American Legion District 13 tournament begins today

Scott County Post 369 coach Denver Stuckey likes the way his team has been playing lately and thinks his squad has a legitimate shot at winning this week's District 14 American Legion baseball tournament, despite Dunklin County Post 303 entering as the favorite.

"What I've been telling our kids is that the second time we've played everybody we've beat everybody," Stuckey said. "So I think if our guys just go out and play the way they're capable and do the little things right, they'll have as good a chance as any of the four teams to win. I don't think our kids are real intimidated by Dunklin County."

The tournament, which has a two-game elimination format and will take place at Jackson City Park, has No. 2 Scott County facing No. 3 Jackson Post 158 at 5 p.m today, followed by No. 1 Dunklin County against No. 4 Cape Girardeau Post 63 at 8 p.m.

Scott County posted a 16-14 regular-season record and a 4-2 record in District 14, which was the same district record Dunklin County compiled.

Scott County and Dunklin County (32-15, 4-2) split the district season series 1-1, but Dunklin earned the top seed because it scored more runs over the two games combined.

Stuckey said he's not sure who he will pitch today against Jackson (27-16, 3-3), a team Post 369 beat in both regular-season district games this summer. Stuckey's decision will be one of four hurlers: Shae Simmons, Levi Felter, Adam Urhahn and Josh Henson.

"Any of those four," Stuckey said. "It just kind of depends on a gut feeling [today]."

KIT DOYLE ~ kdoyle@semissourian.com Jackson's Blake Reminger scored as Scott County catcher Cody Carlyle tried to make the tag during a game in June. Scott County won the meeting 8-3. The two teams will meet again tonight in a first-round game of the District 14 tournament.

Scott County has struggled pitching this summer with a team ERA of 8.85.

Simmons is 1-0 with a 3.18 ERA in 11 1/3 innings. Henson is 2-1 with a 4.94 ERA in 23 2/3 innings. Felter has a 3-4 record with a 7.46 ERA in 41 innings.

Urhahn has not allowed a run in 1 2/3 innings.

Jackson coach Mark Lewis said he and his players are optimistic despite losing twice to Scott County during the regular season.

KIT DOYLE ~ kdoyle@semissourian.com Jackson's Reminger scored as Scott County catcher Cody Carlyle tried to make the tag Tuesday evening, June 17, 2008, during legion play at Jackson City Park.

"Record-wise, you can take them and throw them out the window as far as that goes," Lewis said. "There's no automatic bids when it comes to district and state play.

"I think any time you're going into a tournament, you're hoping for good pitching and hope to get a couple of hot bats," Lewis said. "Your defense needs to be there all the time. I don't think it's any strange formula. I think we need to play well. ... Right now everybody is available to pitch in the game."

Stuckey said he'll have his complete roster for the district tournament. That means Southeast Missouri State's Trenton Moses, who had only seven at-bats during the regular season, will be ready to play along with slugger Kody Campbell, who had 31 at-bats during the regular season.

"From talking to them, I believe everybody will be there," Stuckey said. "Trenton [Moses] will be there. Shae [Simmons] will be there. Kody Campbell will be there. ... So we should have a full squad. I'm pretty excited about that. We should have our full roster for the whole tournament."

Stuckey said Dunklin will be the team to beat because of its depth, which includes strong pitching. Its top hurlers are Shane Branum, Dustin Hunter and Aaron McCaig.

"I think their most impressive arm is Dustin Hunter," Stuckey said. "He throws hard. In fact, we've worked on [facing] some velocity. They can all run it up there pretty good. That's what they've got over anybody else in the tournament is arms that can throw hard. ... They've got five or six guys who are good pitchers."

Hitting has been Scott County's strength all season. It enters with a team batting average of .367 and Stuckey said his offense has averaged seven or eight runs per game.

"Obviously their offense can be very potent when you put that many good hitters in a row," Lewis said. "It will be tough. There's not doubt in my mind."

Cape Girardeau coach Dave Meyr said both Dunklin County and Scott County are strong teams and will be tough to beat.

Cape Girardeau posted an 8-20 regular-season record and a 1-5 record in district competition.

"Like always, [Dunklin County] is a good team," Meyr said. "We're a little bit down this year. We're real young. We're going to have to play good defense, and pitch well and hit the ball well. That's basically all it amounts to. Our big thing is that we just have to play good defense. Limit our mistakes.

"I think between Dunklin and Scott County, it's a toss up," Meyr added.

Meyr said he'll probably start Garrett Stevens on the mound tonight against Dunklin County.

"Garrett is going to have to move his ball around, rely on his breaking pitch and try to locate his pitches and get ahead in the count," Meyr said. "They're tough to beat if you get behind in the count because they can sit back and look for that pitch out over the plate to drive somewhere."