A small town’s growth can usually be measured by the number of young people that return to invest themselves into the community. Kyle Christian is one of those young men. As an up-and-coming commercial loan officer at Montgomery Bank, Christian has made the choice to return to Dexter and begin his career.
 
Many people remember Kyle through his early years as an athlete, an avid golfer and one of those cute Christian twins - it was always confusing to be able to tell Kyle and Matt apart - but you could always guarantee that where you would find one, you would typically find the other.
 
Kyle continued his golf play at the college ranks as a member of the Arkansas State University golf team. After completing his degree and his college golf career, Kyle returned to Dexter and began his professional career in the banking industry at Montgomery Bank as a personal banker.
 
Christian quickly became involved in the community. He is an active member in the Dexter Lions Club as well as serving on various committees at the Hidden Trails Country Club. He has also been a great encourager for young people with an interest in golf. But in all his service, Kyle still has a love for golf and the desire to compete.
 
Kyle continues to scratch his golf itch each year in the Missouri Amateurs Golf Association. Five years ago, Kyle began to enter MAGA tournaments in the area. Christian’s development during his years at ASU definitely paid off as he has qualified for the MAGA State Tournament each year.
 
Travels in those years have taken Christian to many great golf courses throughout Missouri - including prestigious courses in Jefferson City and St. Joseph - and this year he will be in the St. Louis area. The tournament is moved to different locations, offering a degree of challenge to golfers as they find themselves on unfamiliar courses.
 
On June 1, the 2011 MAGA State Qualifier was held at the Dalhousie Golf Club in Cape Girardeau. Over 55 golfers were on site for the event, but only the top 24 would be advancing to the MAGA State Tournament.
 
“I started off rough at the Dalhousie qualifier and was about six over through five holes,” Christian recalled. “Then I got my game lined out and actually shot pretty well on the back nine.”
 
Kyle further noted that his play has continued to get better over the past two weeks and he is anxious to see how things go in the state tournament.
 
The MAGA State Tournament begins Monday (June 20) in Augusta, MO, at the Boone Valley Country Club near Chesterfield, Mo.
 
“The course is really great as they have bent grass from the tee box all the way to the greens,” Christian added. “It will be a pretty neat experience”.
 
The tournament expects to host over 140 golfers from throughout Missouri. Each golfer is guaranteed a minimum of two rounds of stroke play. At the end of the second day, the top 64 players will advance to the match play (the golfer with the best score on the hole gets a point; at the end of the round, the player with the most points wins) portion of the tournament. Head-to-head 18-hole match play will continue until the championship on Sunday, when the two top leaders will compete in a 36-hole match to determine the state champion.
 
Results of next week’s tournament will be reported as we get them here at the ShowMe Times, and you can also follow the live scoring of the tournament at www.mogolf.org.

By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports

Thursday night saw more great little league baseball action at the Dexter Parks & Recreation Sports Complex.

Youngsters continued to develop in the fundamental aspects of baseball - hitting, throwing, and catching - during their games.


The young athletes even got to play in the rain! A light sprinkling came over the complex for about half an hour - most of the heavier weather went to the south of Dexter - but the games didn’t get postponed.


Coaches are invited to send their games' scores and highlights to the ShowMe Times. Items should be emailed to amiller@showmetimes.com or acato@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 Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports

The second round of the annual Rib City Shootout is set to begin in Dexter on Friday (June 17) morning.

After the great success of the boy's first round last weekend, it is now the ladies' turn to take the courts.

Teams from three states - Missouri, Arkansas, and Tennessee - will all compete in the two-day tournament.

Games will be spread across three courts in the Bearcat Event Center, as well as in the Middle School gym and Dexter Park & Rec's new facility by the Dexter Aquatic Center. Make sure to check back with the ShowMe Times this weekend for photos and updates from this great event!

View the full schedule for the weekend’s tournament here!

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!