By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports Editor

The DMS volleyball team is keeping up its winning reputation as the season goes on; the young ladies picked up two wins over SCAA teams last week, and are looking forward to another victory on Friday to carry their undefeated records into the SCAA Tournament.

Last week saw the Lady 'Cats in action against the Bloomfield Wildcats and Puxico Indians.

Against the Wildcats, the seventh grade squad squeaked out an extra-point 27-25 victory. In the second set, Ashlyn Wymann's seven straight points led the Lady 'Cats to a 25-18 win.

"We struggled with serving, missing 5 serves in the first set," head coach Melissa Hahn said. "It is hard to gain momentum when you are missing serves. Sydney Rogers did a great job at the net."

The eighth grade squad had a much easier time against the Wildcats, picking up 25-13 and 25-11 wins. Lauren Thrower led the way in the first set with 12 consecutive points, while Julia Hahn added seven in the second set. Ashlyn Werneck and Kendall Adams both had solid games at the net in the win.

"Felt like the score was misleading and Bloomfield put up a good fight. My girls were really communicating well and giving some good passes to my setters," Hahn noted. "Lauren Thrower and Julia Hahn are both very consistent servers. They combined for 30 served points on the night. Twelve of our points were on Bloomfield side-outs. Either Lauren or Julia was at the line for all but 8 of our served points."

The Lady 'Cats faced off against Puxico on Thursday night, and kept their records spotless with wins in both games.

The seventh graders won 25-7 and 25-10; Wymann served 13 points in the opening set, while Macy Graves put up nine points in the second.

Hahn and Thrower both put together another great night at the line in the eighth grade contest; the 'Cats won 25-15 and 25-16 to take the match.

"[I was] pleased with our hitting on the front row," Hahn said. "Alyssa Pixley had a nice hit in the first set. Her excellent attitude and work ethic are paying off. "Delaney Pullen had a couple of hard hits. Brittany Brown, who normally plays a defensive role, saw some front row action tonight and had a nice hit."

"We still need to work on our defensive transitions and communication," she added. "We had a few balls drop, and I am never satisfied with that." The Lady Bearcats are set to conclude regular-season play on Friday night, when they travel to Marble Hill to take on the Woodland Cardinals.

"[At] this point in the season it is easy to become comfortable and lack intensity," Hahn said. "I want to make sure that we continue to work hard in practice so we are mentally and physically prepared for our remaining games and the SCAA Tournament."

Friday's SCAA contest with Woodland is scheduled for seventh grade action at 6:00 p.m., with the eighth grade immediately following.

By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports Editor

SCOTT CITY - The Bearcats took little time to shake off Tuesday's tough loss to the Notre Dame Bulldogs. An explosive, 14 run fifth inning was all it took to lift the Bearcats to a run-rule victory over the Scott City Rams.

Brad Potts took the start for the Bearcats, pitching five innings of three-hit ball. The junior fanned five, walked four, and gave up two runs (one earned) in the win.

Chase Young crossed the plate on an RBI single from Jordan Miller to give the Bearcats a 1-0 lead in the top of the third. The Rams tied things up in the home half of the inning, but the 'Cats rattled off four runs in the top of the fourth to retake the lead. Center fielder Cody Neldon came up with a single in the fourth inning rally, and showed much improved confidence at the plate despite his recent slump.

The Rams plated one run in the bottom of the fourth to bring the score to 5-2 going into the top of the fifth.

Owen Flowers led off with a single; a walk to Neldon and a single from Daniel Fitts loaded the bases for Potts, who delivered a 2 RBI double to kick off the massive inning. In total, the 'Cats recorded 10 hits, seven walks and 15 runs in the inning to set the final score at 19-2.

Young and Miller continue to show great skill at the plate as the season progresses. Miller led the way, going 3-4 with 4 RBI's on the day, while Young was 2-3 with 1 RBI and four runs scored. Potts also had a solid day at the plate, adding to his great showing on the mound, and went 2-3 with 3 RBI's.

The 'Cats, now 6-3 (2-3) on the season, will be back in action again on Monday (April 9) afternoon, when they host the Sikeston Bulldogs in a 4:00 p.m. contest.

Photo Above:
Brad Potts had a solid all-around game against Scott City; the junior struck out five batters and gave up just one earned run from the mound, while bringing home 3 RBI's in his 2-3 effort at the plate. SMT file photo by Andrew Cato.

By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports Editor

The DMS Track team hosted the annual Dexter Open meet on Thursday afternoon. Despite damp conditions for most of the day, the young 'Cats were able to fit in the whole meet.

The Lady 'Cats finished in third place, missing out on second by one point to the Sikeston Lady Bulldogs, who tallied 124 points. Poplar Bluff took home first place in the girls division, with 140 points.

Dexter's boys game in fourth place, with 83 points. Poplar Bluff also finished in first place in the boys division, with 155 points.

School records fell in both divisions during the meet. Ethan Stevens broke the school record in the 100 meter hurdles, with a time of 15.31 seconds.

MaKayla Walker broke the record in the 100 meter dash with a 12.94 second effort; Waldner, along with Melanie McKuin, Karaline Keirsey and Dakota Reynolds, also broke the record in the 4x100 meter relay with a time of 54.74 seconds. The same team set the record earlier in the season.

Photo Above:
Ethan Stevens flies over a hurdle during his record-setting race during Thursday afternoon's Dexter Open meet.

By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports Editor

The DHS Golf team has been greeted with outstanding weather so far in the 2012 season, and despite struggling as a team, members have posted some solid individual scores throughout the season.BR>
On Tuesday afternoon, Dexter hosted a quad match at Hidden Trails Country Club, where they faced off against Sikeston, Doniphan, and New Madrid County Central.

The Bulldogs utilized a full team effort to pick up the win with a 156 score, beating out Dexter (190), Doniphan (202) and NMCC (208). Evan Deere, Kirk Hoggatt, and Conor MacGillivray all recorded 38 stroke scores to lead the Bulldogs to a win.

The Bearcats were led by sophomore Myles Urhahn, who carded a 43. Ryan Joyner recorded a 48 stroke effort on the day.

Wednesday afternoon saw the Bearcats fall to the Cape Central Tigers by 10 strokes at Hidden Trails Country Club.

Central Sophomore Travis Simmons earned medalist honors with a plus-one 37. Senior Cody Stevens led the Bearcats with a plus-two 38 score on the day.

The Bearcats will be back in action on Monday (April 9), when they hit the road to compete in the Poplar Bluff Invitational; the match is scheduled to tee off at noon.

In most streams south of the Missouri River, black bass season will open May 26, 2012, until that date all black bass in those streams must be returned to the water unharmed immediately after being caught. For details see Chapter 6 of the Wildlife Code.

PLEASE CHECK REGULATIONS CAREFULLY: Special regulations may apply to designated portions of water bodies; some baits and lures may not be legal for all portions.

SOUTHEAST REGION (573) 290-5858

LAKES

Clearwater Lake: 72 degrees, normal, clear; crappie good on jigs; white bass fair on Road Runners or jigs; all other species slow. (Report made on 4/4/2012)

Council Bluff Lake: 66 degrees, normal, clear; largemouth bass good on dark colored soft plastics; crappie good on red or blue jigs and minnows; all other species slow. (Report made on 4/4/2012)

Cypress Lake: 73 degrees, normal, dingy; crappie fair on minnows and jigs in 2 - 3' depths, mostly smaller fish being caught right now; bluegill fair on jigs in 2 - 3' depths; largemouth bass fair on minnows and jigs, incidental to crappie fishing, and plastic worms in 2 - 3' depths; channel catfish fair on worms and stinkbait in 2 - 3' depths. (Report made on 4/5/2012)

Duck Creek CA Pool 1: 76 degrees, high, clear; warmouth and redear sunfish good on crickets and jigs; crappie fair on minnows; all other species slow. (Report made on 4/4/2012)

Lake Girardeau: normal, clear; bluegill and largemouth bass good; all other species fair. (Report made on 4/4/2012)

Perry County Lake: 78 degrees, clear; crappie good on jigs; black bass fair on plastic worms; all other species slow. (Report made on 4/5/2012)

Robert DeLaney Lake: 65 degrees, normal, crappie and black bass fair on jigs; bluegill fair on jigs and crickets; all other species slow. (Report made on 4/4/2012)

Wappapello Lake: low, black bass fair on crankbaits and plastic worms; crappie fair on minnows and jigs; bluegill fair on crickets and worms along shoreline; channel catfish fair on live bait using jug lines and trotlines at night. Anglers should note the 9" minimum length regulation for crappie on Wappapello Lake. Call the Wappapello Lake Recreation Hotline for updates at 573-222-8139. (Report made on 4/4/2012)

RIVERS

Black River (above Clearwater Lake): 65 degrees, normal, clear; all species slow. (Report made on 4/4/2012)

Black River (below Clearwater Lake): 61 degrees, normal, dingy; crappie good on minnows; black bass (season closed until May 26th) fair on minnows and soft plastics; channel catfish fair on worms and live bait; paddlefish and walleye slow. (Report made on 4/4/2012)

Castor River (above Zalma): normal, clear; all species fair. (Report made on 4/4/2012)

Mississippi River (middle): falling, dingy; channel catfish and blue catfish fair on worms, cut bait and stinkbait; all other species fair. (Report made on 4/4/2012)

Mississippi River (Ohio River to Arkansas): normal, dingy; channel catfish fair on worms and cut baits; all other species slow. (Report made on 4/4/2012)

St. Francis River (above Wappapello): normal, dingy; black bass (season closed until May 26th) fair on minnows and crankbaits; channel catfish good on worms, stinkbait and live bait; crappie good on minnows in backwater sloughs; bluegill good on worms. (Report made on 4/4/2012)

St. Francis River (below Wappapello): 74 degrees, high, dingy; black bass fair on plastic worms and spinnerbaits; channel catfish fair on liver, nightcrawlers and stinkbaits; crappie fair using jigs and minnows; bluegill fair on earthworms and crickets; all other species slow. (Report made on 4/4/2012)

Anglers are invited to send pictures of their catch to the ShowMe Times - simply email a photo to SMT Sports Editor Andrew Cato, including your name, where the fish was caught, the species of the fish, and - if you care to share - what bait you were using!