Scott City faces Barstow for state championship

SPRINGFIELD — The Scott City Rams are living the dream.

And second-year coach Lance Amick is happy to be along for the ride.

The Rams will play Barstow (18-1) at 4 p.m. today in the Class 2 state championship game, bidding for the school's first state team championship in any sport.

"It means a lot to me," Amick said, "but I'm happy for these kids. This is a dream for a lot of them. A lot of people don't get to have their dream come true. They're living it right now."

Junior Cody Page is one of the Rams players enjoying the moment. He had a three-run double in Scott City's 10-0, five-inning semifinal win against Hallsville on Wednesday.

"I've talked to many, many people who said we're supporting the whole town, and the whole town has our backs," Page said. "I've got people I don't even know congratulating me. It's just an amazing feeling to have the whole town behind us like this. It's just like a dream right now."

Page was a member of the Scott City football team that finished second in its Class 2 district, and he is aware of the support the team is getting from members of the football team as well as basketball players who came up short in their Class 3 district title bid.

"This is the biggest thing I've been a part of," Page said.

The Rams put themselves in position to contend by making short work of Hallsville.

That means ace and Missouri State recruit Ryan Modglin had to throw only 68 pitches and may be available today if needed.

"If he can go, he'll be in relief," Amick said, "and if not, he won't. We're not just going to throw his arm out there. He's got too bright a future."

Amick's best-case scenario for today is a strong outing from Shae Simmons, who pitched all eight innings in the quarterfinal win against Clearwater.

"I'll go with our second No. 1," Amick said. "He's fully rested and he's been a warrior all postseason. If, for some reason, he gets beat, they'd have to play well to beat us."

Simmons will get a chance to show off his warrior mentality after suffering a laceration on his throwing arm that Amick said took place during Simmons' unsuccessful attempt to steal home.

"What don't kill you makes you stronger," Amick said.

Scott City's opponent, Barstow, won its semifinal against Conway 3-2 with the winning run crossing on a wild pitch with two outs in the seventh inning. Barstow had scored two in the sixth inning to tie the game.

"They've been doing it all year," Barstow coach Mark Adams said. "It's different guys coming through all year long. They pick each other up. They hung in, and we'll do it again tomorrow."

Andrew Lentell, Barstow's No. 9 hitter, had the hit to lead off the seventh and scored the winning run.

The Knights lost starting catcher and cleanup hitter Greg Fox during the game. He was ejected in the first inning after running into the Barstow first baseman on an infield fly popout, and he must sit out today's game due to an ejection for "malicious contact," according to MSHSAA.

Adams said he did not get a chance to scout Scott City in the first semifinal game.

"We're just going to play whoever shows up," Adams said. "Scott City is fine with us."