Scott City forfeits 5 games after 11 players suspended

Scott City's baseball team will forfeit five games after 11 team members began a two-week suspension Tuesday for violating school guidelines involving alcohol at a post-prom party Saturday.

The baseball team members were among more than two dozen athletes suspended, which also included members of the track and softball teams. Those teams will continue as scheduled.

The school's citizenship handbook, which all athletes sign prior to participation, calls for a 14-day suspension for the first offense and a 365-day suspension for a second offense.

"I like the fact our school is going to stick to the rules and do what's right," Scott City baseball coach Mike Umfleet said.

The Rams, who lost their first three games, have only eight players eligible to play. The team will be 0-8 when it resumes play April 22 against Notre Dame.

The team forfeited its game Tuesday at Perryville and will forfeit today against Oran. Scott City will forfeit a make-up game with Dexter on Friday and also will forfeit games next week against Chaffee and Portageville.

"We just had a rough start, and this doesn't help things," Umfleet said. "Hopefully the kids learn from this and go on. Our goal has been to win the district championship, and hopefully we still can."

-- Jeff Breer