By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports

CHARLESTON, Mo. – The Dexter Varsity baseball team has had two key components of winning in their last two games: solid defense and good pitching. The ‘Cats were able to put down the Charleston Blue Jays on Tuesday (April 12) afternoon, with an 11-1 final score.

“We played a pretty good ballgame; defensively, we played really well,” coach Brian Becker said. “That’s two games in a row where we’ve looked pretty good defensively, and that’s encouraging going into the stretch of games we have coming up.”

Brad Potts got the start for the Bearcats and kept up the good work from his last start against Scott City last Thursday (April 7), where he gave up one run in six innings of work. In this game, Potts struck out two, forced eight groundouts, and didn’t walk anyone in four shutout innings. Owen Flowers closed out the contest, getting one K but giving up a run during the top of the fifth.

It was Flowers’ first game back from a neck injury, and Becker cited the tough road trip this weekend as a reason for him closing out the game.

“We have a killer stretch of games coming up,” Becker continued, “and I wanted to give [Potts and Flowers] a little work, especially Owen. Potts only threw about 52 pitches, but with doubleheaders on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday, we need all the fresh arms we can get going into that stretch of games.”

Thursday, the ‘Cats face New Madrid County Central in a JV/Varsity doubleheader at home.

“New Madrid has surprised some teams this year; they’re playing pretty good baseball.,” Becker said. “They have some good young players, and I expect them to come in here and have a pretty good battle with us.”

Becker expects to start Logan Northern in the contest.

“[Logan has] thrown a couple JV games, but coming into the season I didn’t project him as a pitcher,” Becker said of Thursday’s starter. “We needed arms and he threw his hand up there and has done a good job on some JV games, and he’s earned a start on the varsity level.”

‘Killer’ is definitely an adjective one could use to describe the next week for this team. After Thursday’s home doubleheader against NMCC, Friday sees the ‘Cats against Sikeston, in a makeup game that was rained out earlier this week, another JV/Varsity doubleheader. Saturday, the Bearcats travel to Cooter to play a varsity doubleheader against Cooter and Twin Rivers. Monday, the Bearcats play Poplar Bluff at Poplar Bluff. The ‘Cats face Jackson on the road on Tuesday.

"I don’t think any coach in Missouri will envy my schedule," Becker said, laughing.

First pitch in Thursday’s contest against New Madrid is set for 4:00 p.m.

Photo above
Brad Potts fires a pitch during the 11-1 win at Charleston Tuesday afternoon. Potts fanned three batters while throwing four shutout innings. Potts' record is 3-0 this season.