Chaffee too much for young Braves

SIKESTON -- Most of the time, Chaffee's starting nine will see the majority of the field this spring.

Chaffee head coach Brian Horrell's starting nine stayed in for two innings, but then gave way to the Red Devils' enormous bench to close out the Scott County Central Braves on Tuesday, 19-1.

"It was nice to see us come out and swing the bats early," Horrell said. "The good thing about it was we got everybody in and gave them an opportunity to play ball."

Harboring 18 varsity players and 32 overall, Chaffee, who had 13 hits, may have the biggest option of bench players in the area.

"These kids all want to play the game," Horrell said. "Sometimes, unfortunately, you can't get people in the game. Baseball's one of those games where you don't have free substitutions."

Chaffee's starters put the Red Devils up 15-0 during their two-inning appearance.

They scored eight in the first scoring their first run on a sacrifice fly by Jared Walker. A 2-RBI error off the bat of Alex Crowe and a 2-RBI triple by Cody Payne highlighted Chaffee's 8-run first inning.

Walker drove in two more runs in the second inning with a single, while five other Red Devils drove in one run as well.

Following the second inning, Horrell began subbing in reserves and sitting his starters.

With the 10-run mercy rule already in effect, the Red Devils' bench players put up one run in the fourth and three more in the fifth.

"It's hard to get a lot of kids playing time," Horrell said. "Games like today is a good chance to give kids opportunities."

With depth being a luxury for Chaffee (9-1), the Scott Central Braves are hampered by it.

The young Braves team, who have just four players with experience from last season's 11-8 squad, were held to four hits and committed six fielding errors.

"We're a very inexperienced team," Limbaugh said. "The best thing for us this year is just getting reps in and getting to see good teams like Chaffee. Chaffee is a great team and are well coached."

Their lone run came in the fourth inning when the speedy Blaine Johnson, who reached on a single to lead off the inning, stole second and then took third on a wild pickoff attempt by Chaffee's catcher allowing Johnson to score.

"It's great for the boys to come out against a quality team like Chaffee to see how the winners do it," said Limbaugh. "These kids have a lot to learn and all I ask is that they keep working."

Chaffee's staring pitcher, Alex Crowe, who added a double and triple at the plate, threw for three innings, allowed three base runners and had nine strikeouts to clinch every out he was asked to get.

It was Crowe's third outing of the year.

"It was nice for him to get his work in," said Horrell. "I thought his velocity was good, his breaking ball came around too."

Starting with Braves (1-4) starter Corey Gardner, all three of Scott Central's pitchers Tuesday had not pitched in the varsity ranks.

Gardner, Johnson and Steven Minner combined to throw all of the Braves' five innings.

"We're learning a lot about every player, every day," Limbaugh said. "We found out today that Blaine will be able to pitch for us this year. Steven, whose mostly our catcher, came out and gave us an inning.

"Guys are in unfamiliar positions and we're going to have to stay positive about the season. We'll have our ups and downs. We just hope there's more ups than downs."

Minner had two hits for Scott Central, both singles. Johnson and Tyler Masters each added singles as well.

Chaffee's Daniel Dooley had two hits as did Walker.

Chaffee 870 13 -- 19 13 1

SCC 000 10 -- 1 4 6

WP -- Alex Crowe. LP -- Corey Gardner. 2B -- (C) Daniel Dooley, Crowe. 3B -- (C) Cody Payne, Crowe. Multiple hitters -- (C) Dooley 2-3, Walker 2-2, Crowe 2-3. (SC) Steven Minner.