Final four notebook: Scott City's Menz makes most of starting opportunity

Dylan Menz likely would not have been in the Scott City lineup for Monday's Class 3 state semifinal against Warsaw if it had not been for his teammate Hunter Copeland's ejection in the Rams' state quarterfinal last week.

Scott City fans watch a Class 3 semifinal against Warsaw, Monday, June 1, 2015 in O Fallon, Missouri. (Glenn Landberg)

Copeland, usually the No. 2 batter in Scott City's lineup, was ejected following a collision at home plate against West County, meaning he could not play in his team's next game due to Missouri State High School Activities Association rules.

Menz, a senior, made the most of his start at second base in the first inning when he ranged far his right to make an improbable snag of a sharp grounder up the middle and an even more improbable throw to first for the second out of the game.

"I was running over there, and I didn't think I was going to get to it, but I guess it hit the soft ground since it's wet," Menz said. "It slowed it down, and I got to it."

"Then I turned around to throw it and my back foot's still sliding. I just turned around and chucked it."

It was early, but it was a play that ignited the Scott City players and fans.

"It installs a lot of confidence in me -- a lot," Scott City pitcher Braden Cox said about watching his defense make difficult plays on his behalf. "I can make the pitches I want and am not afraid to do anything on the mound."

The Rams' fielders did not commit an error and shortstop Jordan Kluesner, third baseman Cade Hillemann and first baseman Drew Short all made at least one difficult play look easy in the game.

None was better than the play made by Menz, who started at third early in the season before coach Jim May made changed his lineup.

"I said, 'Right now these guys are doing the job, and if one of them stops, you're the next man up,'" May said. "It's not easy to do, and I know it's not, but that's why you've got to have team players because of moments like this when you get to step up and be in the light."

Anatomy of a lineup

Scott City players celebrate after their 4-1 win over Warsaw in a Class 3 semifinal Monday, June 1, 2015 in O Fallon, Missouri. (Glenn Landberg)

Cox got a scouting report on Warsaw before the game.

"I knew that they had four really, really good hitters and they were in the front of the lineup and that if I got past them then I was in good shape," Cox said.

The top four batters in the Wildcats' lineup went 4 for 12. The Nos. 5 through 9 hitters were 1 for 14 with eight strikeouts and stranded four of the five runners Warsaw left on in the game.

May, by contrast, prefers to scatter his best hitters in his lineup.

The move paid off Monday when No. 7 batter Dylan Keller, who has the third-highest batting average on the team at .375 and 18 RBIs, came up in the fourth with two runners on.

Keller doubled to bring home what would be the winning run.

"With him and [lead-off batter] Braden and [No. 3 hitter] Trent [Pobst] kind of spaced out they seem like they come up in spots where they can drive in runs, and if you put them together it kind of condenses your lineup," May said. "It's nice to have a spot like that with a big hitter coming to the plate."

Coming up

Scott City fans cheer during a Class 3 semifinal against Warsaw, Monday, June 1, 2015 in O Fallon, Missouri. (Glenn Landberg)

May wasn't ready to name a starter for today's championship game after Monday's win.

He said it will "most likely" be freshman lefty Dakota Talley, who earned the win in the Rams state sectional. Freshman Bryan McNeely, who closed the sectional, and junior Jordan Kluesner also are options.

Talley has thrown the second-most innings on the team with 36. McNeely has thrown 33 2/3, and Kluesner has thrown 31. McNeely has a 1.05 ERA, followed by Talley at 1.17 ERA and Kluesner at 3.27.

"We'll see. We'll see how it goes tonight," May said. "I did comment last night [Dakota] and Bryan both were having a big time in the hotel, and I thought, you know, it's pretty easy when you know you're probably not going to play tomorrow, but we'll see how they are tonight."

He said he won't hesitate to put one of his freshmen into a high-pressure situation.

"They don't get fazed by it," May said. "I'll just put them out there. Whichever one I decide on, that's who we'll roll with, and we'll get behind them and hopefully catch the ball. I told the kids before we started, 'If we catch the ball, we're going to win.' We caught the ball today."