Scott City softball team reaches district title game with 6-1 victory over St. Vincent

FESTUS, Mo. -- The Scott City Rams held true to their seed.

The top-seeded Rams downed fourth-seeded St. Vincent 6-1 in the semifinals of the Class 2 District 2 tournament at St. Pius on Thursday.

Scott City jumped out early and used a dominating pitching performance by Rebecca Burger to reach the district championship game.

"Today we were just kind of all trying to get together as a team and work," Burger said. "Because all season we've been working toward districts, and it's been our No. 1 goal. So pitching wise, I was just thinking trust my defense because they're always there for me every game, and today they were there for me extra."

Burger allowed one unearned run on five hits, struck out four and walked one.

"My changeup, we tried early on and that didn't really work," Burger said. "Really, it was just my corners that were working really good today. Whenever you pull them in and then throw them off with the outside pitch, it really works. Me and my catcher have been working on that hard together."

"[Rebecca] pitched a great game today," Scott City coach Amy Pobst said. "She kept the batters on their toes. They didn't really know for sure what was coming at them."

While Burger mowed down the Indians, freshman Lyndsie Robert provided the big hits for the Rams.

Robert went 2 for 4 with a double and three RBIs.

"It felt good. It was probably one of my better games that I've had in a while," Robert said. "I was trying to be really aggressive. My coach has been working with me on being more aggressive at the plate and being patient, and it really helped."

Scott City got off to a quick start in the first with a pair of singles and a two-run error by St. Vincent.

"I think that was a big confidence booster to come out and play good defense in the first inning and then turn around and score," Pobst said.

Burger appreciated the run support.

"It takes a lot of the pressure off," Burger said. "And it makes it so you kind of have a lot more confidence in yourself and in your teammates."

Scott City added another run in the second when Robert ripped a two-out RBI double to make it 3-0.

It was one of 10 Scott City hits.

"Everybody was hitting it well and seeing it well," Pobst said.

Scott City made it 4-0 in the bottom of the third, and St. Vincent scored its lone run in the fourth.

After Burger worked around a leadoff single in the sixth, Robert roped a one-out single up the middle to bring in two more runners for a 6-1 lead.

"I just kind of got up there and tried to stay calm and be patient," Robert said.

The Rams will take on St. Pius at 11 a.m. Saturday in the championship game.

St. Vincent 000 100 0 -- 1 5 4

Scott City 211 002 X -- 6 10 3

WP -- Rebecca Burger. LP -- Casey Unterreiner. 3B -- Burger (SC). 2B -- Lyndsie Robert (SC). Multiple Hits: Scott City, Shelby Rhymer 2-3, Robert 2-4. St. Vincent, Unterreiner 2-3, Kayla Winkler 2-3.