By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports Editor

Tyler Tanner isn’t the most gifted athlete to ever come out of Dexter High School. He doesn’t run very fast. He can’t throw a baseball that hard. He didn’t receive many awards during his career as a Bearcat.

He will, however, outwork anyone on the team. He’ll show up early for practice, and stay late to work out in his free time. That work ethic and dedication to bettering himself athletically landed him a college baseball scholarship.


Tanner, the 21 year old son of Randy & Tammy Tanner, is a 2008 graduate of Dexter High School and is preparing for his final season as a member of the Williams Baptist College baseball team. Williams Baptist is a four year NAIA school in Walnut Ridge, Ar.


Tanner was a three-sport athlete during his time at DHS, but never received a lot of recognition in the press.


“I never got any awards for baseball in high school, or basketball. The only awards I got were second team all-conference both ways in football,” Tanner recalled. “I was just your average player, really. I wasn’t a standout, I was just a good role-player and came off the bench a lot in basketball. I wasn’t a huge asset, I just knew my job and did it - in my mind - well.”


“In baseball, I wasn’t a standout either. I played the game, liked it, had a good time, and thought ‘Let’s try to do this at the next level’ and Williams came along with an offer, so I took it.”

Tanner was recruited for baseball and football, but didn’t think he was up to the physical demands of college football.

“When it came time to get ready to send stuff out for college sports,” Tanner said, “I told Coach Pixley up front that I didn’t think that my body could handle college football.”

“Central Methodist was the only school that recruited me for football,” he added. “I talked to Mineral Area College, but there wasn’t a strong interest there. Florissant Valley talked to me a little bit - that’s where Eric Windham went - and then Williams Baptist.”

Tanner noted DHS head football & assistant baseball coach Aaron Pixley as a huge asset in being where he is now.

“I told Coach that I wanted to play baseball, and if it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be playing where I am today,” Tanner said. “He was the one that really got in contact with the MAC coach because of his son, and the Flo Valley coach, and asked him one day after weightlifting if he could contact Williams Baptist. He talked to Coach Katrosh that day and got me a tryout set up. When I was getting ready to leave for it, he looked at me and said ‘It’s on you now Tyler - I’ve done all that I can do’. Honestly, that was all the motivation I needed. I went down there, had the tryout of my life and got picked up.”

“He taught me work ethic - if you work hard you’ll get what you want,” Tanner added. “You’re going to succeed and do well. It’s all about going and getting it. He always stressed being coachable. If someone’s trying to help you, do that. Your way doesn’t work - your coaches way does.”


Tanner noted the disposition of the faculty, as well as the excellence of the professors, as key factors in his decision to go to WBC.

“All the people were really nice. When I got there and toured the campus and such, everyone was really nice and showed a general interest in me as a person,” he said. “The Christian atmosphere is great, and I can’t say enough about the professors. They’re so good. Willing to work one on one with you. I get the help I need. They’re so easily accessible that I’ve called them and nine or ten at night and got answers.”


 A huge fan of the Boston Red Sox, Tanner noted a well-known member of the team as one of his favorite players growing up.

“I looked up to Nomar Garciaparra a lot when I was a kid,” Tanner said. “I always wanted to be a shortstop, and he’s a big part of why I’m such a huge Red Sox fan today.”
 Tanner began playing baseball competitively in his preteen years, and enjoyed some success before his high school career began.

“I was 12 when I got on a traveling team the first time, under Dwight Mills and the Millers - played with Caleb Miller and Eric Windham,” he said. “I would have been on the team that went to the little league world series, but I broke my wrist that summer.”

“When I was 16, we won state on our Babe Ruth team, but lost to Minnesota in our regional,” Tanner added. “That was coached by Tim Standridge and my dad, Randy Tanner. Steven Duley from Oran, Scott Droddy from Sikeston, Eric Windham all played at the college level and were all on that team with me.”

Tanner played second base almost exclusively during his high school days, but has switched positions numerous times in college, and has would up handling catching duties for the Eagles.

“Since I’ve been in college, I’ve played every position except pitcher and first,” Tanner noted. “I started out as a middle infielder my freshman year, but then I was moved to the outfield. During the spring of my sophomore year, I was moved to catcher after I caught one of the fall games. It was kind of a desperation move, but I liked it. They’ve kept me there, and I enjoy catching a lot. I never thought I would, but its been one of my favorite things position-wise.”


The Eagles struggled last season, finishing with a 18-28-1 (5-16-1 Conference) record, but are looking to improve this season under a new manager.

“Last season was Coach Katrosh’s last year, his twelfth season at Williams,” Tanner said. “Coach Frank Lee is our new head coach. He had been the assistant for five or six years. Andy Arnold and Caleb Dudley are our new assistant coaches.”

Tanner is entering his last season at Williams, and expressed some sadness at leaving the school after the coming school year.

“I’m having a lot of fun there, and I’m sad that it’s my last year,” he said, “but I’m excited to see where I’m going to be after this. I’m graduating in May with a major in Physical Education. I hope to get a job around the Springfield area, or somewhere in northeast Arkansas so I can stay close to Williams.”

No matter where he winds up after college, one thing is certain: Tyler Tanner will always be a dependable, hard-working guy. Any school that has him as a member of it's staff will be lucky to have him.

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Make sure to check back with the ShowMe Times for updates on Tyler's senior season with the Eagles!

Special to the ShowMe Times

CHAFFEE – With the bases loaded, New Madrid County’s shortstop Owen Flowers (from Dexter) earned the game’s first RBI with a squeeze play bunt against the Charleston Squirrels during the first round of the Missouri Senior Babe Ruth State Tournament. During their previous two regular season match-ups, New Madrid County fell to the Squirrels with a combined score of 23-7, but during Thursday’s game, New Madrid found themselves leading through the bottom of the sixth inning.[br
The game entered the fourth inning with both teams scoreless. Squirrels’ pitcher Bobby Clark walked New Madrid’s right fielder Eric Holloway, and then Jansen Darst and Hunter Ivy both sent hits past the infielders for singles. With one out in the fourth inning and bases loaded, Flowers scored Holloway from third with a squeeze bunt that allowed Flowers to earn a base hit and the RBI.

New Madrid’s lead-off batter Chris Pavy then pushed the score to 2-0 on a sacrifice fly. In the bottom of the fourth, Charleston answered with a run.

With a scoreless fifth, the Squirrels rallied a three-run inning in the bottom of the sixth to move ahead of New Madrid County 4-2.

Having to mount a comeback, New Madrid entered the seventh inning with a single into shallow center field by second baseman Mason Kellums. On a fielding error, Cadin Robins earned a single as well. Catcher Ross Carter singled on a fielder’s choice to second that placed Kellums 90-feet from home, and on a sacrifice by Holloway, Kellums scored to bring New Madrid within one run before the game ended on a ground-out back to the pitcher.

New Madrid County’s coach Kevin Lyons told the team after the game, "That's the best ball game we have played all year. We had good defense and had some hits, but we just couldn’t rally long enough to get the go-ahead run in position.”

With the 4-3 loss, New Madrid County will go on to play through the bottom bracket over the weekend as the Senior Babe Ruth State Tournament continues through Monday, July 18th.

Photo Above:Flowers on first base after the squeeze bunt.

By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports Editor

The Southeast Missouri Cleats of Fire will be competing in the AAU Junior Olympics in New Orleans, La., from July 29 - Aug. 6, with MaKayla Waldner representing Dexter in the competition.

MaKayla, the 13 year old daughter of Bob and Kim Waldner, is no stranger to competition. Her two older sisters, Sammy and Brittany, are both on collegiate track teams. Her older brother, Trevor, is a wrestler at Dexter High School. Her younger brother, Travis, appears to be as athletic as any other member of the family.

“I’ve been with the team since I was seven,” Waldner said. “It’s a traveling team of kids around Dexter - Poplar Bluff, Sikeston, stuff like that - and we compete in summer track. Our coach is Kevin Ellis. We ranged from 11 to 14 years old. Every year we try to go to the Junior Olympics, which rotates locations every five years.”


“I’ve gone to [the Junior Olympics] every year since I’ve started with Cleats of Fire,” Waldner added. “I’ve usually placed in most of my events down there.”


Waldner competes in nine events during meets - five multi’s and four individuals. In multi’s, Waldner runs the 800 meter dash, high jumps, long jumps, throws shotput, and runs hurdles. In her individual events, she runs the 100 and 200 meter hurdles, pole vaults, and does the high jump.


“Hurdles and pole vault are my favorite,” Waldner said. “I really like both of them.”

Waldner also competes for the DHS Bearcats during the school year, and noted the heightened level of competition that she faces during the AAU Junior Olympics.

“This is so much harder than school track. I have to train ten times harder if I want to place,” Waldner added. “We train four times a week - one day we’ll do hurdles, one day we’ll run hills, basically whatever coach wants us to do.”

The team is currently accepting donations and selling smoked pork loins and Boston butts to help fund the trip. Pre-ordered meat is to be picked up on July 23. For more details regarding the meat sale, send an email to acato@showmetimes.com.

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Make sure to check back with the ShowMe Times for updates on MaKayla's journey to the AAU Junior Olympics!

Dexter's Young Cardinals Have Hot Bats, WIn Tournament

Dexter’s own Cardinals have been pretty hot this summer, winning the 2011 Diamond Demolition – Battle of the Bats. The Cardinals won the tournament, sponsored by the Dexter Parks and Recreation Department. The tournament was for boys age 11 and younger and the bracket included six teams.

Dexter’s bats were hot Thursday evening as the boys beat their biggest rival, Campbell, to claim the title.

Dexter and Campbell have played a total of eight times this spring and summer. The Cardinals tied the very first game 7-7 back in the early spring. Dexter then lost the next four battles with Campbell, three on Campbell’s home field, once in Dexter during the regular games, and one time in the Campbell tournament in May.

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Dexter has since won the last three battles with Campbell - once in the Piggott, Ark., tournament and the last two during the Diamond Demolition at home.

“We did not have a single strikeout this entire tournament,” said Coach Dave Ellinghouse. Ellinghouse noted fellow coaches Derek Driskill and John Daniels were all very proud of the boys. “We’ve won 10 in a row now and we’re starting to see our fan base grow a little and that’s exciting.”

This season the Cardinals have played and defeated Sikeston Red, Sikeston Black, Holcomb, Piggott, Ark., Walnut Ridge, Ark., Portageville, Kennett, Corning, Ark., and Campbell. Their current record on the season is 16-5-1.

“We started practicing back in March right after the Upwards basketball season ended,” Ellinghouse said. “We are starting to see the hard work pay off.”

The Cardinals will next see action in Bloomfield this Saturday, July 16 against Bloomfield, Bernie and Malden. The team also plans to play again July 19 – 21 in the DPR tournament against Bloomfield, Bernie, Benton, East Prairie and Portageville.

The Cardinals will probably finish the season in a “Ring” tournament in Campbell starting next Friday and finishing Saturday. The players and coaches on the top two teams will receive rings instead of the traditional trophies or medals.

Photo Above: They're Number One!! The Dexter Cardinals won the Diamond Demolition tournament for teams age 11 and younger. The young club has had a successful season in regional play. (Photo by Reader Amy Ellinghouse; Thanks Amy!)

The Dexter Cardinals are coached by Derek Driskill, John Daniels and Dave Ellinghouse.

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Team members are: Andrew Ellinghouse - 2nd base, Peyton Driskill - SS, Austin Daniels – 3rd base, Ryder Boles - Pitcher, Riley Slusher – 1st base, Riley Moore – Right center field, Jackson Cade Allen – left field/right field, Dylan Sitze – left center field, Camden Riley – right field, Josab Brisher – catcher, Colsyn Mills – outfield/infield

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The fish are waiting for anglers to hit the waters this weekend! The following is the weekend fishing report from the Missouri Department of Conservation for the Southeast region:

LAKES

Clearwater Lake: 85 degrees, high, dingy; largemouth bass fair on topwater and plastic baits; all other species slow. (Report made on 7/13/2011)
Council Bluff: 85 degrees, normal, clear; channel catfish fair on liver and worms after dark; all other species slow. (Report made on 7/13/2011)
Cypress Lake: 88 degrees, high, dingy; channel catfish good in 2'-3' depths using crickets, worms, and stinkbait; crappie slow in 3' depths using minnows and jigs; bluegill and redear sunfish fair in 1'-3' depths using crickets, small jigs, and small pieces of worms; largemouth bass slow in 2'-3' depths on spinnerbaits and jigs; all other species slow. (Report made on 7/13/2011)
Duck Creek: 86 degrees, high, clear; bluegill good on crickets; largemouth bass fair on topwater lures. (Report made on 7/14/2011)
Lake Girardeau: 83 degrees, normal, clear; channel catfish fair on worms; all other species slow. (Report made on 7/13/2011)
Perry County Lake: 88 degrees, normal, clear; channel catfish good on liver; all other species slow. (Report made on 7/13/2011)
Robert DeLaney Lake: 91 degrees, normal, channel catfish good on worms, liver, live bluegill, and stinkbaits on bottom or around standing timber; all other species slow. (Report made on 7/13/2011)
Wappapello: normal, bluegill good on crickets and worms; crappie fair on minnows and jigs in the lake and good in the spillway; black bass good on plastic worms and crankbaits; channel catfish fair on trotlines and jug lines at night using live bait and nightcrawlers. Anglers should note the 9" minimum length regulation for crappie on Wappapello Lake. All areas around the lake are now open since the lake water level has dropped. Call the Wappapello Lake Recreation Hotline for updates at 573-222-8139. (Report made on 7/14/2011)

RIVERS

Black River (near Annapolis): 78 degrees, normal, clear; all species slow. (Report made on 7/13/2011)
Castor River (above Zalma): low, clear; black bass good on minnows; all other species fair. (Report made on 7/13/2011)
Lower Black River (Clearwater Dam): high, dingy; black bass fair on topwater lures and soft plastics; channel catfish fair on live bait; crappie fair on minnows along the weed lines; all other species slow. (Report made on 7/13/2011)
Mississippi (below Charleston): falling, muddy; channel catfish fair on worms; all other species slow. (Report made on 7/13/2011)
Mississippi River (Cape Girardeau): high, muddy; channel catfish fair on worms; all other species slow. (Report made on 7/13/2011)
St. Francis (above Wappapello): normal, clear; all species slow. (Report made on 7/13/2011)
St. Francis (below Wappapello): 79 degrees, normal, dingy; flathead catfish good on small goldfish and bluegill; channel catfish good on liver, worms and stinkbaits; bluegill fair on waxworms; black bass fair on artificial bait; all other species slow. (Report made on 7/14/2011)
Anglers are invited to send photos of their fishing trips to the ShowMe Times. Just email amiller@showmetimes.com. Be sure to include the name of the fisherman, the date of the catch, where it was caught, weight – and if you care to share what type of bait you were using!