Dunklin County's 10-8 win pushes Scott County into loser's bracket

If the Scott County American Legion baseball team is going to win its second straight district title, Post 369 will have to do it the hard way.

Top-seeded Scott County was pushed into the losers bracket of the District 14 tournament as third-seeded Dunklin County rallied for a 10-8 victory Wednesday night at Capaha Field.

Post 369, which lost for just the second time in its last 18 games, fell to 27-10.

Scott County will now need three straight wins to capture the crown in the five-team, double-elimination event, beginning with today's 8 p.m. losers bracket final.

"You don't want to have to do it this way," Scott County coach Denver Stuckey said. "But we're more than capable."

Scott County starting pitcher Steven Dooley headed to the mound for the bottom of the second inning during play against Dunklin County at Capaha Field on Wednesday. (Kit Doyle)

While Scott County faces an uphill battle, Dunklin County (24-17) is in the driver's seat as it advances directly to Friday's 5 p.m. championship round. A victory there gives Dunklin County the title.

"It's been an up and down year for us, but we seem to be playing our best baseball now," Dunklin County coach Jamie Johnson said. "But there's still a lot of baseball to be played."

Neither squad probably played its best Wednesday as Scott County committed five errors that led to a pair of unearned runs.

Dunklin County had all three of its errors in the top of the fourth inning as Post 369 scored five unearned runs to surge ahead 8-6.

Thanks in large part to strong relief work by Andy Stephens, Scott County was able to maintain the lead until the bottom of the eighth.

Dunklin County baserunner Josh Hutton rounded third to score against Scott County during the third inning Wednesday at Capaha Field.

The only problem for Post 369 was that Dunklin County reliever Dustin Crane never let Scott County open any breathing room as he worked five shutout innings, allowing just two hits.

"Dustin came in and really did a great job," Johnson said. "You can't say enough about him."

Stephens, after replacing starter Steven Dooley, gave up just one run and one hit over 4 1/3 innings as Scott County carried a shaky 8-7 advantage into the bottom of the eighth.

Kaleb Canoy, the No. 9 hitter leading off the frame, bounced a routine ground ball to third base that was booted by Caleb Daughhetee for an error.

Canoy moved to second on a wild pickoff throw by catcher Cody Carlyle for the second error of the inning.

Tailor Laden walked and Stephens was replaced on the mound by Alex Chasteen, who struck out Dustin Hunter.

But Jeremy Patton was hit by a pitch to load the bases and a wild pitch allowed Canoy to score the tying run.

Ben Smith walked to re-load the bases and Kenny Abernathy drilled a tie-breaking, two-run single to center field.

Scott County threatened in the ninth as Caleb Seyer led off with a walk and Trenton Moses got a one-out single.

The runners were still on first and second with two outs when Tyler Beardslee lofted a fly ball to shallow left-center that looked like it would drop, which might have tied the contest since the runners were on the move with two outs.

But Patton, Dunklin County's impressive shortstop, made a spectacular diving catch with his back to the infield to end things.

"I knew I was close to it and I just had to lay out for it," Patton said. "It was a great win. We're in the driver's seat now, but we know there's still a long way to go."

Both teams had 10 hits. Patton tripled, doubled and drove in three runs, while Josh Hutton added two hits for Dunklin County.

Carlyle, Beardslee and Blake Dirnberger all delivered two hits for Scott County.

Stephens was the tough-luck loser. In 4 1/3 innings, he allowed just one hit and three runs, two earned. He struck out four and walked four.

"He came up huge for us," Stuckey said.

Dooley, the starter, was tagged for eight hits and six runs, five earned, in 2 2/3 innings. Chasteen was charged with the final run.

Crane notched a well-deserved victory with his five two-hit innings. He fanned two and walked two.

Dunklin County starter Chip Smith allowed eight hits and eight runs in four innings, but only three of the runs were earned.

"We were a play or two away from winning the game," Stuckey said. "It's disappointing, but now we've just got to fight back."