ORAN CLAIMS SHARE OF SCOTT-MISS TITLE

ORAN -- Oran High senior pitcher Dustin Dannenmueller was upset that he allowed Chaffee to score two runs in the top of the seventh inning to tie Friday's key Scott-Mississippi County Conference matchup.

So Dannenmueller took matters into his own hands. With one out in the bottom of the seventh, he drilled a Tom Stidham pitch over the left-field fence for a solo home run, giving the Eagles a dramatic 3-2 victory.

Oran improved to 14-5 overall and 7-0 in Scott-Miss play. The Eagles clinched at least a share of the conference title and can win the crown outright by beating East Prairie next week.

Chaffee fell to 13-4 overall, 5-2 in the league.

"I was really frustrated with myself in the seventh," said Dannenmueller of allowing the Red Devils to tie the contest. "I've never hit a home run that actually ended the game, so it was a good feeling."

And a good game all around as the two area small-school titans -- Oran was second in the Class 1A state tournament last year while Chaffee is a 2A power -- put on an impressive display.

Neither squad made an error. Oran came up with several defensive gems that thwarted Chaffee threats, including an over-the-shoulder catch by left fielder Travis Friga in the fifth inning and a sliding catch in foul territory in the seventh by right fielder Dustin Glastetter.

"It was a very good game," said Oran coach Mitch Wood. "Both teams really played well and both pitchers threw well. We made some fine plays."

Dannenmueller, who recently tossed a five-inning no-hitter against Oak Ridge and also hit a game-winning home run against Kelly, allowed four hits. He struck out four, walked five and hit a batter.

Stidham was nearly as effective. He gave up nine hits while fanning seven and walking three.

"Both teams played extremely well," said Chaffee coach Bruce Qualls. "We didn't really do anything to lose the game. They just won it."

Oran's Phil Seyer doubled twice while Chris Nichols also had two hits for the Eagles.

The Eagles went ahead 1-0 in the second as Seyer doubled and came home on Friga's single.

It became 2-0 in the third as Garrett Cook -- Oran's bottom hitter in the order -- drilled a solo homer to left.

Dannenmueller cruised into the seventh with a two-hitter -- he worked out of bases-loaded jams in both the third and fifth -- but Chaffee finally broke through.

With one out, Jeremy Vandeven was hit by a pitch and Jeremy Lynn singled. Stidham's RBI single made it 2-1 and, after a walk to Garrett Senciboy loaded the bases, Dusty Leggett bounced into a force out -- he barely beat the double-play throw to first -- to drive in the tying run.

Dannenmueller then lifted Oran -- and himself -- to victory with his one-out blast in the bottom of the seventh.