Scott County upsets Dunklin

~ Scott County reached the championship game with a 5-4 victory over the top seed.

Scott County American Legion starter Andy Stephens held the powerful Dunklin County lineup to three hits, and Lucas Dirnberger got down a bases-loaded squeeze bunt in the bottom of the ninth to help second-seeded Scott County upset top-seeded Dunklin County 5-4 Thursday night in the winner's bracket final at the District 14 tournament in Chaffee, Mo.

Scott County Post 369 moves into the championship game at 4 p.m. on Saturday. Dunklin County will play the winner of today's elimination game between Cape Girardeau and Jackson in the loser's bracket final at 8:30 p.m. tonight.

"No matter who we play, it will be a battle," Scott County coach Tom Dirnberger said of the final. "I know they [Dunklin County] will come back hard. It's hard to tell. I'm just glad to get this one under our belt."

Stephens retired the side in order in the top of the first, showing right away he had some of his best stuff of the summer. Control has been Stephens' biggest nemesis on the mound, and at least early on the left-hander was able to stay over the plate.

"Some of my mechanical stuff has just been messed up," Stephens said. "I just sat at home today and thought about what I had to do."

Following a 20-run performance on Wednesday, Dunklin County's offense was forced to play small ball. A pair of ground balls following a leadoff double brought home Dunklin County's first run in the second, and errors helped Dunklin County score without a hit in both the fourth and fifth innings.

Despite only one hit, Dunklin County led 3-1 after five innings. Stephens had walked five through five innings.

"We were hitting the ball, and we knew Andy was sharp," Tom Dirnberger said. "Every inning we were pumping him up and he was pumping us up."

Scott County's offense broke through in the sixth, loading the bases with no outs. Chip Smith came in to replace Dunklin County starter Craig Lansford after the second batter reached.

Jon Simpher made the score 3-2 with a sacrifice fly, and Rusty Hendricks tied the score with an infield single.

Dunklin County regained the lead in the seventh, thanks to another two walks, but Scott County tied the score with a run in the bottom of the seventh. Shane Menz tied the game with an RBI single after a 30-minute delay when a light standard went out with a 2-2 count on Menz.

Stephens got out of a jam in the eighth and shut down Dunklin County in the ninth to set up Lucas Dirnberger's game-winning squeeze.

Chad Friend led off the inning with a double. Menz was intentionally walked, and a wild pitch moved the runners up to second and third. After Blake Dirnberger struck out, Trenton Moses was intentionally walked. Lucas Dirnberger then put down his third bunt of the game. He reached on both previous bunts.

Stephens finished with nine walks and eight strikeouts, and unofficially threw 154 pitches. Blake Dirnberger led Scott County with two hits, both doubles, and added an RBI.