By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports Editor

The schedule for the 2011 Football Jamboree has just been announced!

The jamboree will be held at Charles Bland Stadium at 6:00 p.m. on August 19.


The Bearcats will face the Kennett Indians, NMCC Eagles, and East Prairie Eagles in preseason action - this can be a great ‘scouting’ tool for the ‘Cats, as they face both Kennett and NMCC later in the season during districts.

This wil be the first time Bearcat Nation will be able to see the team since having their best season under head coach Aaron Pixley, and look to returning starters Cody Stephens, Josh Overall, Jake Lee, and Nick Summers to lead the team to another successful season. The 'Cats are also showcasing a revamped offensive line, with seniors Zach Lacy and Theo Gaul anchoring the tackle slots.

The scrimmages will follow the traditional jamboree format, with a coin toss to determine offense or defense and the ball placed at the 40 yd. line. If a team scores, the ball will be placed back at the 40 yd. line. Each team will play 12 plays on offense and defense, respectively. No score will be kept. There will be no kicking game.

Admission will be $1, with a concession stand available on the east end of the field. The Bearcat Booster club will be providing food and drinks for all players and coaches at the conclusion of the evening’s scrimmages.


For more information, contact DHS Athletic Director Chuck Powers at cpowers@dexter.k12.mo.us or 614-1030.

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Make sure to check back with the ShowMe Times for updates on the team's progress during preseason practices, which are set to begin on August 8.

By Mike Buhler, RaidersAthletics.com

Poplar Bluff, Mo. - The future was on display Saturday evening as several area seniors – including several future Lady Raiders – made their way to Three Rivers College for its 2nd Annual Senior All-Star Softball Game.

Both squads – sponsored by Skeeter Kell Sporting Goods and First Missouri State Bank – played a pair of five-inning games. However, Skeeter Kell needed seven innings to defeat First Missouri 4-2 in the opener before First Missouri won the nightcap 4-3.

Three Rivers’ entire 2011 recruiting class, with the exception of Rachel George, participated in the game and as a group, they impressed.

“I’m pretty excited about it,” Three Rivers coach Jack Childress said. “I thought Katelyn Hughey had a pretty good doubleheader. I thought all of them played pretty well. … (Kelsey) Snider had the winning hit off of (New Madrid Country Central standout) Kelly Robey in the first game, which was pretty big. (Cindy) Nippe played well – she had a couple of hits.

“I thought that Chelsea Crain played well,” added Childress. “She had a couple of hits and she pitched the last couple of innings. (Mariah) Randazzo had a nice couple of hits and played a nice third base.”

Another signee who stood out was Oran alumna Abbey Anderson.

“She’s going to give us a little speed,” Childress said. “She hasn’t been playing this summer but she has been practicing.”

Several walk-ons for Three Rivers also participated in the game.

“We had some others who played in it that are walking on,” said Childress. “Alex Green made good contact off of Robey.”

Notes: Snider, Nippe and Crain are from Twin Rivers High School, while Hughey is from Naylor and Randazzo is from East Carter. George hails from Corning, Ark. … Kelly Robey’s sister, Heather, pitched at Three Rivers in 2004 and 2005 and had her No. 9 jersey retired. Kelly Robey has signed with Union University in Jackson, Tenn. 

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For more information on everything regarding Three Rivers College athletics, visit www.raidersathletics.com!

By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports Editor

Dexter High School sophomore Cody Neldon just returned from a week-long baseball experience that he will never forget.


Neldon, the 15 year old son of Traci & Denny Christian of Dexter and Jamie & Jessica Neldon of Holcomb, just returned from a Coast to Coast Baseball camp held in Puerto Rico.

Based in Marietta (OH), the eight year old program has taken over 1600 players from 46 different states to compete in Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Australia and Puerto Rico. The organization's alumni now compete at every level of college baseball, and even professionally. Neldon showcased his skills for the Coast to Coast coaches at a tryout last fall held in Cordova, TN. At tryouts, players are evaluated in four areas: hitting, fielding, arm strength and speed.

“They usually look at smaller towns, where collegiate scouts typically don’t go,” Neldon noted. “They were trying to look at kids that didn’t get as much exposure because they live in a small town.”


Neldon noted the highly competitive nature of the tryouts, as well as the outstanding coaches he worked with.


“There were over 2,400 kids that tried out this year,” he said. “I was one of the 24 that made it on the U.S. team. Out of that 24, they made two teams of 12, with two coaches each. Once of my coaches, James King, used to play for the L.A. Dodgers before he was injured. My other coach was Gary Bandy, who coaches at York College in Nebraska.”

“One of my really good friends that I’ve played baseball with for the last five or six summers, Dustin Houart from Holcomb, made the team as well.”

Neldon was presented with a full week of living and breathing baseball. They began each day with a three-hour practice session, and then had a few hours off to rest. During the afternoon and evening, teams were scheduled for double-headers every day. Mother Nature gave the athletes some adverse conditions during the trip, but Neldon and his teammates made the best of it.

“It rained most of the time; we only got to play six games,” Neldon said. “It would be raining in San Juan and not in Caguas or vice versa, so one team would come in and play a game, and then another team would come in. That’s how we had to play most of the time; I think we actually got one doubleheader in the whole week. During one of our games at Roberto Clemente Stadium, it started raining during the game. It’s a turf field, so they pulled the tarps out, and they called the game. Then we went out and slid on the tarps.”

Neldon was able to fill an outfielder’s role, his natural position with the Bearcats, as well as several other positions.

“I played center field most of the time,” he said. “I played shortstop one game, and pitched a game to give some of the other guys’ arms a rest - I gave up one run in three innings.” 



Neldon also performed well at the plate, hitting over .500 for the week.

Despite living the ‘baseball life’ for a week, Neldon will quickly have to convert to other sports - he’s a three-sport athlete! He’s a member of the basketball team, and led the JV squad to a successful showing in the Rib City Shootout the week after he returned from Puerto Rico.

Neldon also participated in the ‘Cats final football camp of the summer where he looks to land a starting spot as a wide receiver or in the defensive backfield. During baseball season, Neldon hopes to transition from an ‘off the bench’ role to becoming the everyday starter in centerfield, which was vacated by a graduating Josh Sifford last season.

"I had a lot of fun while I was down there," Neldon said. "Hopefully what I learned will help me on the field next year."

Photos above:
Top Photo: Cody Neldon rounds third base during a DHS game against New Madrid County Central last year. Neldon, then a freshman, did an outstanding job coming off the bench for the ‘Cats as both a backup player and a pinch-runner.
Bottom photo: Per the Puerto Rican tradition, teams exchange small gifts and gather for a group picture after a hard-fought battle on the baseball diamond. Neldon can be seen as the last player on the back row.

New Orleans, LA - In an exclusive report by SMT Sports, Dexter has yet another reason to be proud of the athleticism found in the Waldner family. MaKayla Waldner has placed 4th in the AAU Junior Olympics today in the championship meet in New Orleans, Louisiana.

MaKayla competed in the pentathlon, scoring an incredible point total of 2,913. The pentathletes are many times considered to be among the most skilled athletes. In Ancient Greece, the training was often considered useful for military service. Each of the five events in the pentathlon was thought to be useful in war or battle.

Even though the events are now 100M Hurdles, High Jump, Shot Put, Long Jump and the 800M Run, the level of athleticism has not changed. The Pentathlete is extremely skilled and able to perform at very high levels compared to others.

MaKayla was seeded 7th going into the competition with a field of 47 girls in the competition. She was sitting in 6th place prior to the last event, where she ran a great 800M to move up two spots, finishing 4th overall.

In the pentathlon, competitors are awarded a certain number of points based on their performance in each specific event. The overall winner is the competitor with the highest points total at the completion of all five events.

The road to the AAU Junior Olympics is not an easy one. MaKayla has been very dedicated in her training. She is coached by Kevin Lewis (pictured above) and has competed all summer to reach this level of excellence.

Competing in St. Louis earlier this summer in the AAU district meet, MaKayla placed first in all five of her events. Her victories there qualified her for the for AAU regionals in Lawrence, Kansas.

At the regional meet, Waldner competed in the pentathlon, pole vault, high jump, 100m hurdles & the 200m hurdles. At the regionals, she added five additional gold medals and the opportunity to compete in the AAU Nationals.

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MaKayla Waldner proudly receives her 4th place medal at the AAU Junior Olympic Championships in New Orleans, Louisiana.

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MaKayla Waldner is the eighth grade daughter of Bob and Kim Waldner and comes from a great heritage of athletes. Both Kim and Bob were college athletes and have already seen their older daughters, Sammy and Brittney, excel in athletics running track at the college level. Her older brother, Trevor, has also had an outstanding wrestling career at DHS.

The Dexter Bearcat football team completed their summer workout program this week. There is a great expectation coming off the 2010 season as the Bearcats return a lot of great talent to the gridiron.

Coach Aaron Pixley commented that the boys have worked really hard throughout last year on the weights and have continued to improve their size and strength. That was very evident in their final practice this past Friday.

Many of the Bearcats are searching for a life after high school on the football field. Returning linebacker and running back Nick Summers was not apart of the final practice as he and lineman Theo Gaul, were at camp at Lindenberg College in St. Louis.

Tyler Miller is another outstanding college candidate and attended several camps throughout the summer. Tyler's summer has been jam packed with camps, Boys State as well as a full-time job as a life guard at the local swimming pool.

One of the most evident changes you will find is with the Bearcats returning quarterback, Cody Stevens. Cody has put good weight throughout the Spring and Summer weighing in around the 180 pound mark. He's got one of the builds that looks "Photoshopped".

Most importantly, Cody's mobility has not been hampered by the additional weight. He was extremely strong during final practice running drills leading the entire team in all 10 of the 200 yard runs.

Cody also attended several camps and received high rankings from all the combine drills performed. Most recently, he attended a combine at Southwest Baptist University.

"Cody really impressed our coaching staff," commented SBU redshirt Junior and former Bearcat Glen Johnson. "His athleticism was what really got them talking."

The list of returning starters for the 2011 Bearcat team is long and brings a lot of hope and potential to the season. Some notable 'Cats that bring with them high expectations are:

JAKE LEE - DE/TE: Jake was a quick study in the program as he found himself in a starting role early in his sophomore season. He has a certain "nasty" about himself on the field that makes him very hard to handle by opponents. He will fill the shoes of All-State Tight End Morgan Hedrick. Jake has seen time at that position in double tight situations in past seasons and will offer a big target to Cody from that position.

ALEX CLIFF - LB/RB: Alex is the ultimate utility man on the team and fits in nicely wherever he is needed. He is a bruiser from the running back position and delivers a powerful running style. His blocking ability was a key in the 2011 season to open up holes for Josh Overall and Nick Summers. From his linebacker position, Alex can "slams the door" in the face of opponents. He's noted by the coaches to be a downhill linebacker that is quick to fill gaps at the line of scrimmage.

GARRETT WRAY - S/WR: Garrett was a great surprise last season. A product of Coach Pixley's weight room, he has developed into a strong physical player from the defensive side of the ball. Last season, Garrett was able to see a lot of action helping the Bearcats in post season action.

JOSH OVERALL - RB/LB: Josh Overall is an elusive runner and creates a lot of problems for opponents. Josh has incredible hip movement that is seen in very few running backs at the high school level. He is a team player and will be one of the strong leaders for the Bearcat this season.

Many other positions and players will be very strong in 2011. The ShowMe Times will continue to preview players as the season gets approaches.

Dead week runs all next week. Then on August 8th, the Bearcats will begin the season practices.