`... I DON'T CARE IF I NEVER GET BACK'

Louis Schmitt cheered along with other parents and fans during Scott County's all-star game at Arena Park Monday evening.

A scorecard wasn't needed at Arena Park Monday night to figure out what was at stake for Scott County's 11- and 12-year-old all-stars.

Robin Burger of New Hamburg was happy to talk about the effects of Sunday's broiling sun and what became of that long day's journey. His son Brett was tired but not too exhausted to exchange high-fives after being part of the previous day's four straight victories.

Officially they had been playing in the loser's bracket, but these kids who call Benton, Oran, New Hamburg and Kelso home didn't feel like losers.

They had already finished second in the district tournament, second in a Sikeston tournament and first in both the Jackson and Scott City tournaments. This would be their 44th game of the year, their last evening of baseball of the summer.

The back of a T-shirt worn by a Scott County fan may have said it all: "Losing is very bad, so I'll let you do it."

Fact is, the Scott County all-stars had been gathering strength and confidence with each game. But playing in 90-degree temperatures and high humidity, fatigue had to come into play at some point.

"They come from families who give them all the support they need for a tough tournament like this," said Terry Deason, casting a glance at the long row of parents in lawn chairs and metal bleachers.

Deason and Rich Doghogne manage the Scott County all-star team.

"Have we really played 44 games?" he asked with a look of disbelief.

Scott County had lost its first game of the tournament 3-2 to the Jackson Warriors, but bounced back with six straight victories. "One of those wins was a 10-run-rule job over the same Jackson team that beat us," said one parent to another. Both appeared to be veterans at exchanging vital pre-game information.

"We started at 3:30 Sunday afternoon and didn't finish until 10:30 Sunday night," Robin Burger said. "We took the kids to McDonald's for Big Macs and finally got home around 11:30 or midnight."

So there they were on Monday, needing two more wins to claim the championship. Fredericktown, their opponent, was undefeated in the tournament.

The tone for the first game was set by someone in the bleachers: "We've played a lot of ball; no use quitting now."

The Scott County all-stars answered that challenge as early as the opening inning. They scored six runs in the first and coasted to a 10-3 victory. There was just enough time to dip into coolers for sodas or take a quick trip to the concession stand for a jumbo bag of popcorn before the finale.

The stage was set for a pitcher's duel between Scott County's Justin Simpher and Fredericktown's Ben Durbin. As a pitcher, Simpher had plenty of heat and the bloodlines to be difficult to beat.

"His brother is Danny Simpher, who plays for the Capahas," Deason said. "If Justin is on, with his fast stuff and offspeed pitches, he'll be tough to score off of."

Durbin offered a windup that would create problems for the Scott County batters and perhaps players much older. His pitching arm shoots straight into the air as if prodded by an electronic device. He hesitates for a split-second and quickly delivers from the side or over the top.

"He can throw plenty of junk, but that's tough on our guys because we like the heat," Robin Burger said, grimacing. He appeared to be growing weary of too many innings sitting in backless bleachers.

The importance of the second game could be seen in everyone's actions. The coaches began positioning their defenses every inning. Conversation was mostly limited to between innings. The teams were getting down to some serious business.

Fredericktown scored its first run in the bottom of the third. Scott County answered with the tying run in the top of the fifth.

Their rooters' fervor increased as each batter strode to the plate. "Here we go Chase, here we go," they shouted. "Here we go Lance, here we go."

With one out in the top of the sixth and last inning, Scott County put runners at second and third but failed to score.

"We were so close, but at least no one got hurt on any of the plays," reasoned Robin Burger.

Fredericktown put a runner on in the bottom of the sixth when Simpher temporarily lost control and issued a walk. A wild pitch and passed ball sent the winning run to third.

A thick cloud of quiet descended on the park as young Simpher went into his windup. The pitch was too high for the catcher to handle and the runner scooted home.

Instead of bemoaning their fate, the parents of the Scott County players sent their sons back onto the field to congratulate the winners.

"Was that a ballgame or what?" said Robin Burger, a look of contentment framing another season into something memorable.