CHAFFEE CHRISTENS SCOTT CITY FIELD WITH 15-3 ROMP

SCOTT CITY, Mo. -- It was opening day at Scott City Ballfield, but for the Scott City Rams it was the same old story.

The Chaffee Red Devils rolled over the Rams 15-3 in a game shortened to five innings by the 10-run mercy rule Monday afternoon.

Chaffee (6-1), one of the better hitting teams in the area, pounded Scott City pitching for 12 hits. The majority came in a 12-run, fourth-inning explosion.

A struggling Scott City team fell to 0-6 on the season.

Red Devil catcher Travis Hanback started the fireworks in the fourth with a bases-loaded triple. Chaffee had eight of its hits in the inning and sent 15 batters to the plate. The Red Devils, who took a 1-0 lead in the third inning, chased starter Trent Estes, who gave way to Steven Posey.

Hanback led the Chaffee offense with three hits, while Jeremy Lynn, Perry Rice, Matt Stroup and Shawn Powderly had two each.

With four players hitting .400 or better, Chaffee coach Brian Horrell said, "Right now we're hitting the ball pretty well. To be honest, it's probably exceeded my expectations."

Stroup, the Red Devils' starter, allowed three hits in three scoreless innings with eight strikeouts.

"Matt Stroup, I think he's probably the best pitcher we'll see all year," said Scott City coach Mike Umfleet. "He's just overpowering and we just weren't ready for that."

The Rams scratched out four hits and three runs in the fourth inning against G. P. Glueck, who came on in relief with Chaffee leading 13-0.

Jacob Ressel and Jordan Comer paced the Ram offense with two hits apiece.

On his team's woes this season, Umfleet said, "Chaffee's a good team; they do the little things; they make plays. That's where we're trying to get."