SCOTT CITY RALLIES OFF EAST PRAIRIE ACE, WINS 11-10

CHAFFEE -- Fourth-seed East Prairie appeared to have everything going its way in the seventh inning of Monday's first-round Class 2A, District 2 tournament game here at Harmon Field.

The Eagles had just taken a one-run lead over fifth-seed Scott City and had one of the best pitchers in Southeast Missouri, left-hander Ben Marshall, on the mound looking to close out the win.

But the Rams loaded the bases and scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh -- without hitting the ball out of the infield -- to rally for a thrilling 11-10 victory.

The victory moves Scott City (9-8) into today's 3 p.m. semifinal against top-seed Notre Dame (12-8). East Prairie ended its season with a 10-8 mark.

In other first-round games Monday, No. 2 Kelly pounded No. 7 Woodland 17-6 and No. 3 Chaffee edged sixth-seed St. Vincent 3-2. The Hawks and Red Devils will meet in today's other semifinal at 5 p.m.

"I don't really know what to say," said Scott City coach Mike Umfleet, following his team's come-from-behind win. "It was an emotional ballgame, an exciting ballgame and I'm just glad to come out on top."

The exhilarating finish capped a roller-coaster game for both teams. East Prairie scored three runs in the top of the first inning, then watched Scott City score seven runs in the next two innings off starter Justin Bain to fall behind 7-3.

East Prairie coach Kerry Thompson, hoping to save Marshall for the semifinals, was forced to insert his ace in the second inning with two outs. Marshall, leaning toward attending Jefferson Junior College in Hillsboro, entered the game with a 7-2 record and an earned run average just above 1.00.

"Our strategy was to start with Bain and see how far he could take us," Thompson said. "Then we had to bring Ben in to keep the game in check and have an opportunity to make a comeback."

Marshall did his part, striking out 12 without walking a batter over the final five innings. With the Rams' bats silenced, the Eagles scored single runs in the third and fourth innings, then chased Scott City starter John Wipfler with four more runs in the fifth to take a 9-7 lead.

Wipfler used his bat to get back at the Eagles in bottom of the fifth, smacking a two-run home run into the city swimming pool beyond the left-field fence to knot the score 9-9.

"That was a big-time hit," said Umfleet. "Marshall was cruising along and the home run kind of shook him up. It let our kids know he's beatable and we can hit him."

East Prairie responded in the top of the sixth inning by loading the bases with no outs. With the game on the line, Umfleet walked slowly to the mound and appeared ready to lift junior reliever Brandon Amick for senior Tim Lowery.

Scott City's ace entering the season, Lowery was playing in his first game in a week since returning from a serious illness.

"I was going to go to Timmy," said Umfleet with a laugh, "but I didn't really hear what I wanted to hear when I went out there (to talk to his players), so I stayed with Brandon.

"Timmy wanted to pitch, but I wasn't sure he was ready."

It all worked out for the Rams as Amick struck out the next two batters, then got the final out with a pop-up to the mound to end the threat. Amick pitched 2-2/3 innings for the victory.

After Marshall put the Eagles ahead 10-9 with a two-out RBI double, Scott City got the win with four infield hits and an error between the legs of East Prairie's third baseman that ended the game.

No. 2 Kelly 17, No. 7 Woodland 6

The Hawks opened defense of last year's district title with an 11-run pasting of Woodland.

Kelly (18-4) ripped 17 hits, led by Denver Stuckey's 4-for-5 day. Stuckey roped two doubles and an inside-the-park home run in totaling 3 RBIs.

Ben Klipfel and Jason Glastetter both had three hits and also pitched in the victory. Klipfel (3-1) hurled the first five innings for the win and Glastetter relieved with two scoreless innings.

Jim Hulshof and Brad Kolwyck added two hits each and Vince Elkins totaled four RBIs, three coming on a bases-loaded double.

Stuckey takes the hill today as the Hawks' starting pitcher.

No. 3 Chaffee 3, No. 6 St. Vincent 2

Both teams played fabulously, but St. Vincent (10-14) was unable to answer the Red Devils' two-run sixth inning as Chaffee (15-7) avenged last year's first-round district loss to the Indians.

Tommy Stidham had the game-winning hit in sixth and pitched two scoreless innings of relief for the save. Stidham's two-out, bases-loaded single to right field scored two runs to put the Red Devils ahead 3-1.

Cory Strattman (double) and Pat Brown (RBI single) strung together back-to-back hits to start the sixth inning. But Stidham relieved Chaffee starter Josh Hanlon to preserve the win.

Stidham, Dusty Leggett and G.P. Glueck all had two of Chaffee's nine hits. Hanlon got the win.

Dusty Wengert took the loss, allowing one earned run in five innings of relief. He also had one of the Indians' six hits.

Stidham is expected to start on the mound for Chaffee today.