By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports

The Bearcat baseball team came back from a six-run deficit against New Madrid County Central to get a big win on Thursday (April 14) afternoon. The ‘Cats were down 8-2 going into the bottom of the third inning, but put up five runs in the third, fourth, and sixth innings, as well as four runs in the fifth to get a 21-11 win.

Logan Northern made his first Varsity start for the Bearcats in the contest. Northern has had success at the JV level, and coach Brian Becker brought him up to fill in on a Varsity rotation that has been plagued by injuries this season.

“I pulled [Logan] up today; he’s started a few JV games this season and done a good job for us,” Becker said of his starter. “I was pleased with what I saw. He missed locations on occasion, but he was getting his curveball over. Hopefully he’ll learn from that and come out with an even better outing next time he’s up.”

Northern pitched five innings for the Bearcats, earning 3 K’s and only giving up 2 walks. Northern did have two wild pitches in the contest, but overall had a successful first varsity start.

Becker also noted the difficult schedule that the Bearcats have in the next several days as a factor in his decision to start the youngster.

“I thought today would be a good day to get him some innings, especially with the schedule we have coming up,” Becker commented. “We have eight games in five days, and we need all the pitching we can get. I thought he stepped in today and did a good job.”

Chase Young, Dexter’s sophomore shortstop, had an excellent day at the plate. Young was 4-4 with four stolen bases, five runs scored, and a walk in the contest.



“Chase had a heck of a game today; he’s a good baseball player,” Becker continued. ”He’s one of the better sophomores that I’ve had here. He’s struggled early with the bat, but he’s starting to break out of it. Anytime you can get your leadoff hitter on base 5 times you’re going to score a lot of runs, and he provided that spark for us today.”

The ‘Cats showed great speed on the bases in the game, coming up with nine steals and advancing runners four times on pass-balls and wild pitches.

“We’ve got some decent speed on this team, and we like to use it when we get the opportunity,” Becker added. “Today we had some opportunities to take a base; it was good base running on the part of our players.”

With the victory, the ‘Cats move to 6-3 on the season, and will face the Sikeston Bulldogs on Friday (April 15) afternoon.

“Sikeston’s a good ballclub,” Becker said of the ‘Cats’ next opponent. “They were beating Jackson 11-6 today. They’re always well coached. Coach Self does a heck of a job with them over there, and they have a lot of good young talent. He’s got some good ballplayers over there, so hopefully we can get over there and compete well.”

First pitch is set for 4:00 p.m.

Photos above Top Photo: Logan Northern delivers a pitch during the fourth inning of Thursday’s 21-11 win against NMCC. Northern, making his first start at the varsity level, fanned three and walked two during his five innings of work.
Bottom photo: Chase Young slides under a tag during one of his four stolen bases in the contest. Young was also 4-4 at the plate with a walk and five runs scored.

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.