By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports

Resignations from several coaches from their extra-duty positions were accepted Tuesday evening by the Dexter Board of Education. The resignations were presented and approved during Executive Session.

Those resigning include:

* Terry Hester – freshman boys basketball
* Tamara Crowley – high school softball
* Rebecca Lovelady – high school volleyball assistant coach
* Mike Vipperman – middle school football assistant coach
* Greg Lummukka – middle school wrestling

The resignations were for the extra-duty coaching positions only and did not affect their teaching positions.

By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports

CHARLESTON, Mo. – The Dexter Varsity baseball team has had two key components of winning in their last two games: solid defense and good pitching. The ‘Cats were able to put down the Charleston Blue Jays on Tuesday (April 12) afternoon, with an 11-1 final score.

“We played a pretty good ballgame; defensively, we played really well,” coach Brian Becker said. “That’s two games in a row where we’ve looked pretty good defensively, and that’s encouraging going into the stretch of games we have coming up.”

Brad Potts got the start for the Bearcats and kept up the good work from his last start against Scott City last Thursday (April 7), where he gave up one run in six innings of work. In this game, Potts struck out two, forced eight groundouts, and didn’t walk anyone in four shutout innings. Owen Flowers closed out the contest, getting one K but giving up a run during the top of the fifth.

It was Flowers’ first game back from a neck injury, and Becker cited the tough road trip this weekend as a reason for him closing out the game.

“We have a killer stretch of games coming up,” Becker continued, “and I wanted to give [Potts and Flowers] a little work, especially Owen. Potts only threw about 52 pitches, but with doubleheaders on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday, we need all the fresh arms we can get going into that stretch of games.”

Thursday, the ‘Cats face New Madrid County Central in a JV/Varsity doubleheader at home.

“New Madrid has surprised some teams this year; they’re playing pretty good baseball.,” Becker said. “They have some good young players, and I expect them to come in here and have a pretty good battle with us.”

Becker expects to start Logan Northern in the contest.

“[Logan has] thrown a couple JV games, but coming into the season I didn’t project him as a pitcher,” Becker said of Thursday’s starter. “We needed arms and he threw his hand up there and has done a good job on some JV games, and he’s earned a start on the varsity level.”

‘Killer’ is definitely an adjective one could use to describe the next week for this team. After Thursday’s home doubleheader against NMCC, Friday sees the ‘Cats against Sikeston, in a makeup game that was rained out earlier this week, another JV/Varsity doubleheader. Saturday, the Bearcats travel to Cooter to play a varsity doubleheader against Cooter and Twin Rivers. Monday, the Bearcats play Poplar Bluff at Poplar Bluff. The ‘Cats face Jackson on the road on Tuesday.

"I don’t think any coach in Missouri will envy my schedule," Becker said, laughing.

First pitch in Thursday’s contest against New Madrid is set for 4:00 p.m.

Photo above
Brad Potts fires a pitch during the 11-1 win at Charleston Tuesday afternoon. Potts fanned three batters while throwing four shutout innings. Potts' record is 3-0 this season.

By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports

The Dexter Tennis team struggled against the Cape Central Tigers on Tuesday (April 12) afternoon. The ‘Cats lost all three of their doubles matches, and only won one singles match in the contest.

In doubles, Tyler Miller and Brauck Burge were defeated 8-3 by Juan Pablo Jaramillo and Sam Stahly. Sam Ward and Kyle Willis faced Austin Shupert and Nicholas Van Hines, but lost 8-2. Dexter’s ‘bigs’, Hunter Mathis and Theo Gaul were handed an 8-2 loss by Prithvi Rudrappa and Alvaro Jose Jaramillo.

“Dexter lost 8-1 [in singles],” coach Leanne Dooley said, “but several matches were very close.”

Miller faced J.P. Jaramillo in singles, but lost 8-5. In the No. 2 match, Burge played Shupert and won 9-8, the ‘Cats only W in the contest. Ward was defeated 8-2 by Stahly, and Willis lost 9-8 to Rudrappa. Mathis was beaten by Van Hines, 8-1. Gaul lost a close match to Caleb Yeargain, 9-7.

The ‘Cats will hit the courts again on Tuesday (April 19) when they face the Charleston Blue Jays at home. The match is set for a 4:00 p.m. start.

Photo above
Brauck Burge returns a serve during his doubles match - with partner Tyler Miller - against Juan Pablo Jaramillo and Sam Stahly. Burge and Miller lost the doubles match 8-3, but Burge picked up the 'Cats' only win of the contest, in his close 9-8 singles match against Austin Shupert.

BREAKING NEWS
The Dexter High School softball game scheduled for this afternoon (Tuesday, April 12) has been cancelled due to weather conditions

According to DHS Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Chuck Powers, the tennis match with Cape Central and golf match at Jackson are still to go on as scheduled.

The baseball game at Charleston, set for a 4:00 p.m. start, will be pushed back to a Varsity-only contest to begin at 5:30 p.m., with the bus leaving at 3:30 p.m.

The softball game will not be rescheduled.

Story and photo provided by Murray State Sports Information

In a game that saw the momentum switch three times, it was Jacksonville State that scored the final run to take the game 10-9 Sunday (April 10) afternoon at Johnny Reagan Field.

A costly first-inning error helped open the flood gates for the Gamecocks (22-10, 6-3 OVC) as they pushed across five runs in the inning. After a leadoff single, the next batter hit a ball back to the mound that was thrown into center field. The next hitter a drew a walk to load the bases and Ben Waldrip drove in two runs with a single up the middle. Kyle Bluestein drove in a run with single back through the box, and the second error of the inning allowed two more runs to score.

The Breds (13-17, 4-4 OVC) got a run back in the bottom of the first as Brandon Elliott singled up the middle with one out and scored on a Jacob Rhodes single through the right side.

JSU added to its lead in the third as Bluestein led off the inning with a solo home run to left center.

MSU got back into the game in the third as Elliott singled to right center and Travis Isaak followed with a base hit up the middle. Two batters later, Brandon Eggenscwhiler walked to load the bases. A fielder’s choice from Paul Ritzheimer scored the first run, and Zach Noonan followed with a two-run double to left center. Cody Larson capped off the four-run inning with a bloop single to right center.

A solo home run just inside the left-field foul pole by Scott Underwood helped push the lead back to two.

A costly Gamecock error in the fourth helped the Breds push across four runs and take their first lead of the game. After the first two guys were retired, Eggenschwiler walked and Ritzheimer singled up the middle. Noonan plated a run with a single to right center, before Larson hit a grounder to shortstop that was flipped to second and dropped, allowing a run to score. Frey and Stetson made them pay be hitting back-to-back RBI singles.

The Gamecocks pushed across a run in the fifth as a single and walk put two on with two outs, and Andrew Bishop blooped an RBI single to right center.

JSU regained the lead in the seventh as Bluestein doubled to left center and later scored on a wild pitch with two outs. After back-to-back walks, Coty Blanchard delivered an RBI single to center field.

The Breds had a chance to tie the game in the ninth as Drew Pixley delivered a leadoff pinch-hit single to left. After a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch, Elliott lined out to center on a diving catch to end the game.

Cameron Finch (0-2) took the loss after allowing one run on one hit and two strikeouts over 2.2 innings. Hunter Rivers (6-1) picked up the victory after allowing three hits and striking out three over three innings. Todd Hornsby (10) picked up the save after allowing one hit and fanning two over two innings.

Elliott led the offense by going 3-for-6 with a pair of runs scored. Noonan went 2-for-5 with three RBIs and two runs scored, while Frey went 3-for-4 with an RBI.

The Breds return to the diamond Wednesday evening as they travel to face Western Kentucky. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.