospect. District 15-4A coaches knew that, already, since they selected Sikes as Newcomer of the Year after he displayed outstanding all-around skills during his freshman season last year.
One year later Sikes is showing signs of becoming one of the district’s best pitchers, if Friday’s 15-4A opener at Hub Hollis Field is any indication. Sikes pitched the Paris Wildcats to a 7-0 shutout over the Liberty-Eylau Leopards with a dominant, 11-strikeout performance in 6 innings of work on the mound.
He was nearly untouchable in his first turn through the Leopard lineup until he lost command of his curveball. Four walks and 3 solid L-E hits gave the visitors an opportunity to get back in the game, but Sikes left the bases loaded in the fourth with a strikeout, he induced a popup to strand a runner at third in the fifth, and he recorded his final strikeout to leave 2 more on the bags in the sixth.
Junior shortstop Channing Parker switched positions with Sikes to pitch the final inning and complete the shutout.
Sikes’ coach (and uncle), Bill Sikes only expects his nephew to get better. “He’s just a sophomore,” he reminded.
Sikes (the coach) also expects steady improvement from his club in general. After dodging bad weather and a resultant lack of quality practice time, the Cats started the season 0-5, but they’ve climbed back to 6-7. They’ve steadied the defense (just one error Friday on a pickoff attempt that ricocheted off the base runner), and the offense is beginning to round into form.
Paris pounded 8 hits against the Leopards’ big senior righthander Logan Crawford, and they also drew 4 walks and a hit batter to help set the bases. The Leopards contributed to the Cat attack with 5 errors and a pair of wild pitches.
The top of the lineup set the pace. Designated hitter Connor Hummel, batting leadoff, collected a pair of hits, while No. 2 hitter, rightfielder Casey Reavis, also had 2 hits which provided 3 RBI. Sikes, batting in the third spot, scored the game’s first run after his 2-out single, stolen base and wild pitch set the stage for centerfielder Drew Helberg’s RBI single.
Hummel, Reavis, and Helberg (along with leftfielder Kaden Callihan) were honored along with their families in pre-game ceremonies on Senior Night.
Junior first baseman Philip Nance had the other Wildcat RBI.
The Cats hope to get more outside practice time (although more rain is in the immediate forecast) before next Friday, April 3, when they’re scheduled to play crosstown rival North Lamar at Pos Long Field.
The Panthers also started district on a winning note, 4-3 over Atlanta. Pleasant Grove, ranked No. 2 in the latest state coaches’ poll, beat Pittsburg in the other district opener