Scott County rides streak into final week

Post 369, winner of five straight games, plans to finish out the regular season with makeup games today and Friday.

The Scott County American Legion Post 369 (Medicap) baseball team may very well end up as the No. 6 seed in the upcoming six-team District 14 tournament, but coach Tom Dirnberger is happy with the way his team is playing right now.

Scott County won the Fighting Squirrels Wood Bat Classic this past weekend, picking up three victories and improving its record to 10-13.

Post 369 concluded the event, hosted by Charleston's Senior Babe Ruth team, with a 4-0 victory Sunday against the Jackson Senior Babe Ruth team on a no-hitter by Caleb Daughhetee.

The Kelly High School senior-to-be had his second no-hitter of the week. He had pitched one July 6 against Charleston Senior Babe Ruth, also in a game with wood bats. He also had a hitless inning with the bases loaded last Friday in a 4-3 win against the Cape Girardeau Senior Babe Ruth team.

Fifteen innings, no hits, two wins, one save.

"Caleb was phenomenal," Dirnberger said. "His ball was moving hard. It's hard enough to no-hit two Little League teams. I don't care what level you're playing, that's a pretty good feat.

"Jackson is no slouch, and we played an error-free game for once."

Scott County had just five singles of its own in the game, but took advantage of a pair of bases-loaded walks during a three-run inning that stretched its lead from 1-0.

Post 369 had beaten Portageville Senior Babe Ruth 9-5 in the semifinals Saturday night with Andy Stephens getting the win. Daughhetee, Lucas Dirnberger, Aaron Jenkins and Jason Schenimann each had two hits in that contest.

"Everything this weekend was great," said Tom Dirnberger, who was impressed with the tournament's umpiring, ability to run on time and fish dinner for the players.

"We got what we wanted out of it. It put the kids on a winning streak," he added. "Even if we lose the district, we've had a great season."

Scott County was scheduled to ride its winning streak of five games against Senior Babe Ruth teams back into American Legion district play earlier this week, but rain has changed those plans. Monday's doubleheader against Jackson and Wednesday's games at Cape Girardeau were rained out.

Post 369 currently is scheduled to play a nine-inning makeup game at 6 tonight in Chaffee against Jackson, which is battling for the No. 3 seed in the district. The rain date for that game is Saturday. On Friday, Scott County will make up its doubleheader with Cape Girardeau at Capaha Field. A nine-inning district game that will determine the No. 5 seed for the district tourney will be followed by a seven-inning game.

"We've got to get two district games in by Monday," Dirnberger said. "We're doing everything we can. It depends on the weather."

Dirnberger hoped his offense would pick up a boost from the transition back to aluminum bats in games earlier this week.

"I think if we'd played Jackson on Monday, and we would've made contact, with that 2- or 3-ounce difference, we would have pounded the ball around," he said. "Everyone is on an even keel now."

But Post 369 has a hot pitcher in Daughhetee, a varsity veteran in Scott City's Stephens and a pitcher with Class 1 state tournament experience in Oran graduate Matt Seyer, who is returning from an injury and pitched three innings last Friday.

"I think we'll do all right in district," Dirnberger said. "I'm hoping we have three good starters ready to go, if Seyer can come back and pitch about six innings."