SEMO News Service photo by David Jenkins Dunklin County's Aaron Booker (left) is tagged out by Scott County third baseman Josh DeBrock trying to advance to third on a bunt in the first inning of the first game of Wednesday's District XIV doubleheader in Chaffee. [Click to enlarge]

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Scott County Post 369 picked up a big 4-3 District XIV victory over the Dunklin County Post 303 Dodgers on Wednesday evening via the walk-off hit.

Blake Dirnberger stood in with two men on in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader and delivered with a single to right center field bringing in Levi Felter for the winning run.

In the nightcap, the Dodgers (25-12, 4-1 XIV) took a 12-11 victory.

Building up to the Game 1 victory, Post 369 had to play a solid game as Post 303's starting pitcher Aaron McCaig was steady on the mound. After leaving two men on in the first two innings, Scott County finally jumped out to the lead 2-0 in the bottom of the third on three hits. Josh Henson doubled to right field to begin the inning and later scored on a single by Shae Simmons.

Simmons was then caught stealing second base, but Dirnberger walked to set up the second run which came off of the bat of Kody Campbell to deep right.

Post 303 answered with a run in the fourth and a run in the sixth, but Post 369 stole one back in the bottom of the sixth as Cody Carlyle swiped home with two outs as Josh DeBrock stood in at the plate.

"We tried it a couple of weeks ago with another team," said Scott County head coach Denver Stuckey of the stolen base at home. "I told Cody, I said we're going to do it here, even if he throws it to third and you go then we're just going to try to steal one."

Up 3-2, Scott County appeared to be cruising to the victory.

In to pitch in relief of Henson, Simmons recorded the first out of the seventh on a comebacker to the himself at the mound. He then hit Dustin Hunter and Dylan Stockton moved him over on a fielder's choice out to the right side. Aaron Booker then walked and the bases were loaded for McCaig who got a single to right field to score Hunter. Ben Smith ended the jam by striking out to end the inning.

Felter walked to lead off the bottom of the seventh and Simmons singled to put two men aboard for Dirnberger who was credited with the game-winning RBI single.

Post 303 manager Jamie Johnson was disappointed with his team's effort in the contest, saying that they just couldn't get things going.

"I didn't think we played very good at all," said Johnson. "I didn't think we did enough things right to win the baseball game. I think they did a few things right and the team that does more things right is usually the team that is going to win. We just didn't win the baseball game."

McCaig was handed the loss despite the fact that reliever Shane Branum was on the hill when Dirnberger recorded the RBI single. Through six innings and change, McCaig gave up four earned runs on nine hits and five walks. He struck out six in the loss.

"I thought Aaron threw well," said Johnson of his starter. "He battled the whole way and he did a great job. He got to a pitch limit and we pulled him. That was our call."

Offensively for Post 303, four hits were spread among Stockton, Booker, McCaig and Kaleb Canoy. Stockton had a triple, a walk and two runs scored and Booker had a double and two walks.

On the other side of the diamond, Post 369 saw offensive production out of several players. Simmons, Dirnberger, Campbell and Henson each had multiple hits. Simmons picked up two singles, Dirnberger three singles, Campbell a single and a double and Henson had two doubles.

"I just told the guys that it was a good all-around game," said Stuckey following the victory. "The only difference was that we executed our bunts, we got guys over when we needed to and I was very proud of them. Good pitching, good defense and timely hitting will help you win."

Simmons picked up the win going three innings, giving up two earned runs on one hit and four walks. He also hit two batters and struck out three.

In the nightcap, Brandon Quillin picked up the win in relief while Hunter quelled a seventh-inning jam to record the save.

Scott County and Dunklin County will both head south of the state line to play in a tournament in Paragould, Ark. that begins on Friday afternoon.