Scott City softball team slides past Chaffee

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Alexis Spriggs doesn't know how Scott City's softball season opener could have gone any better.

"District game, conference game, we beat our big rival," Spriggs said. "It was great."

The Rams, who narrowly missed out on the program's first district title last year, began 2012 with a bang Thursday by rolling past host Chaffee 14-5 at Frisco Field.

Scott City had 15 hits and took advantage of 12 Chaffee errors to hand the Red Devils their second loss in as many days.

"It was a great first game," Scott City coach Amy Pobst said.

Chaffee baserunner Kaitlyn Miller slides safely into home during Thursday's game. (ADAM VOGLER)

Spriggs, the 2011 Scott-Mississippi Conference player of the year, continued her role as the Rams' pitching ace with a solid performance.

The senior allowed seven hits and three earned runs while going the seven-inning distance. She struck out five and walked one.

"I think I pitched OK," said Spriggs, who is battling a groin injury. "I never like to give up any walks. I gave up one."

Spriggs said beating Chaffee always is sweet because she is familiar with so many of the Red Devils players.

"I play with some of them in the summer, and this is the fourth year I've played against them," Spriggs said.

Scott City's Shelby Rhymer dives for a pop fly Thursday.

Spriggs received plenty of backing from an opportunistic Scott City offense that seemingly capitalized on every Chaffee mistake.

All-conference junior catcher Macy Hall went 3 for 5 and came away feeling good about the Rams' performance.

"I think we played pretty well," she said. "We've been practicing a lot of hitting."

Spriggs and Hall are part of an experienced Scott City squad that also is relying on a freshman to play a vital role.

So far so good as far as Bella Bowers is concerned.

Bowers had an impressive varsity debut after stepping in at shortstop because sophomore Lyndsie Robert will miss the season after suffering a knee injury while playing basketball over the summer.

Bowers went 3 for 4 with two doubles, two RBIs and two runs scored while handling herself well in the field.

"I know we have five seniors, but we have two freshmen, and one is playing a big position with Lyndsie Robert out," Spriggs said. "I think she [Bowers] is doing a good job."

Pobst said the Rams will miss Robert, one of the area's fastest players as a freshman last year, but have faith in Bowers.

"I told the girls early on that some of the younger girls were going to have to step up," Pobst said. "I thought Bella did a good job stepping up."

Two other returning all-conference players made their mark Thursday.

Senior center fielder Lindsey Rendleman had two hits, while junior left fielder Becky Burger, also a pitcher, added two RBIs.

Spriggs and senior first baseman Julie Holder had two hits apiece.

Chaffee coach Shawn Powderly lamented his team's shoddy defense that led to only six of Scott City's runs being earned.

"We made 12 errors. You're not going to beat anybody doing that," he said.

The Rams built a 9-0 lead through 3 1/2 innings, the second straight day Chaffee dug an early 9-0 hole.

Powderly was encouraged that the Red Devils battled back against both Scott City and Kelly in Wednesday's season-opening 11-2 loss.

"Our girls aren't going to give up regardless. Our girls won't quit," Powderly said. "We just can't dig ourselves such a hole."

Sophomore Kaitlin McFerron led Chaffee with two hits and two RBIs. She also was the losing pitcher after allowing nine hits and nine runs, four earned, over four innings.

Scott City scored an unearned run in the first inning and went ahead 4-0 in the second inning. A combined five unearned runs in the third and fourth innings made it 9-0.

"We got off to a good start," Hall said.

The Rams hope the strong start continues throughout the season and leads to a place no Scott City softball team ever has been.

Scott City was so close to its first district title last year, but St. Pius scored three runs in the seventh inning, including two on a three-base error, to stun the Rams 4-3 in the final.

"We really want it this year," Hall said about a district championship. "We have a lot of potential."

Scott City 132 320 3 -- 14 15 3

Chaffee 000 221 0 -- 5 7 12

WP -- Alexis Spriggs. LP -- Kaitlin McFerron. 2B -- Bella Bowers (SC) 2, Tana Tetley (SC), Julia Sutterfield (C). Multiple hits -- Scott City: Bowers 3-4, Macy Hall 3-5, Spriggs 2-4, Julie Holder 2-4, Lindsey Rendleman 2-5. Chaffee: McFerron 2-4. Records -- Scott City 1-0, Chaffee 0-2.