Scott City baseball team rallies for win against Jackson

Jamie Scholz says the Scott City High School baseball team has a never-say-die attitude.

"We always battle. That's how our team is," said Scholz, a senior. "We'll never give up."

That trait served the Rams well Monday afternoon as they rallied from a five-run deficit to beat visiting Jackson 8-7 in the season opener for both squads.

"I thought the team battled back and did a really good job," senior Alex Eichhorn said.

The game was a matchup of defending district champions -- Scott City in Class 2 and Jackson in Class 4 -- who return plenty of key performers.

"We battled and executed some plays," said Scott City coach Lance Amick, whose team has won three district titles in the past four years and captured the 2007 state championship. "Everything wasn't real polished, but for a first game I'll take it."

Scholz, Scott City's ace, had some control issues early and was hit hard as Jackson -- which had a home run and four doubles -- led 7-2 through 3 1/2 innings.

"I struggled early. I couldn't throw strikes," Scholz said.

But Scholz allowed just two singles and no runs over the final three innings, keeping the Rams in the game until their bats got going.

"[Scholz] battled and battled," Jackson coach Tatum Kitchen said.

A fourth-inning balk plated a run to make it 7-3 and three fifth-inning runs -- one unearned thanks to Jackson's only two errors -- pulled the Rams within 7-6.

"We made some mistakes. They took advantage, then they hit their way back in," Kitchen said.

Scott City's Jamie Scholz pitches to a Jackson batter during the third inning Monday in Scott City. Scholz threw a complete game and belted a two-run home run.

Sophomore Brett Dirnberger's two-out, two-run homer in the sixth inning forged a 7-7 tie and set the stage for the bottom of the seventh.

Eichhorn started the frame with a triple off the right-center field fence against Clayton Baker, Jackson's third pitcher.

Baker got consecutive ground ball outs with the infield pulled in as Eichhorn remained at third base.

When it appeared the game would go extra innings, junior Heath Pobst delivered.

Pobst, Scott City's No. 9 hitter, scorched a ball just inside the third-base bag and into left field as Eichhorn trotted home with the winning run.

"That's my first [game-winning hit]. It's pretty awesome," said Pobst. "I knew he was going to throw a fastball. I just turned on it."

Amick said he had plenty of confidence in Pobst.

"Heath would be hitting fourth or fifth in a lot of lineups," Amick said. "We've got some sticks. One through nine, we can hit."

Both teams had eight hits in the contest.

Scholz and Dirnberger each went 2 for 2 with a pair of walks. Pobst added two hits.

Scholz ripped a two-run homer in the third inning to get Scott City on the board after Jackson led 4-0.

"I was looking for a fastball. I put a good swing on it," Scholz said.

Baker's two-RBI double highlighted a three-run first inning and his fourth-inning homer gave Jackson a 4-0 lead.

Trevor Jaco added two hits, including a two-RBI double that keyed a three-run fourth inning as the Indians went up 7-2.

"Credit Jackson. They've got some hitters," said Amick, whose squad committed just one error while turning two double plays.

Scholz struck out four, walked four, hit two and allowed six earned runs. He escaped a second-and-third, one-out jam in the sixth inning to keep the score 7-6.

Little Bit (pig) and Marilyn (rabbit) enjoy Monday's baseball game with Scott City fans.

Jackson starter Mason Sander allowed six runs (four earned) and five hits before being replaced with nobody out in the fifth inning. He struck out four and walked three.

Zach McDowell allowed just one hit in two innings, Dirnberger's tying home run in the sixth.

Jackson 301 300 0 -- 7 8 2

Scott City 002 131 1 -- 8 8 1

WP -- Jamie Scholz. LP -- Clay Baker. HR -- Baker (J), Scholz (SC), Brett Dirnberger (SC). 3B -- Alex Eichhorn (SC). 2B -- Baker (J), Trevor Jaco (J), Alex Bolen (J), Laban Petzoldt (J). Multiple hits -- Jackson: Baker 2-4, Jaco 2-3. Scott City: Scholz 2-2, Dirnberger 2-2, Heath Pobst 2-4. Records -- Jackson 0-1, Scott City 1-0.