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Brant, Rams get win in final home game
SCOTT CITY -- Backed by five innings of three-run ball from starting pitcher Jamie Brant, the Scott City Rams sent their seniors out with a win in their final home game of the season, holding off Scott County Central 9-3.
"Hats off to the seniors," Scott City coach Lance Amick said. "It was a special day for them. I'm happy for those guys.
"Jamie threw pretty well today. He was a little rusty, but it's been since Tuesday that he last pitched. I'm happy for him to go out on his (home) field with a win."
Opening the home half of the first frame with a four-run rally, the Rams were able to hold on to a 4-1 advantage heading into the fourth.
In the fourth, Landon Robert reached after getting hit by a pitch and advanced to third before being brought home on a sacrifice fly to center by Brant to give Scott City some added insurance.
Though the Braves were able to come back in the top of the fifth and close back to within four, the Rams took advantage of two key errors by Scott Central in the fifth to kick off what would be back-to-back two-run rallies in the fifth and sixth.
After starting the inning with an error by the third baseman, followed by a hits batsman, an errant throw to first base by the catcher on a bunt attempt allowed both runners to score.
Scoring two more runs in the sixth after Brett Dirnberger and Brant started the frame with a triple and single respectively before coming around to score, the Rams headed into the top of the seventh up 9-3.
There, after an initial grounder to short left the Braves with one out, Scott Central looked to kick off a comeback with back-to-back singles leaving runners on first and second.
Before any Braves could cross the plate, however, relief pitcher Blake Henson got Scott Central's No. 8 hitter to ground into a 1-6-3 double play to end the game.
"We booted the ball around defensively today," Braves' coach Matt Limbaugh said. "That cost us. I thought (starting pitcher) Dustin Johnson threw a great game.
"I don't know how many of Scott City's runs were unearned, but I thought he did well enough to win the game."
Earning the win for the Rams, Brant went five full innings before being pulled early in the sixth with no outs and a pitch count of 115.
"I didn't have my best game, but we battled and came out with a win," Brant said. "I walked way too many and was a little wild, but when it came down to it I was able to get a pitch here or there to get a ground ball and my defense helped me out."
Also contributing on offense, Brant had two hits on the contest, both singles, while driving in three runs.
As a team the Rams combined for 12 hits with Atchley leading the way, going 3 for 4, with a pair of doubles. Both Dirnberger and Alex Eichhorn contributed a pair of hits.
"We stayed consistent," said Amick. "We've been hitting the ball all year and today was no different. We were able to get some hits when we needed to with people on base. We have to keep doing that."
For Scott Central, Dustin Johnson and Trey Johnson had a team-high two hits on a game the Braves combined for nine. Blake Pobst had the team's only extra-base hit, a triple in the sixth.
With both team's regular season's at close Scott Central stands at 10-7 and Scott City 11-8-1.
The Braves will take on Bell City Monday at 2 p.m. at Oran High School in the opening round of the Class 1, District 2 Tournament. The Rams will play Dexter in the Class 3, District 1 Tournament Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Notre Dame High School in Cape Girardeau.
Scott Central 100 011 0 - 3
Scott City 400 122 x - 9
WP -- Jamie Brant. LP -- Dustin Johnson. 2B -- (SC) Austin Atchley 2. 3B -- (SCC) Blake Pobst; (SC) Brett Dirnberger, Alex Eichhorn.