Rams open title defense with rout

CHARLESTON -- Thanks to an early offensive explosion, defending state champion Scott City cruised to an easy 11-1, six-inning victory over Meadow Heights in their opening-round game of the Class 2 District 3 baseball tournament Monday.

Senior Josh Henson threw all six innings. He struck out four, scattered five hits, walked two and allowed an unearned run en route to the victory.

But Henson was skeptical of his performance.

"I don't think I pitched very well," he said. "My arm was sore, my fastball didn't have anything on it and my curveball wasn't there.

"I haven't pitched a lot this season and I pitched about 14 innings last week."

Shae Simmons went 3-for-4 with three singles and a run batted in for the Rams. Senior Jacob Campbell went 3-for-3 and also knocked in a run.

Skylar Cobb, who batted second, and Simmons, who filled the No. 3 spot, did extensive damage on the bases. Each player recorded three stolen bases, and Scott City finished with 11.

The Scott City offense did not do all of the heavy lifting, though. Meadow Heights hurler Matt Groves assisted the Rams with eight free passes in three innings of work. The Meadow Heights defense also made five errors.

The Rams blew open the game with a seven-run outburst during the fourth inning. The inning was fueled by three walks and four errors plus a single from Simmons and a double from Campbell.

The Rams took a 9-0 lead into the top of the fifth inning, but Meadow Heights slapped three singles and the Rams committed two errors to give the Panthers their lone run of the game.

"We had too many mental errors, and too many errors on the basepads," Scott City coach Lance Amick said. "We didn't keep the pedal to the metal."

Scott City faces Kelly today at 2 p.m. It will be a rematch of Scott City's 14-4 win on May 14.

Meadow Hgts 000 010 -- 1 5 5

Scott City 002 702 -- 11 7 4

WP -- Josh Henson. LP -- Matt Groves. 2B -- Jacob Campbell 2 (SC). Multiple hits -- Meadow Heights: Groves 2-3. Scott City: Shae Simmons 3-4, Campbell 3-3.