Old rivals Scott City, Chaffee may cross paths

~ The teams are the top two seeds in the Class 2 District 2 tournament and could meet in the title game.

Scott City is one of the hottest baseball teams in the area, having won nine of its last 10 games.

Chaffee finished its regular season at 15-9, one of its best regular seasons in years.

The Scott-Mississippi Conference rivals have the top two seeds in the Class 2 District 2 tournament which begins today in Charleston.

Each team owns just one district title during the last 15 years, with Scott City winning the most recent in 2005. Chaffee last won a district title in 2001.

Chaffee is seeded No. 1 in the tournament, thanks to a win over Scott City in the regular season. Scott City is seeded second, followed by a Kelly team that has heated up in the second half.

"The top seed, it's just one of those things -- it's something you've done during the year, you earn that," Chaffee coach Brian Horrell said. "But I think our district is wide open."

Scott City routed Kelly 10-0 in five innings on Tuesday. Junior ace Ryan Modglin threw his second no-hitter in a row against the Hawks.

"We're all peaking at the right time as a team. That's the important thing," Modglin said. "One person can't do it all."

The Rams started the season 4-5 before hitting their stride. Scott City has a potent lineup led by Blake Dirnberger, Modglin, Cody Carlyle and Rynn Eskew. Scott City has also added some young players to its lineup.

"We've got a lot of young guys, but I think they've stepped up and done what they've had to for us," Eskew said.

The Red Devils routed the Rams 14-5 in their meeting on April 9. Chaffee used a seven-run seventh to break open a two-run game. The Scott City players are hoping for a rematch.

"Hopefully we make it to the championship and meet up with Chaffee and we can get some revenge," Eskew said. "That's what we're hoping for."

Chaffee is reaping the rewards of having to start freshmen and sophomores over the past three years. A core group of seniors, led by first-team all-conference pitcher Chris Hanback, has been starting for four years.

"Three years ago we started this group of seniors as freshmen. You get to see them improve," Horrell said. "Each year they've gotten a better record."

Other district tourneys

Oran, which finished third in Class 1 last year, is another team which enters district play on a hot streak. The Eagles (20-4) have won nine straight following a three-game losing streak midway through the season. Oran is the top seed in the Class 1 District 2 tournament at Oran.

The only other defending district champion in the area is Saxony Lutheran. The Crusaders are seeded second in the Class 1 District 3 tournament at Valle Catholic in Ste. Genevieve. Valle is seeded first.

Central and Jackson drew the top seeds in the Class 4 District 1 tournament at Hillsboro. The teams split a pair of one-run games this season, with Central winning 3-2 and Jackson knocking off the Tigers 10-9 in the SEMO Conference tournament. The Indians captured their first SEMO Conference tournament this season.

The Tigers are looking to end a six-year district title drought. Jackson won in 2005. Both teams have byes into the semifinals in the six-team district.

Notre Dame is the No. 3 seed in the Class 3 District 1 tournament at Dexter. Dexter is seeded No. 1, followed by SEMO Conference regular-season champion Sikeston.

Class 1 District 2 at Oran

Teams -- No. 1 Oran, No. 2 Bernie, No. 3 Bell City, No. 4 Advance, No. 5 Leopold, No. 6 Scott County Central, No. 7 Delta, No. 8 Richland

Schedule -- Monday, Oran vs. Richland, 10 a.m.; Advance vs. Leopold, noon; Bernie vs. Delta, 2 p.m.; Bell City vs. Scott County, 4 p.m.; Tuesday, semifinals, 2:30 and 4:30 p.m.; Thursday, championship, 4:30 p.m.

Class 1 District 3 at Valle Catholic

Teams -- No. 1 Valle, No. 2 Saxony Lutheran, No. 3 Valley, No. 4 South Iron, No. 5 Oak Ridge, No. 6 Meadow Heights, No. 7 Lesterville, No. 8 Viburnum

Schedule -- Monday, Valley vs. Meadow Heights, noon; South Iron vs. Oak Ridge, 2:15 p.m.; Saxony Lutheran vs. Lesterville, 4:30 p.m.; Valle vs. Viburnum, 6:45 p.m.; Tuesday, semifinals; Thursday, championship, 4:30 p.m.

Class 2 District 2 at Charleston

Teams -- No. 1 Chaffee, No. 2 Scott City, No. 3 Kelly, No. 4 East Prairie, No. 5 Crystal City, No. 6 Charleston, No. 7 St. Vincent, No. 8 Woodland

Schedule -- Monday, Scott City vs. St. Vincent, 11 a.m.; Chaffee vs. Woodland, 1 p.m.; East Prairie vs. Crystal City, 3 p.m.; Kelly vs. Charleston, 5 p.m.; Tuesday, semifinals, 2 and 4:30 p.m.; Thursday, championship, 4:30 p.m.

Class 3 District 1 at Dexter

Teams -- No. 1 Dexter, No. 2 Sikeston, No. 3 Notre Dame, No. 4 Fredericktown, No. 5 Kennett, No. 6 Perryville, No. 7 Doniphan, No. 8 New Madrid County Central

Schedule -- Monday, Sikeston vs. Doniphan, noon; Notre Dame vs. Perryville, 2 p.m.; Fredericktown vs. Kennett, 4 p.m.; Dexter vs. NMCC, 6 p.m.; Tuesday, semifinals; Wednesday, championship

Class 4 District 1 at Hillsboro

Teams -- No. 1 Central, No. 2 Jackson, No. 3 Hillsboro, No. 4 Seckman, No. 5 Fox, No. 6 Poplar Bluff

Schedule -- Monday, Seckman vs. Fox, 4 p.m.; Hillsboro vs. Poplar Bluff, 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday, Central vs. Seckman/Fox winner, 4 p.m.; Jackson vs. Hillsboro/Poplar Bluff winner, 6:30 p.m.; Wednesday, championship, 6:30 p.m.