Rams quiet Red Devils

~ Cobb hurled a one-hitter as Scott City defeated Chaffee 5-1

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Freshman Ryan Fortner's left hand throbbed with pain after Thursday's baseball game against Chaffee.

The Scott City catcher blamed Rams starting pitcher Skylar Cobb for the discomfort.

"That's probably the hardest I've ever seen him throw," Fortner said. "I think he had a little adrenaline going because it's Chaffee."

Then Fortner added: "Probably the first time ever I'm going to have to ice my hand. It's hurting pretty bad right now."

Chaffee's Alex Crowe signals safe as he looks to the umpire for the call after scoring on a wild pitch during the third inning Thursday in Chaffee, Mo. Crowe beat the tag by Scott City pitcher Skylar Cobb. (KRISTIN EBERTS)

Cobb tossed a one-hitter and scored two runs in the Rams' 5-1 victory.

"The changeup really was working well," Fortner said. "It really complemented his fastball. He had guys out in front."

Cobb finished with 14 strikeouts and struck out the side twice.

"It was the fastball mainly and later in the game, especially that last inning, the breaking ball was working," Cobb said. "Early in the game, my changeup was probably my best pitch. It really hadn't been there all year, but it came on today."

Chaffee coach Brian Horrell said it was Cobb's changeup that gave his hitters the most trouble.

Chaffee third baseman Jason Cicardi turns a double play during the fourth inning.

"A lot of times, an average or above average hitter can tell when a curveball is coming," Horrell said. "But unless you can find something mechanically, there's no way you can tell a changeup is coming. Cobb did a good job of keeping his motion the same, so you can't pick it up as a hitter. ... That's probably the best changeup we've seen all year."

While Cobb was at his best, Chaffee starter Andrew Dooley matched him through the first five innings. Both pitchers allowed one hit and one unearned run through the first five innings. Dooley struck out five over that span.

"I think we were just expecting some quick pitches and he was throwing curves and changeups," Scott City junior Alex Eichhorn said of Dooley. "You've just got to get ready for it and get the bat on the ball."

The Rams finally broke through in the sixth inning. Dooley retired Landon Robert on a ground out before he plunked Cobb, who promptly stole second and went to third on an errant throw to second. Eichhorn roped a single to left-center field to start a string of four consecutive hits to plate four runs.

"The guy who has been getting hit after hit all year long in the big situations, Alex Eichhorn, comes through," Scott City coach Lance Amick said. "Alex's been doing that all year long. He's a kid who got seventh in the state in the shot put in track last year. He's throwing the shot put and discus at two meets a week and comes out playing baseball three games a week. We love when we can get him."

Scott City's Skylar Cobb pitches during the fifth inning. Cobb allowed one hit and struck out 14 batters in a 5-1 victory against Chaffee.

The Rams (7-2) stole four bases in the sixth inning to put pressure on the Red Devils' defense.

"In the sixth inning, I think he got behind a couple of the hitters to start that inning," Horrell said of Dooley. "As a hitter, when you've got a count in your favor, it allows you to relax a little more, see the ball a little better, hit it a little harder. They kind of got to us a little. Other than that inning, I thought he threw very well."

Cobb appreciated the run support in the sixth inning.

"The first five innings, it was back and forth," he said. "The game could go either way at that point. The sixth inning, we started hitting the ball hard and got four runs. It calmed us down and we just played the rest of the game."

Chaffee (4-6) tried to rally in the seventh when it put two runners on with one out, but Cobb regrouped to escape the jam.

"There was no way I was coming out," Cobb said. "That was my game to win."

Scott City 000 104 0 -- 5 5 2

Chaffee 001 000 0 -- 1 1 2

WP -- Skylar Cobb. LP -- Andrew Dooley. 3B -- Cobb (SC). 2B -- Jamie Scholz (SC), Trevor Cannon (C). Records -- Scott City 7-2, Chaffee 4-6.