Scott City, Kennett softball teams set to square off in today's state quarterfinal

The Scott City softball team's five-game winning streak is its best stretch all season, and coach Lance Amick believes his team has saved its best softball for the postseason.

The Class 1 District 4 champion Rams knocked off host Malden 11-6 in a state sectional Tuesday, a game in which Scott City scored nine unanswered runs to pull away with the victory.

"We had a pretty complete game yesterday," Amick said. "Everybody had a hit. We had a lot of contributions up and down the lineup.

"Something that doesn't get a lot of notoriety a lot of times is our dugout was really into the game yesterday, and even the girls who weren't taking an active role on the field were engaged in the game, which was a real comfort to everybody and everybody getting a role on the team. That's a big thing, too, having a group of girls that are really pulling for each other, no matter if they're on the field or not."

The Rams' state title quest will see perhaps its biggest challenge against defending Class 1 champion Kennett, which ended Scott City's season a year ago in a 4-1 decision at the final four.

The state quarterfinal is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. today in Kennett, Missouri.

The Indians used a pair of five-run innings in the fourth and sixth to come away with a 10-3 victory over New Madrid County Central on Tuesday. Anna Wheeler, Hannah Criswell, Kayton Harris and Jasmine Jones each recorded multiple hits for Kennett, which combined for four doubles. Only one Kennett batter struck out.

"You talk about Kennett's lineup, and you've got one through nine who all can present a problem. There's never a time where a pitcher can relax. One through nine, they all swing it," Amick said. "They can all hit the ball with a lot of power. ... It keeps you on your toes defensively because you've got to make the plays. You can't give them extra outs."

Starting pitcher Madi Parr went four innings, scattered seven hits, allowed two runs -- one earned -- and had nine strikeouts and no walks to earn the win against the Eagles. Parr was replaced by Madison Pickens, who gave up one unearned run, allowed three hits and had two strikeouts and three walks in three innings of work.

Parr went up against the Rams in late March when Scott City dropped a 12-3 decision at home.

"She's a good pitcher," Amick said about Parr. "You don't get to the point where they're at and you don't build the record and reputation they have without good pitching, good hitting and good coaching. They're a solid group all the way through.

"It'll take a good effort for us to go down there and come out with a win. We're hopefully going to go down and compete and see what happens."

Led by a three-hit performance from Valerie Bahr, the Rams combined for 15 hits in Tuesday's victory. Bella Bowers, Michaela Kiefer, Lexi Hennecke and Skylar Rhymer each had multiple hits for Scott City.

The Rams' Jamie Glastetter pitched a complete game, gave up six runs -- all earned -- and nine hits and had four strikeouts and four walks.

Amick believes it will be vital for his team not to allow the Indians to put together a big inning comparable to Tuesday's game when Malden erupted for five runs in the top of the third.

"There were a couple of plays we could have made in that inning that really restrict probably the magnitude the game was," Amick said. "If we make a play here or there or go back on a pop fly over our head at second base and make a catch, then we really cut down on four runs. There was a play between first and second where we didn't communicate very well, that's the kind of ball I'm talking about.

"You can't give good teams extra outs, and this time of year, you're playing this far and the other team's there for a reason."

Amick said his players' focus will be on controlling their own mistakes.

"We just want to compete. We want to go out and control what we can control," Amick said. "... All phases of the game count. Fielding and pitching, they all matter. It just takes one injury here or one injury there, and people on the bench have to pay attention and be ready because it takes a total team effort this time of year."