Submitted to the ShowMe Times
by Reader Shannon Putnam

The Lil’ Idols and Impact Idols young cheer groups from Dexter made an impressive showing recently at a metro cheer competition.

The Lil’ Idols took second place in its division at the Champion Spirit Group Cheer and Dance Championship.

After an injury to one of the girls during warm-ups, one of the Impact Idols team members was unable to tumble. However, the Impact Idols worked to overcome this adversity and earned third place in the competition.

Following the competition a group of Dexter girls competed in a stunt, Liberty Competition. The girls took third against ALL squads at the competition.

The competition was held at Lafayette High School in Wildwood, in the West St. Louis County region. The teams are coached by Tory Hillis.

A ShowMe Times Sports Report

It was a chilly afternoon , but the Lady Bearcats’ bats were hot as they travelled Thursday afternoon for a game against Bell City.

The Lady ‘Cats won 11-1 against the Cubs in five innings by the 10-run rule. A strong – but bundled for warmth – crowd of Dexter fans traveled to Bell City for the afternoon game.

Catcher Alec Jackson, leading off for the 'Cats, scored twice in the game – in the first and second innings. Jackson, a senior, recently signed a national letter of intent to play softball next year at Shawnee Community College in Ulin, Ill.

“Alec is a great leader for the team,” said coach Tammy Crowley. “She sets a competitive example and steps up to help us be a great team.”

Freshman Kendra Stevenson was on the mound for the Lady ‘Cats, and got her first varsity 'W' with the 11-1 win. Stevenson also chalked up 10 strikeouts during the match.

Stevenson and teammate Jerrica Wood both joined Jackson and scored twice - in the first and fourth innings.

The lone score for Bell City came in the final inning from Lindsey Rendlemen.

Crowley said it was a really cold game, but she was proud of the Dexter team.

“Kendra Stevenson pitched the entire game and is a freshman. I had four freshman playing on the field and another was the designated player/hitter. We have a very young team, but we are coming together nicely,” Crowley said.

Photo Above:
Freshman Kendra Stevenson pitched her first varsity baseball game Thursday, helping lead the Lady Bearcats to an 11-1 victory over Bell City.

Photo Below:
Despite a cold and dreary afternoon, a young Lady Bearcats squad came on strong Thursday, defeating the Bell City Cubs 11-1.

Photos submitted by Reader Kay Stevenson. Thanks, Kay!

By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports

MALDEN, Mo. - Dexter’s Varsity baseball took to the diamond against the Malden Green Wave on Tuesday (March 23) afternoon. The offensive juggernaut of the Bearcats - Dexter has put at least 20 runs on the board in their first two contests - blew out Malden, ending the game with a 20-8 victory.


Owen Flowers took the start for the ‘Cats, and gave up four runs off eight hits during his four innings of work. Jordan Miller took over pitching duties for the ‘Cats in the fifth inning, and didn’t give up a run during his two innings. Josh Overall closed out the contest on the mound, but gave up four runs on four hits.


“Overall, I was pleased with the way we played,” Dexter head coach Brian Becker said. “Chase Young was out of the lineup today nursing an illness, but Daniel Fitts stepped up and filled in at shortstop for us - defensively, we played really well.”


Becker also expressed happiness with his team’s offensive ability early in the season, but noted that such lopsided scores would be difficult to consistently put out.

“Our bats are going real well right now,” Becker continued. “I was really pleased with how we swung our bats today. But you’d be a fool to think that this scoring barrage is going to continue all season long.”

‘Well’ could be an understatement for the Bearcats' offense right now. The ‘Cats had five players with multiple hits in the contest - Brad Potts and Alex Cliff both went four for five, both scored three runs, and had two and five RBI’s, respectively. Miller, Fitts, and Josh Sifford all went two for four at the plate, and all had at least one RBI - Fitts and Miller had three and two RBI’s, respectively.



The ‘Cats began and ended the game with big rallies - six runs in the first and eight runs in the seventh - with Alex Cliff hitting a booming solo shot in the fourth inning. Malden scored two runs in the opening frame, and either scored one run or didn’t score in each inning after until the seventh, where the Green Wave game up with a four-run rally.

After starting the season with two wins, the Bearcats will face a tough Kennett team in the home opener Wednesday (March 23) afternoon. Becker expressed concern with the Indians’ pitching staff, but seemed hopeful about his team’s chances for another ‘W’.


“We’re definitely going to run into a buzzsaw today - we have Kennett at home,” Becker commented. “[Kennett has] eight solid pitchers, and the one we’ll face is a flamethrower. We just have to come out, compete hard, and hopefully we can put the bat on the ball and our pitchers can keep us in the ballgame.”


First pitch is set for 4:00 p.m. in Dexter’s home opener.

Photos above Top Photo: Bryn Hester readies his swing during Tuesday’s 20-8 blowout at Malden.
Bottom photo: Alex Cliff blasts a solo shot during the fourth inning. Cliff went 4-5 with 4 RBI’s on the day.

By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports

DEXTER, Mo. - The Dexter Lady Bearcat softball team had its season opener Monday (March 21) afternoon against the Bernie Mules. Both squads competed hard in the contest, albeit a sloppy one - the two teams combined for 17 errors in the game - but the Lady ‘Cats came out on top, defeating the Mules 16-12.


Lefty Alec Jackson, who looks to be the team’s ace this season, took the mound for the Lady ‘Cats, and recorded four K’s on the day. Jackson, the lone senior on coach Tammy Crowley’s squad, also got four hits on the day.

Freshman Katie Baker started on the mound for the Mules, and recorded eight strikeouts in the contest.


The ‘Cats had a six-run rally in the second inning, and held a six-run lead going into the top of the fifth, but the Mules battled back. Bernie had a nine-run fifth inning and held a 10 to eight lead, but the ‘Cats answered with an eight-run spurt in the top of the fifth.


The Mules drove in another run in both the sixth and seventh innings, but the Lady ‘Cats were able to weather the storm and come with a victory.



Bernie head coach Jeff Rodgers noted his team's lack of practice time, due to the Mules' run in the Show Me Showdown, but seemed optimistic about his squad's future.

"This wasn’t a pretty game for either side, but for the small amount of reps we've had in practice, we did some good things,” Rodgers said. “A couple bad innings on defense cost us, but it's early and we'll get better with experience.”

Rodgers took pride in the performance of his pitcher-catcher duo, despite their youth. “Katie Baker did a good job on the mound for the first game,” Rodgers continued, “and our catcher [Tori Lowrey] did a great job behind the plate, I thought. Pitching and defense will determine how well we do this year.”

The Lady ‘Cats will be in action again on Thursday (March 24), when they will take on the Bell City Cubs on the road. First pitch is set for 4:00 p.m.

Photos above Top Photo: Alec Jackson fires a pitch during Monday’s game. The senior had a solid outing, recording four K’s and four hits on the day .
Bottom photo: Freshman Mollie Whitehead battles to keep her at-bat alive during the fourth inning of Monday’s 16-12 win against Bernie. .

Dexter resident Bryan Schmid got to see some racing action "up close and personal" at the Bristol Motor Speedway last week. Schmid had an opportunity to meet and talk to Trevor Bayne, winner of the Daytona 500, prior to the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup race. Schmid got to tour the Bass Pro Shop's crew area as well as Jamie McMurray's pit box.(Reader submitted photos from Bryan Schmid).