Scott Co. is in the zone after winning district

The second-year team won the rights to host this week's zone tournament.

By Marty Mishow ~ Southeast Missourian

Scott County Post 369 took some lumps last season, but the Jr. Legion baseball team has bounced back this year to do the thumping.

Scott County defeated Jackson 5-4 Sunday to win the District 14 Tournament that it hosted at Chaffee's Harmon Field. Post 369 thus earns the right to host the four-team Zone 4 Tournament Thursday through Saturday in Chaffee, with the winner advancing to next week's state tournament in Springfield.

Post 369, a second-year program, has a 24-12 overall record and went 10-0 in district play during the regular season, then won all three district tournament games.

"We were seeded last in the district tournament last year and made it to the championship," Scott County coach Mike Umfleet said. "We had a pretty good group coming back and we added some good players. They've played well pretty much all year."

Scott County, consisting primarily of players ages 15 and 16 who will be sophomores or juniors in high school, sports a 16-man roster from four area high schools.

John Barr, Blake Dirnberger, Rynn Eskew and Andy Stephens attend Scott City; Jacob Essner, Lucas Dirnberger, Chad Friend and Shane Menz go to Notre Dame; Korey Chapman, Brad Daugherty, Chris Hanback, Alex Orr and Augi Orr are from Chaffee; and Caleb Daughhetee, Jordan Felter and John Simpher attend Kelly.

Umfleet, the head baseball coach at Scott City, is assisted with the Scott County program by Tom Daughhetee.

Stephens, who is undefeated, Simpher and Lucas Dirnberger have been the team's top pitchers and all posted victories in the district tournament.

During Sunday's title clincher, Lucas Dirnberger went five innings for the win while Stephens worked the final two innings for a save after previously firing an eight-inning two-hitter against Dunklin County. Menz had the big hit, a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning as Scott County scored four in that frame.

Scott County plays Festus at 5:30 p.m. Thursday as the double-elimination zone tournament begins with two games. Anheuser-Busch from St. Louis has also qualified, while the St. Louis County entrant was being determined late Monday night.

There will be three games Friday, at 1 p.m., 5:30 and 8:30, with the championship set for 1 p.m. Saturday.

"The tournament will be tough, but if we play like we have been, then I think we've got a good chance," Umfleet said. "Our pitching has been very good, we've hit pretty good all year, and our defense wins a lot of games for us. We only had one error in the district tournament."