The Rams have the right scruff

SPRINGFIELD -- A few razors may be back in use next week in Scott City.

Or maybe not.

Members of the Rams have been growing playoff "beards" during their run to the Class 2 state championship game, although it's not always noticeable.

"We're kind of young," said senior catcher Cody Carlyle, who has sported his stubble beard since the start of the season.

Take junior Josh Henson for instance. Instead of stubbles, his facial hair is more on the order of straggly whiskers.

"Look at that thing; it's pretty nasty," Carlyle said.

Scott City coach Lance Amick said it's another topic for the players to make fun of each other.

"They rip on each other about everything, including that," Amick said. "Sometimes they can be pretty ruthless with each other, but they have fun with it."

Amick isn't exempt from the ribbing as his superstitions are the ones that inspire the players at this point.

"We wash our uniforms, but Coach A doesn't wash his," Carlyle said. "He kind of stinks."

Amick could call that the smell of success.

"I'm one of the most superstitious guys you'll ever meet," said Amick, who sports a beard during baseball winning streaks but does not during basketball season. "I shaved after our loss to Winfield, but I haven't shaved since. I also haven't washed my jersey since then either, or my undershirt or the shorts or socks I always wear. It's pretty ripe."

While his players won't join him in that superstition, they have had their own since arriving in Springfield.

"We got up at the same time this morning, ate breakfast and sat in the same spots we did yesterday morning," Carlyle said while watching Oran in the Class 1 third-place game. "And we're going to leave at the same time and go eat lunch in the same place."