Kelly, Scott City transcend baseball in Green Up game

Do it for Dom. Play for Kaden.

They're two different mantras, but for Kelly and Scott City, two schools separated by a mere 15 miles, there was something more to Thursday's baseball game at Scott City High School.

Both teams donned green jerseys in honor of organ donor awareness month, but perhaps more importantly, two communities came together in remembrance of former Scott City student-athlete Dominic Hooper and former Kelly student-athlete Kaden Robert, both of whom died tragically last year.

"Those are two outstanding young kids that we've lost, and these guys all feel it. They talk about it all the time," Scott City coach Jim May said. "This is what it's about. This is what high school sports are all about. It's about doing things like this in honor of people who deserve to be honored."

The two teams lined the first- and third-base lines as Hooper's stepfather, Chris Snider, and Robert's cousin, Peyton Eftink, each threw out a ceremonial first pitch.

Meanwhile, Hooper's mother, Sara Snider, threw the ceremonial first pitch on the softball field, where the Rams and West County also took part in a Green Up game.

Fans from both schools gathered to raise money and awareness for Donate Life America, a non-profit organization committed to increasing organ, eye and tissue donation.

"Kelly's been doing some stuff with the green-out games, and with Dominic, we thought it would be a great matchup to just come out and try to raise some money for the organ donor's society," May said. "That's kind of how it came to be, and we're just happy to be here to honor these two guys. ... The kids were pretty fired up to get out here and honor these guys."

More than 100 people showed up March 30 for the first Green Up game, which was hosted at Kelly High School. The focus was to raise money for the Under Armour Baseball Factory-Kaden Robert scholarship fund, a $10,000 scholarship initiated by Robert's parents that goes toward any Southeast Missouri softball or baseball player.

Kelly's Jeremiah Bain tags Scott City's Trent Pobst out at home plate in the third inning Thursday, April 23, 2015 in Scott City, Missouri. (Glenn Landberg)

Kelly has challenged 17 schools across the area, as well as the Southeast Missouri State baseball team, to take part in the challenge and raise $500 by the end of April.

"I know Bell City accepted the challenge. We had a green-out game with them. They've done it," Kelly coach Justin McAlister said. "As far as I know, they're the only other school that's accepted the challenge at this point. I know Notre Dame has, but they haven't had their game yet."

May said the two teams discussed the possibility of dividing the proceeds for separate scholarships but instead saw a mutual connection with the organ donor's society.

"Every dime that is made here is going to them, and we knew Kelly would be a great team to do this against," May said. "We've got West County over there [on the softball field], and they agreed to come out in green jerseys and everything, which was awesome. It's just made for a great day and a great atmosphere out here at the park. There are a lot of people here, a lot of people enjoying it and a lot of people remembering."

As for the game, the Rams scored eight runs in the fifth inning to come away with a 12-6 win.

Levi Alsup hit a two-run single in the top of the first inning before Ty Householder scored Wyatt Ledure in the top of the second to give the Hawks a 3-0 lead heading into the third.

Scott City (10-11) answered in the bottom of the third. Isiah Berry led off with a single, and Braden Cox reached base after getting hit by a pitch. Hunter Copeland followed with a single to load the bases, and the Rams tallied their first run of the game when Trent Pobst reached base on an error at third base. A hit batter and an RBI single by Tyler Rogers tied the game at 3-3 heading into the fourth.

"We were a little shaky starting out. I don't know if it was the emotions from the pre-game ceremony with Chris throwing out the first pitch, but whatever it was, we just weren't focused and ready to go," May said. "They're a really good team, and I know they battled the same issues we did. We got a few hits there later in the game, and it kind of turned things around."

Copeland gave Scott City a 4-3 lead on an RBI single in the fourth before the Rams exploded in the bottom of the fifth.

Drew Short led off with a double to left field before Dylan Keller singled two batters later to put runners at the corners with one out. Ty Wilthong cleared the bases with a double, followed by an RBI single from Caden Hillemann to push the Rams' lead to 7-3. With the bases loaded and two outs, Short cleared the bases with his second double of the inning, and Tyler Rogers capped the scoring with an RBI single to give Scott City a 12-3 advantage.

"I told them before the inning started that I wanted five, and they got me eight. So I was pretty happy with that. Drew had two doubles in the inning, and that's big," May said about Short, who finished 2 for 3 at the plate. "Trent's been a really big hitter for us, and they're starting to walk him and pitch to Drew. When they do that, he comes up with a big double to clear the bases. Those kinds of things will help us a lot, so that was probably the biggest part of the inning."

Kelly (6-12) responded in the final frame when Jacob McClain led off with an infield single. Kyle Fitzgerald singled up the middle, and Jeremiah Bain scored McClain on a one-out single to right field. Mitchell Proctor scored Fitzgerald and Bain on a base hit into right field, but Scott City relief pitcher Bryan McNeely allowed one final hit before securing the final two outs of the game.

Dakota Talley went five innings and gave up four hits and three runs -- all earned -- to earn the win on the mound. The Rams' left-handed hurler had one strikeout and three walks. McNeely recorded three strikeouts and no walks in two innings of relief. He allowed six hits and three runs -- all earned.

Jonathon Tyler sustained the loss for Kelly. He struck out four, walked two, hit six batters and gave up 11 hits and 12 runs -- eight earned -- in six innings.

McAlister found it difficult to tame his emotions in trying to remember the bigger picture in Thursday's game.

"I'm sitting over here ready to ring some of my kids' necks, and then I stop and think why we're out here," McAlister said. "My team, especially, has dealt with a lot when it comes to Kaden. It's definitely bigger than the game of baseball itself, and sometimes as a coach, you've got to stop and remind yourself that these are kids. They're dealing with a lot of stuff. Things happen throughout the day or the evening, and then something might be going on at home. So you've got to be careful and gather yourself."

"What I try to preach to these guys is, 'Let this be an outlet for that kind of stuff. Come out here and enjoy yourself, have fun and relax. Let the game come to you, and let this be an outlet for that other stuff.'"

Kelly 210 000 3 -- 6 10 3

Scott City 003 180 x -- 12 11 2

WP -- Dakota Talley. LP -- Jonathon Tyler. 2B -- Drew Short 2 (SC), Ty Wilthong (SC), Caden Hillemann (SC). Multiple hits -- Kelly: Jacob McClain 2-3, Mitchell Proctor 2-4; Scott City: Short 2-3, Hillemann 2-4, Rogers 2-4, Hunter Copeland 2-5.