By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports Editor

CAPE GIRARDEAU - The Dexter Bearcats opened the 2012 Class 3, District 1 Tournament with an outstanding performance against the Perryville Pirates on Saturday afternoon.

Right-hander Brad Potts went the distance for the 'Cats, giving up seven hits and two walks. The junior struck out six and gave up just three runs while maintaining a 3-0 record and 2.76 ERA on the season.

"Brad on the mound today, I can't say enough about the job he did," coach Brian Becker said after the 5-3 win. "It was a phenomenal outing; he did what we needed him to do, and he got us a complete game and a victory. It was an outstanding effort on his part."

Potts left a few pitches up in the zone in the early going of the game, but he said things really clicked for him in the late second and early third innings.

"I felt good out there; the first few innings, you just have to dig that hole and find the strike zone," Potts said. "About the third inning, I had it figured out and worked the inside corner."

Potts typically works the most with his fastball; his go-to pitch usually crosses the plate in the mid-to-high 70's, and will occasionally break the 80 miles per hour barrier, but he noted that his curveball has been highly effective in his last few starts.

"My fastball works well because I throw a no-seam and it moves a lot, but the last few weeks my curveball has been working really well and moving a lot more," he said.

The 'Cats had everything working for them in the contest; on top of Potts' excellent performance on the mound, the 'Cats made good contact with the ball and posted a goose-egg in the error column.

"We pitched well and we played good defense - when you have those ingredients, you're going to win a lot of ball games," Becker noted. "We took advantage of opportunities when they presented themselves; there early in the game, I wondered if we were going to get a clutch hit [in the first inning], but we left some base-runners on. Later in the game, we started taking advantage of those opportunities. This is a good win for us, and hopefully it will springboard us into a good game on Monday."

The 'Cats tied the game at 1-1 in the first inning off an RBI single from Alex Cliff, but stranded men on second and third base.

After a scoreless second inning, the Pirates took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third. Jordan Miller came up with a line-drive single for an RBI in the bottom of the third, and Potts crossed home on a wild pitch to take a 3-2 lead.

The Pirates were held scoreless in the top of the fourth inning; in the home half of the frame, Cody Neldon scored on another wild pitch after being put on base with his sixteenth hit-by-pitch of the season. The Pirates brought home a run in the top of the fifth to bring the score to 4-3.

In the bottom of the fifth, Chase Young reached base on a hit-by-pitch, and made it to third on a fielding error. Cliff showed bunt in an attempted squeeze play, but the ball got away from the Perryville catcher, allowing Young to steal home for the fifth run of the game.

Potts had three strikeouts in the last two innings to seal the 5-3 victory and grant the Bearcats another shot at the Notre Dame Bulldogs in the District Semifinals.

"They're very good," Potts said of the Bulldogs. "We just have to come out and field and hit like we did today."

"Our kids are excited about another opportunity to play them," Becker added. "They know that we've had chances to beat them, and they're looking forward to the opportunity to play them again."

The 'Cats and Bulldogs will face off for the third time this season on Monday (May 14) afternoon at 4:30 p.m.; Alex Cliff (4-2, 3.28 ERA) will be on the hill for the Bearcats.

Photos Above:
Top: Brad Potts had an outstanding all-around performance for the 'Cats; on top of his six strikeout, complete game effort on the mound, the junior went 2-3 with two runs scored at the plate.
Bottom: Catcher D.J. Dowdy chases a fly ball near the Bearcats' dugout during Saturday's 5-3 win in the Class 3, District 1 Tournament.

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, falling, clear; black bass good on crankbaits and plastic baits; all other species fair. (Report made on 5/9/2012)

Council Bluff Lake: 71 degrees, normal, clear; channel catfish good on worms and liver; largemouth bass good on dark colored soft plastics and topwater lures during low light periods; redear sunfish fair on worms; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/9/2012)

Cypress Lake: 73 degrees, normal, dingy; bluegill and redear sunfish good on 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 stinkbaits in 2 - 3' depths. (Report made on 5/9/2012)

Duck Creek CA Pool 1: 76 degrees, high, clear; bluegill and warmouth sunfish good on crickets and jigs; largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/10/2012)

Lake Girardeau: normal, clear; largemouth bass good on worms; redear sunfish good on crickets; bluegill fair on worms; channel catfish fair on worms; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/9/2012)

Perry County Lake: 75 degrees, clear; black bass good on spinnerbaits; redear sunfish good on crickets; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/9/2012)

Robert DeLaney Lake: 72 degrees, normal, bluegill good on crickets and wax worms; crappie good on jigs; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/10/2012)

Wappapello Lake: 71 degrees, low, bluegill good on crickets and worms; channel catfish good on trotlines and jug lines using live bait at night; crappie fair on minnows and jigs; black bass fair on spinnerbaits and plastic 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 5/9/2012)

RIVERS

Black River (above Clearwater Lake): 71 degrees, normal, clear; smallmouth bass (catch and release only) and goggle-eye good on tube baits and live minnows; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/9/2012)

Black River (below Clearwater Lake): 70 degrees, normal, dingy; channel catfish good on live bait; black bass good on jigs and minnows (season closed, catch and release only until May 26th); crappie fair on jigs and minnows; redear sunfish fair on crickets; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/9/2012)

Castor River (above Zalma): normal, clear; all species slow. (Report made on 5/9/2012)

Mississippi River (middle): muddy; channel catfish good on worms; crappie fair on minnows; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/9/2012)

Mississippi River (Ohio River to Arkansas): rising, muddy; channel catfish fair on liver and worms; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/9/2012)

St. Francis River (above Wappapello): dingy; channel catfish good on live bait; black bass (season closed until May 26th) good on minnows and jigs; crappie good on minnows and jigs; redear sunfish good on crickets and worms; all other species fair. (Report made on 5/9/2012)

St. Francis River (below Wappapello): 69 degrees, normal, dingy; channel catfish good on worms and liver; crappie fair on jigs and minnows; black bass fair on plastic worms and spinnerbaits; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/9/2012)

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!

By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports Editor

PORTAGEVILLE - An RBI double from Alex Cliff in the second inning would prove to be all the offensive production the Bearcats would require in their last game of the regular season.

For good measure, the 'Cats tacked on 18 more runs throughout the course of the five inning contest against the Portageville Bulldogs on Wednesday afternoon.

Owen Flowers (5-1, 2.28 ERA) took the start and got his team-leading fifth win. The senior right-hander struck out three batters and gave up one hit and one walk in his three innings of work. Josh Overall took to the mound in relief for the fourth inning, and didn't give up a hit or a walk. Cliff was on the hill in the fifth, with two strikeouts in the inning.

The top of the first was the only inning that the 'Cats didn't record a run; the second inning saw three runs go on the board, thanks to an RBI double from Cliff and a groundout to third base by Flowers.

Chase Young recorded an RBI single in the third inning and hit into a fielder's choice for an RBI in the fourth to increase the Bearcats' lead to 5-0.

The fifth inning saw an offensive explosion by the Bearcats, including a two-run home run from Jordan Miller, his first of the year. Cody Neldon came through with a one out, two RBI double, while Jacob Miller came in off the bench and picked up his first RBI of the season on a single down the third-base line.

The big rally would finalize with a 19-0 advantage for the Bearcats, ending the game due to the ten-run rule.

The Bearcats stand at 16-7 on the season heading into the Class 3, District 1 tournament, where they garnered the fourth seed behind Notre Dame, Kennett, and Ste. Genevive; all teams ranked higher than the 'Cats hold a regular-season victory over DHS.

The Bearcats will be in action on Saturday afternoon, when they open the District Tournament against the No. 5 Perryville Pirates. The game is scheduled for a 4:00 p.m. first pitch from Notre Dame High School in Cape Girardeau.

Photo Above: Jordan Miller connected on his first home run of the season, a two-run shot in the fifth inning, against the Portageville Bulldogs on Wednesday afternoon. (SMT file photo by Andrew Cato)

By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports Editor

BONNE TERRE, Mo. - After a big 6-0 win over Sikeston to open the Team District tournament, the Bearcats moved on to face the North County Raiders on Tuesday afternoon.

The 'Cats battled hard on the court, but ultimately fell 3-5 to the Raiders to be eliminated from the tournament.

Tyler Miller picked up a 6-1, 5-7, 7-5 win in his singles match against Connor McBride; Miller came back from a 2-5 deficit in the third set to get the win.

Sam Ward fell 1-6 in the first set of his singles match against Lucas Rodgers, but fought back with a 6-2, 6-1 effort in the second and third sets to take the match. Jacob Robinson picked up a 6-1, 6-1 win over Josh Ruble to round out the Bearcats' win column.

Noah Kronk fell to Paul Luebbers in two sets; the DHS freshman was able to force tiebreak games against his senior opponent in both sets of the 5-7, 5-7 singles loss.

In Doubles action, Miller and Ward fell to McBride and Rodgers in a 2-6, 4-6 decision.

Kyle Willis and Joseph Greer forced three sets against Alex Lodholz and Peter Hickman, but ultimately fell 2-6, 7-5, 3-6.

The Bearcats will return to post-season play on Saturday (May 12) afternoon, when they travel to Potosi for the Individual District tournament.

Photo Above: Sam Ward picked up a 1-6, 6-2, 6-1 win over Lucas Rodgers in his singles match. (SMT file photo by Andrew Cato)

By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports Editor

WASHINGTON, Mo. - After making the cut at Districts, the best area high school golfers converged at Franklin County Country Club to compete in Sectional competition. Finishing above the cut here would punch a ticket to the State competition, held at Rivercut Golf Course in Springfield, Mo.

The Bearcats were well-represented by freshman Drake Mitchell, sophomore Myles Urhahn, and senior Cody Stevens.

With the cut set at 87 strokes, Stevens would be the only Bearcat to advance after shooting a 79. The senior had been through the stress of sectional competition before, and noted that things didn't start off so well in his round.

"I started out four-over after three holes and thought it was going to be a horrible day," Stevens said. "I went to the van during the rain delay to change my shirt and hat, and then I started playing better. I just played my game, played stress-free and just had fun. You've just got to thank God for the great round after that."

"It was better than the 83 I had at Dalhousie," Stevens said of his score. "It was just one of those days where I couldn't putt; I didn't have my putter at districts, either."

Urhahn would barely miss the cut with an 89, and Mitchell ended his day on the course with a 107.

Stevens will advance to the Class 3 State Championship, held at Rivercut Golf Club in Springfield, Mo., on May 14-15.

Photo Above: Stevens prepares to tee off during a practice round earlier this season. The senior will be the only Bearcat golfer in the MSHSAA Class 3 State Championship next week. (SMT file photo by Andrew Cato)