By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports

Athletes of all ages took to the fields of the Dexter Parks & Rec baseball complex Tuesday (June 14) night.


All leagues were able to play Tuesday night, despite threatening dark clouds earlier in the day.


The Rookie League contest between MSH and First Midwest Bank showed some great hustle plays on both sides, and appeared to be one of the better games of the evening.


More games are scheduled for Thursday night - if you’re not busy, head on down to the complex and watch some great little league baseball!



Coaches are invited to send their games' scores and highlights to the ShowMe Times. Items should be emailed to amiller@showmetimes.com or click "Submit Event" at the bottom of the ShowMe Times homepage.

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The ShowMe Times will be out enjoying the youth league action this week, and a complete photo gallery of photos from area youth league games from Week Three of this DPR season will be posted this weekend on the ShowMe Times!

By Annabeth Miiler,
ShowMe Times Editor

Ebby Calvin LaLoosh, the wild young rookie pitcher in the movie “Bull Durham” says that baseball “is a very simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains."

Monday night at the Dexter sports complex saw lots of throwing and sometimes catching, some pretty good hitting, and always winners and losers but no rain. All in all, a good baseball night.

All the leagues saw action last night, with kids brushing up on their baseball skills and having a good time. Fans enjoyed the cool evening, and later on a brilliant sunset in the western horizon.

More action is on tap for Tuesday night – with a bevy of games scheduled.

Coaches are invited to send their games' scores and highlights to the ShowMe Times. Items should be emailed to amiller@showmetimes.com or click "Submit Event" at the bottom of the ShowMe Times homepage.

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The ShowMe Times will be out enjoying the youth league action this week, and a complete photo gallery of photos from area youth league games from Week Two of this DPR season will be posted this weekend on the ShowMe Times!

Special to the ShowMe Times,
By Rebecca Maples, MDC

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – He’s a heavyweight from northern Arkansas. He’s dark and mysterious. He’ll eat just about anything, and he’s being seen more and more around the Show-Me State.

His name is Ursus americanus, but you probably know him better as the black bear. One of the state’s largest wild mammals, black bears have been seen in more than half of Missouri’s counties, though most are south of the Missouri River. According to the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), black-bear sightings and numbers are growing in Missouri.

Black bears are native to Missouri, but the species was nearly eliminated from the state by 1940 due to unregulated hunting and habitat changes. Recent data indicate that a few of Missouri’s native bears might have survived. However, the growth of Missouri’s bear population in recent years probably is largely a result of a successful black-bear restoration effort by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission in the 1960s.

According to MDC Resource Scientist Jeff Beringer, black bears are a significant part of the native ecosystem and are an indicator of the state’s wilderness habitat quality.

A fed bear is a dead bear

A growing bear population calls for caution from campers and landowners, who are most likely to encounter bears. Black bears generally are dangerous only when they lose their natural fear of people. This usually results from access to human food. A bear that associates people with food is at risk for aggressive behavior, which could result in euthanasia.

“The most important thing is that landowners and campers don’t give bears access to food or garbage,” Beringer said. “If you never let a bear get started, you won’t have a problem with them.”

Campers can avoid problems with bears by keeping a clean camp, avoiding food scents, and never feeding or approaching bears. If you encounter a bear while camping, you should try to scare the bear away by banging pots and pans or making other noise and waving your arms. If you see a bear while hiking or fishing, you should back away slowly, speaking in a normal voice and making no sudden movements. Although bear attacks are extremely rare, if you find yourself in this situation you should fight back with any available weapons – sticks, stones, knives or even fists – striking the bear especially around the face.

“Bears are generally afraid of people. If you do have an encounter with a bear, you want to make it a negative experience for that animal,” Beringer recommended.

Black bear research

In fall 2010, MDC began a cooperative study with the University of Missouri and the University of Mississippi to learn more about black bears in the state and how to manage them. The project involves trapping and radio-collaring bears and gathering hair samples for DNA testing. Information gathered in this will allow researchers to determine individual animals’ size and growth rates, population size, sex ratio, genetic diversity, habitat preferences, daily and seasonal movement patterns, denning dates, reproduction and survival rates. Trapping and radio-collaring will continue through this fall.

Beringer said citizens can play an important role in the ongoing bear research project by immediately reporting all bear sightings. Such reports enable researchers to focus their efforts on areas of known bear activity.

If you see a black bear, report it by visiting www.MissouriConservation.org and searching “Report a Bear Sighting.”

It was a fantastic week at the Sports Complex, with lots of baseball and softball action on all levels.

In what is surely a rare occurrence, the first two weeks of league action on the Dexter Parks & Recreation programs went with a single rain delay or cancellation. Week 3 of the season may not be as lucky, with rain and storms possible in the forecast.

Hat’s off this week to the umpires and officials on hand for each game. These officials endured the heat and humidity throughout the week to continue to call fair games and remind the youngsters of the value of good sportsmanship and to help on those rare times when a player is injured during play. Thanks to all the umpires and officials!

The ShowMe Times was at the complex all week, and a gallery of photos is provided. We look forward to watching progress on all levels during Week 3!

ShowMe Times Photo Gallery

Order prints To order prints from this gallery, look for the "Buy" button at the top of the gallery page. You will be able to select photo sizes and other photo products and pay online using your credit or debit card.

If you’ve passed by the Bearcat Event Center the past two days you’ve seen a lot of activity taking place as over 400 athletes and 46 schools gathered for the 2nd Annual Rib City Classic. This year’s basketball extravaganza has continued to grow to new record levels and is quickly becoming a showcase of high school athletics.

The event involves three different age categories of Middle School, Junior Varsity and Varsity level High School basketball teams from all around the area. Teams as far as St. Louis, Salem and area teams come to participate in the two-day tournament.

Teams are guaranteed to have at least 6 games with a maximum of 8 games during the tournament.

The action has quickly become one of the premier events held in the Midwest as the tournament is attracting state champion level teams such as Sikeston, Soldan International of St. Louis and Imagine College Prep of St. Louis.

In the 2010-11 MSHAA State Championship, Soldan International lost to St. Francis Borgia in the Semi-Finals 71 to 58. St. Francis Borgia advanced on to the finals and lost to the Sikeston Bulldogs by a score of 74 to 56.

The finals of the 2011 Rib City Classic found Sikeston and Soldan in the championship. The Bulldogs graduated four starters from last season while Soldan International arrived with all starters from the 2010-11 season filling their roster.

The action was fast and furious but in the end, the Soldan Tigers dominated the championship defeating the Bulldogs of Sikeston by over 20 points.

“This is the best shootout that I’ve ever been to and we are coming back.” complimented Soldan International Head Coach Justin Tatum. “I’m sure going to tell every school in St. Louis about this.”

Dexter’s team was a little shorthanded, as several of the Bearcat players were unavailable for the tournament. However, Dexter has a very respectful showing finishing .500 in their bracket, defeating Clarkton in the first round before losing to Doniphan in the semi-finals.

Other teams involved in the Rib City Classic were Jackson, Howell County, Twin Rivers, Poplar Bluff and Caruthersville. The Caruthersville Tigers brought their best effort to the courts and were noted as being about the 4th best team in the tournament.

“Overall the tournament went extremely well” said Rib City Classic organizer Chad Allen. “And this event would not be possible without the help of all the volunteers and sponsors.”

The good times continue on June 17th and 18th with the Girls Rib City Classic. This weekend will host 36 girls team from around the area to the Dexter Campus.

Additional information about the Rib City Shootout can be found at http://www.ribcityshootout.com/index.html.