Scott City baseball season ends with controversial play

SCOTT CITY -- In a tight Class 3 sectional game before about 200 fans Monday, it became increasingly apparent one key play would determine the outcome between host Scott City and New Madrid County Central.

And when the inevitable play did occur, it was a strange one.

New Madrid County Central's Tyler Sprouse scored the winning run on a controversial play at the plate with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning to defeat Scott City 2-1 as the Eagles advanced to face St. Pius X in a Wednesday quarterfinal.

The winning run scored on what the plate umpire determined to be catcher's interference on Scott City's Zachary Carlyle. Sprouse was on third with NMCC's Dylan Milisits at the plate, and the pitch and Sprouse reached home plate about the same time, the runner, batter and catcher all going down in a heap.

"We knew the squeeze was coming," Scott City coach Jim May said. "We tried to pitch out. I know the ball hit the bat and went foul, but other than that, I don't know ... they said it was catcher's interference. That's all I know."

Sprouse opened the bottom of the seventh with a bloop double down the left-field line. One out later, Kiel Causey's single to left put runners at the corners.

Up stepped Milisits, who took one pitch before NMCC coach Joseph McClarty called for the suicide squeeze. Sprouse broke for the plate before Scott City pitcher Eric Uhrhan was in his windup. When Urhahn saw Sprouse break, he threw high and outside to the plate, where Carlyle reached high for the throw. But Milisits reached his bat out, and Carlyle's glove hit the bat before the pitch was fouled off as Sprouse slid into the plate.

"I knew [Uhrhan] had a slow windup, and I knew I could make it," Sprouse said. "I saw [Carlyle] jump, and I slid under him."

McClarty mapped out the play with Milisits and Sprouse when May called a timeout to meet with his infield after Causey's single.

"Dylan's a senior lead-off hitter, and Tyler's a really good baserunner," McClarty said. "If we maybe got down in the count, we talked about a squeeze right there. We called for it, and unfortunately it was catcher's interference. You kind of hate to see the game end like that. I'm proud of them for getting in there and executing it and doing a great job."

Carlyle had a great view of the final play, but there wasn't much he could do about the finish. He tried to get Uhrhan to step off before throwing home, which would have nullified the pitch, but there was no time as Sprouse was already barreling down the line.

"I saw the runner from third coming in to home," Carlyle said. "I got in front of [the pitch], the bat hit my glove, and they called the runner home."

Scott City catcher Zach Carlyle tries to tag New Madrid County Central runner Tyler Sprouse as he comes home on an attempted suicide-squeeze bunt by Dylan Milisits during the seventh inning. Catcher´s interference was called as Sprouse scored the winning run.BRENT SHIPMANStandard Democrat

It was a wild ending to a well-played game by both teams. Uhrhan and NMCC's Benjamin Campbell engaged in a scoreless pitcher's duel through five innings.

Both teams sparkled defensively. In the fourth, Scott City third baseman Dylan Menz dived to his left to catch a short popup, then fired to first from his knees to double up an Eagles runner to end the inning. In the sixth, Rams senior right fielder Tyler Cummins robbed Godwin of extra bases when he ranged far to his right to catch a drive at the warning track in right-center before colliding with the fence, managing to hang onto the ball despite falling hard on his back.

The Eagles (13-12) played errorless ball with catcher Garrison Keene making a notable play. Keene circled underneath a high popup before catching it while falling backward near the plate to end Scott City's fifth.

Scott City (15-12) finally broke through with a run in the top of the sixth when Drew Short walked, took second on Dylan Menz's sacrifice bunt, and scored on a single to center by Isiah Berry, who finished with two of the Rams' five hits.

The Eagles tied the game in the bottom of the frame when Campbell doubled with one out, went to third on Austin Godwin's flyout and scored on Gage Silman's single to left.

Campbell held the Rams scoreless in the top of the seventh, setting the stage for the Eagles' winning tally.

"Tip the hat to Scott City, they played an excellent ball game," McClarty said. "Either one of these teams is worthy enough to win it. I can't say enough about Coach May and what he's doing with that program. Uhrhan was excellent, but we just came out on top."

Uhrhan, one of four seniors who played their final game for the Rams, went the distance, allowing two runs -- one earned -- on seven hits, walking none and striking out five.

"It was a fun game to be in, but a tough loss," Uhrhan said. "It's my last time playing out here in front of all these home fans. It's just tough taking a loss like that."

"Those guys are going to missed," May said. "They'll be hard to replace."

Scott City 000 001 0 -- 1 5 0

NMCC 000 001 1 -- 2 7 0

WP -- Benjamin Campbell. LP -- Eric Uhrhan. 2B -- Campbell (NMCC), Tyler Sprouse (NMCC). Multiple hits -- Scott City: Isiah Berry 2-4. Records: Scott City 15-12, NMCC 13-12.