Scott County Post 369 squeaks out 4-3 win

CHAFFEE -- Blake Dirnberger said he gained valuable college baseball experience this past spring even though he redshirted at Southeast Missouri State.

The Scott City graduate doesn't appear to be rusty after sitting out a full season.

He has been on fire offensively during American Legion ball, leading Scott County Post 369 with a .552 batting average, four homers and 31 RBI in 67 at-bats.

Dirnberger had another solid performance Wednesday against Dunklin County Post 303, stroking a game-winning, walk-off single to right field past a drawn-in infield.

His hit ended Scott County's three game losing streak as Post 369 beat Dunklin County 4-3 in their District 14 game.

Scott County, which lost a district game to Dunklin earlier this year, improved to 11-10 overall and 2-2 in the district. Dunklin dropped to 38-12 and 4-1 in the district.

"It's a great feeling," Dirnberger said about the win. "They came in here and they were undefeated in district play, and so it was just great to get a win against them."

KIT DOYLE ~ kdoyle@semissourian.com Scott County baserunner Cody Carlyle stole home with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning to give his team the lead against Dunklin County on Wednesday in Chaffee.

Dirnberger said he was able to improve as an offensive player this past spring by facing some of his Southeast teammates during practice.

"I got a lot of college experience without even having to step on the field because we'd have practices before our games even started where we'd hit off live pitching against actual college pitchers," he said. "So it gave me a lot of experience and at-bats. [The pitchers were] mixing in changeups, fastballs, curveballs -- throwing it all."

Dirnberger, who went 2-for-3 on Wednesday and also reached on an error, expects to see playing time next spring. He said he plans to work hard to try to earn a starting spot.

Scott County coach Denver Stuckey said he's been impressed with Dirnberger's offensive production so far and his improvement from last summer.

Scott County right fielder Aaron Tomaszewski caught a hard liner Wednesday.

"His numbers right now are just ridiculous," Stuckey said. "The improvement I've seen from last summer to this summer and him being at the college level and being around that has really helped him. He's not a real vocal guy, but he goes about his business. When he's focused and intense in the game, he's about as good as I've seen around this area."

The game was well-pitched throughout. Scott County's Josh Henson made his first start of the season, matching against Dunklin's Aaron McCaig.

Scott County jumped ahead 2-0 in the bottom of the third. Henson led off with a double to right field and scored on Shae Simmons' single. Dirnberger scored on a single by Kody Campbell. Dirnberger was running on the play and already near second base when the ball found the outfield and Stuckey waved him all the way around.

"I didn't think he was going to send me," Dirnberger said. "I was just hoping to make it to third and then all of a sudden I see coach Stuckey waving me home. I was like 'Oh, boy. Here we go.' I don't know. It was a pretty crazy play."

Scott County's Shae Simmons, left, and Josh DeBrock collided while chasing a pop fly.

Henson, who twisted his ankle a couple of weeks ago and will wear a brace on it for the rest of the season, gave up three hits and four walks. He struck out three batters.

"My fastball [was working] and that's about it," Henson said. "My curveball wasn't doing too much, and I didn't really throw my changeup. I did all right on the mound. I didn't think I did great. I could have done a lot better, I think."

Scott County was able to pull ahead 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth. Cody Carlyle singled to left field and worked his way to third. He stole home while Dunklin catcher Kaleb Canoy was throwing a pitch back to McCaig. McCaig tossed it back quickly to Canoy, but Carlyle was safe.

"That was just a little something we tried in a tournament a couple of weeks ago," Stuckey said. "As soon as the pitcher pitches, our guy [at third] walks and just keeps walking and as soon as their catcher releases back to or throws it to third, [our runner] just takes off. He [Canoy] just dropped to his knees, which I noticed earlier in the game -- he dropped to his knees and just lobbed it back to the pitcher with guys on base."

Dunklin was able to tie the game again in the seventh. But Scott County put its first two runners on in the bottom of the seventh as Levi Felter walked and Simmons singled to left.

Dunklin brought in Shane Branum to relieve McCaig, and Branum threw a passed ball allowing both to move ahead another base.

Dirnberger then knocked in Felter with his base hit to right on an outside fastball to end the district contest.

The non-district game ended too late to be included in the report.

Dunklin County 000 101 1 -- 3 4 1

Scott County 002 001 1 -- 4 10 0

WP -- Shae Simmons, 1-0. LP -- Aaron McCaig. 3B -- Dillion Stockton (D). 2B -- Josh Henson 2, (SC), Kody Campbell (SC), Aaron Brooker. (D). Multiple hits -- Scott County: Simmons 2-4, Blake Dirnberger 2-3, Kody Campbell 2-3, Henson 2-3. Records -- Dunklin 38-12. Scott County 11-10.