By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports Editor

The DHS Tennis team closed the regular season with a 6-4 record after a victory over the Poplar Bluff Mules on Friday afternoon.

The 'Cats split the match with Poplar Bluff, with Dexter earning a 5-4 victory in Varsity competition, while Poplar Bluff took the JV match 1-6.

Varsity No. 1 Tyler Miller took an 8-1 decision over Cody Hillis; No. 2 Sam Ward picked up an 8-2 win over Dylan Page. Miller and Ward also picked up an 8-0 win in their doubles match.

Kyle Willis found himself on top of an 8-5 contest in singles; he and doubles partner Joseph Greer won a 9-7 contest over Dylan Page and Paremaseer Hundal.

In JV action, Zach Simms picked up the lone victory for the Bearcats; Drew Mason and Brooks Probst found themselves on the losing end of thrilling 5-7 singles matches.

The 'Cats will be in action again this week, when they battle for the team District Championship and compete for individual district honors.

Photo Above: Joseph Greer delivers a serve during his 9-7 doubles win with partner Kyle Willis.

By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports Editor

Players, coaches, and parents gathered to celebrate the successes of the Bearcats in the 2012 Spring Sports season on Thursday evening.

Softball coach Leonard Morse took the podium first; in his first season as head coach, the Lady Bearcats amassed a 12-8 record - one of the better records in recent years - including a third place finish in the inaugural 'Swing Pink' tournament and a second place finish in the SCAA Tournament.

"I want to thank the school for support, Dr. Sharp for attending our games, and the high school secretaries for helping with concession stands and media relations," Morse said. "My assistant coach Chris Bolin was a tremendous help; I couldn't have done it without him.

"This year was the first time since 2008 that we won 12 games. We did well in county play after struggling early in the season, he continued. "In the middle of the season, we won 9 of 10 games at one point."

Numbers were a little down this season, with just 11 girls on the squad, but Morse was proud of the girls he had for their hard work and dedication to the team.

"We only had 11 on the team, and there were several games we played with just nine girls available," Morse added. "They worked hard and put in the effort - proud of them for that."

Kendra Stevenson, with a .450 average, took home the Batting Award; Ashley Brown was voted to the Dedication Award, and Becky Anderson, who recently signed a Letter of Intent to pitch at Mineral Area College next year, was voted Team MVP. Anderson and Riley Rickman were also named to the SCAA All-Tournament Team.

Head track coach Jill King was up next, and thanked the school administrators and assistant coach Greg Lummukkua for their assistance throughout the season.

"I also wanted to thank the Booster Club for buying us new hurdles this season," King said, "and those that volunteered to help us at our home meet. Our parents had gave us great support and the kids worked hard for a great season."

The track team gives out one award that goes to a male and a female athlete for scoring the most points at meets; Zach Comstock and Taylor Martin earned the honor. King noted that Comstock scored in every meet this season in the long and triple jumps, while Martin tied the school record for the 200, and has only been defeated once this season in the 100 and 200.

Head tennis coach Leanne Dooley stepped to the podium next to honor the Men's Tennis team.

"I want to thank everyone who makes this program possible, and that's a lot of people," she said.

"A special thank to you the parents - we've actually had people attending our matches this season," Dooley added, laughing.

The team stands at 5-4 on the season in a noted 'rebuilding year' by Dooley. The team holds a first place finish in the doubles division at the Poplar Bluff Invitational Tournament, where DHS was the smallest participating school.

"This has been what you would call a rebuilding year; we have a lot of young players," she said. "Varsity has two players that are in their first year of playing competitive tennis."

The Team MVP award went to senior Tyler Miller, and was the only award given; Dooley noted that the other two awards - Most Singles Wins and Most Doubles Wins - were too close to call before Friday's match against Bluff.

Head coach Brian Becker closed out the banquet by honoring the baseball team; the Bearcats have a 14-6 record with three games to go before the District Tournament.

"Thanks to Dr. Sharp for coming to some of our games," he said. "I don't remember seeing a superintendent at games before. Also, thanks to Dexter Parks and Recreation for doing our pre-season field prep."

"We've had the best spring weather in the history of springs; 11 home games schedules and only had to move one," Becker continued. A big thanks to Coach Pixley and Coach Boyer. I'm not getting any younger and throwing BP is harder on me than it was; having Cody and his fresh arm out there is great."

The JV squad currently has a 5-6-1 record; Becker noted their steady improvement throughout the season.

"It's amazing how much these freshman improve over the year," he said. "Hopefully they'll come out this summer and work hard and keep improving."

"The Varsity is 14-6 so far; we've had some quality wins this year," Becker noted. "Oran and Scott City were big wins; we beat Sikeston twice, Poplar Bluff, Jackson, MICDS...it's always good to get a win over a private school. Five of our six losses are by a combined six runs."

"It's been a great season so far," he added. "It's been one of the most fun years I've had as a coach, and I've been at it for a long time. These kids know when to have fun and know when to work."

The 'Cats have four seniors on the roster this season - Alex Cliff, Josh Overall, Daniel Fitts, and Owen Flowers - and Becker had nothing but praise for the group.

"I really appreciate your work for all four years," he said. "They've worked hard, and I've loved coaching them for all four years."

The team gives out two awards - one for Batting Average and the Team MVP.

The Batting Average Award was a tight race between juniors Chase Young and Jordan Miller, but Young was able to narrowly take the award with a .426 mark.

Team MVP went to pitcher/first baseman Alex Cliff; the senior has a 3-2 record and a 2.33 ERA through 18 innings of work on the mound, and has yet to record an error at first base this season.

The golf team was unable to attend due to Friday's Sectional match, where Drake Mitchell, Myles Urhahn, and Cody Stevens will fight for a trip to State.

Booster Club member Kevin Bishop closed out the evening by giving out the annual Booster Club Scholarships; Tyler Miller, Dalton Putnam, and Sydnie Rinehart earned the honors.

By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports Editor

The spirit of giving is alive and well at Dexter High School.

The DHS Softball team followed in the footsteps of both the middle and high school volleyball teams and held a 'Pink' game to raise money for the Ben Kruse 18 FORE Life foundation, a local organization dedicated to helping families that are battling cancer.

During the Lady Bearcats' all day 'Swing Pink!' tournament, held on March 31, the squad raised $4,371.50 for the charity.

Head softball coach Leonard Morse noted the success of the tournament, and fully expects to make it an annual event.

"It was phenomenal what we were able to do; as far as the tournament, all the teams have asked to come back for next year. Hopefully we'll be able to double the number of teams that were in it and move to a 16 team tournament next year," Morse said. "I didn't know what to expect; we far-exceeded the amount of money that I thought we would ever make. I didn't know how well it would take off in the first year."

Morse noted that one of his players, Ashley Brown, proposed the idea of having the tournament be a fundraiser after the first middle school 'Dig Pink!' game.

"I've been wanting to hold a tournament for the last two or three years; last year, after the middle school did their Dig Pink game, Ashley Brown suggested that we do something similar to that with the softball," he said. "The girls jumped on board, and Ashley herself sold 38 shirts at $15 apiece. Portageville high school sold over 100 shirts. Most of the money that we raised was from concessions and the sale of the shirts."

Scott Kruse, current DMS principal, founder of 18 FORE Life and brother of the late Ben Kruse, said the outpouring of compassion from area high school and junior high students has been overwhelming.

"It's crazy. It started with the middle school last year, and it happened right around the time that I was hired and got to come back home," Kruse said. "I thought to myself 'That's really neat', and I was kind of glad they did it before I was here. The high school took off with it, and Richland and Bernie both started doing it. Now, with Leonard and the softball team, I love seeing it, because they know that they're doing something to help people."

Last year, 18 FORE Life gave out over $150,000 in 'love offerings' to local cancer patients; Kruse noted that the organization sends out the offerings in $1,000 increments, and that the multitude of benefit athletic events put on by area high schools accounted for a good portion of the total donated amount.

"Last year, the middle school volleyball team raised $2,100, this year they did $5,300," Kruse said. Bloomfield raised $1,000, Bernie raised over $400, and Richland did a volleyball and a basketball game, so you're looking at over $15,000 dollars."

"The way I look at it, that's fifteen families that we can help, because we send out love offerings $1,000 at a time," he said. "Last year, in total, we sent out $153,000."

Photo Above: Members of the DHS Softball team gathered Thursday morning to present Scott Kruse with the funds raised during the first annual Swing Pink Tournament. Pictured are (from left): Cierra Learue, Becky Anderson, Ashley Brown, Scott Kruse, Riley Rickman, Emily Triplett, Whitney Layton and Maddie Christian.

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: 76 degrees, normal, clear; black bass good on crankbaits and plastic baits; bluegill fair; channel catfish fair; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/3/2012)

Council Bluff Lake: 68 degrees, normal, clear; largemouth bass good on dark colored soft plastics and topwater lures during low light periods; crappie fair on jigs and minnows; redear sunfish fair on worms; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/3/2012)

Cypress Lake: 71 degrees, normal, dingy; bluegill and redear sunfish good on jigs, crickets and worms in 1 - 3' depths; largemouth bass good on minnows and jigs, plastic worms and crankbaits in 1 - 3' depths; crappie fair on minnows and jigs in 1 - 3' depths; channel catfish fair on worms, crickets and stinkbait in 2 - 3' depths. (Report made on 5/2/2012)

Duck Creek CA Pool 1: 75 degrees, high, clear; bluegill good on crickets; largemouth bass fair on spinners; bowfin good on cut bait; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/3/2012)

Lake Girardeau: normal, clear; bluegill and redear sunfish good on crickets; largemouth bass fair on soft plastic worms; channel catfish fair on worms; all other species fair. (Report made on 5/3/2012)

Perry County Lake: 72 degrees, clear; crappie fair on jigs; black bass fair on spinnerbaits; redear sunfish good on crickets; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/3/2012)

Robert DeLaney Lake: 74 degrees, normal, bluegill fair on crickets close to the bank; crappie fair on jigs and minnows; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/3/2012)

Wappapello Lake: 70 degrees, low, crappie good on minnows and jigs; channel catfish good on trotlines and jug lines using live bait at night; black bass fair on crankbaits and plastic worms; bluegill fair on crickets and worms; all other species slow. Anglers should note the 9" minimum length limit regulation for crappie on Wappapello Lake. Call the Wappapello Lake Recreation Hotline for updates at 573-222-8139. (Report made on 5/3/2012)

RIVERS

Black River (above Clearwater Lake): 71 degrees, low, clear; smallmouth bass (catch and release only) and goggle-eye good on tube baits and live minnows; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/3/2012)

Black River (below Clearwater Lake): 71 degrees, normal, dingy; channel catfish good on live bait and stinkbait; crappie fair on jigs and minnows; black bass good on jigs and minnows (season closed, catch and release only until May 26th); white bass fair on jigs; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/3/2012)

Castor River (above Zalma): normal, clear; all species slow. (Report made on 5/2/2012)

Mississippi River (middle): rising, muddy; channel catfish and blue catfish fair on worms; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/2/2012)

Mississippi River (Ohio River to Arkansas): normal, muddy; channel catfish fair on beef liver and worms; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/2/2012)

St. Francis River (above Wappapello): normal, dingy; channel catfish good on live bait; black bass (season closed until May 26th) good on minnows and jigs; redear sunfish good on crickets; all other species fair. (Report made on 5/2/2012)

St. Francis River (below Wappapello): 70 degrees, normal, muddy; channel catfish fair on nightcrawlers; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/2/2012)

Photo Above: SMT reader Joe Foster of Essex was proud of his catch during a recent fishing trip. (Photo submitted by Joe Foster - Thanks, Joe!)

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!

By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports Editor

SIKESTON - The tennis 'Cats had a dominating performance against the Sikeston Bulldogs on Tuesday afternoon in their third match of the season.

In the Varsity-only contest, the Bearcats picked up an 8-1 win, including two shutouts in the singles division by Kyle Willis and Jacob Robinson.

Sam Ward lost a 7-9 tiebreak match against Brandon Goodwin in the closest contest of the day; Tyler Miller won 8-2 over Josiah Bill. In doubles, Ward and Miller won 8-5 over Bill and Goodwin.

Freshman Noah Kronk picked up an 8-4 singles win over Sydney Gadberry; he and Robinson won their doubles match against Adam Smith and Gadberry with an 8-1 final score.

The Bearcats will be back on their home court Friday (May 4) when they host the Poplar Bluff Mules in their final regular season match.

The contest is scheduled to get underway at 4:00 p.m.

Photo Above: Tyler Miller returns a shot during his 8-2 singles win against Josiah Bill.