Rams continue winning at ‘Cobbaha Field’, ground Eagles 13-1

Scott City remains undefeated at Capaha Field after defeating New Madrid County Central 13-1 in five innings on Monday, May 6.

The Rams (28-3) recently played Holcomb at “Cobbaha Field”, with the Rams winning 10-0. Scott City is now 7-0 in their second home, which is usually utilized when weather throws a wrench at the schedule. Overall, the Rams have gone from a road-heavy first half to the season to a home-centric second slate of the schedule, including hosting the Class 3 District 2 Tournament.

“We just want to play,” Cobb said. “I don't care where we play at. We're just trying to make these games work because a lot of teams aren't getting to play and we’re trying to try to stay sharp and trying to find anywhere that we can play a game, trying to dodge the weather and the rest of the week is gonna be the same way. We're trying to do one day at a time. Our field was kind of iffy, 50-50, and we just wanted to make sure we played so we took the sure thing here.”

All but two batters in the lineup got a hit for the Rams. Senior Gavin Venable led the Rams with a 2-for-2 night including the team’s only extra base hit and three RBIs.

“He has been really good lately,” Cobb said. “He's been up and down but he's definitely on the uptake right now. I think he had a couple hits last game and a couple games before and he's putting the ball in play.”

This season, Venable is batting .321 with an .862 OPS in 84 at-bats with 27 RBI, 13 stolen bases.

He's one of our faster guys so he's a guy there in the eighth hole that's been great for us, especially lately,” Cobb said. “He's had a pretty consistent year. He's got an average over .300 now and so he's peaking at the right time.”

Scott City junior Lane Holder also drove in three runs on two hits, and like Venable, is one of seven Rams to steal a base.

“Lane’s been consistent all year,” Cobb said, “One of our faster guys, doesn't strike out, hits the ball hard, hits the ball the other way, just a good, sweet lefty swing.”

Holder is batting .314 with an .887 OPS and 18 stolen bases in 84 at-bats as the Rams primary No. 2 hitter.

“He's been great for the No. 2 hole, exactly what we need in the No. 2 hole,” Cobbs said. I think he's got one of the higher on-base percentages on the team. I think it's about 500. So he's a guy who he takes a lot of walks and in gets deep into counts and does exactly what you want at the top of the lineup.”

Lawson Graff threw four innings in a tuneup for the district tournament. The senior allowed one run on three hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Graff leads the Rams pitching staff in games played (11) and is 7-2 with a 3.23 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 47.2 innings pitched this season.

“He knew that it might be a little bit shorter than he liked just with the way that the game was going but he threw well,” Cobb said. “He didn't have his best stuff but when you need to make a pitch he did. I thought his velocity was good, just a little trouble finding his breaking ball at times. So overall, I thought we played a good game.”

Freshman Lane Miller pitched the fifth and final inning after the Rams scored seven runs in the fourth to put the run rule in effect. He went three up and three down with two strikeouts to close out the game. Cobb wanted to get him in and tried to get potential relievers active throughout the later half of the season so he has pitchers beyond his core four to trust in the postseason.

“I want to get lane an inning today, just like I got Jack [Gloth] an inning on Saturday here,” Cobb said. “We're trying to keep everybody sharp going into the end of this week. Both Jack and Lane, those guys are going to be very important for us at the bullpen.”

New Madrid’s lone run came on a single by John Harris in the second inning. The Eagles (3-17) close out the season at Senath-Hornersville on Tuesday before opening the Class 3 District 1 Tournament against Malden on May 10.

The Rams host Oak Ridge on Wednesday in a final tuneup game before hosting the Class 3 District 2 Tournament, where they will take on the winner between Woodland and Charleston on May 13.