By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports Editor

BLOOMFIELD - The Lady Bearcats were back in the SCAA Title game for the first time in three years on Thursday night. The 'Cats, riding a five game win streak, had their hopes dashed at the hands of the top-seed Advance Hornets in a 15-1 run-rule contest.

Advance starter Hannah Clark didn't give up a hit until the fourth inning, and gave up one run on a bases-loaded balk, also in the fourth. The freshman right hander fanned five batters in the win.

Kendra Stevenson took the start for the 'Cats, but was lit up early; the sophomore right-hander walked four batters and gave up eight runs (three earned). Riley Rickman took the mound in relief with one down in the bottom of the first inning, giving up seven runs (one earned) while striking out six batters in three and 2/3 innings of work.

"There's a reason why Advance has only lost one game; they're just solid. They've got pitching; Hannah Clark is a heck of a pitcher," head coach Leonard Morse said. "She can put it exactly where she wants it, and she's got the defense behind her. They're a great defensive team, and they hit well; if you make a mistake against this lineup, they'll capitalize. They're a good, all-around team. The worst part for us is that [Clark] is a freshman."

Ace pitcher Becky Anderson was out of commission for the Lady Bearcats due to illness. Morse was proud of his two pitchers' efforts, despite their poor showing on the scoreboard.

"Becky [Anderson] had been in the hospital since Tuesday night, so she wasn't able to pitch today. We only had one practice to get everyone re-geared," he noted. "I thought throwing Kendra [Stevenson] out there would be a good enough idea, since I've had her catching for so long, but it just didn't work out. She and Riley [Rickman] both had trouble out there, but they're both sophomores."

"I'm proud of their effort; I'm proud of this whole team. We broke the string of fourth place finishes," Morse continued. "We may have only scored one run, but the girls were excited there at the end. They're playing like a team right now."

Despite the disappointing finale, Morse saw signs of improvement up and down the lineup in each game of the tournament.

"Monday, we stood toe-to-toe with Bernie. We came right back the next day and played a tough Woodland team; they have some very good players," he said. "We hit the ball in that game like I've never seen them hit before. We didn't have a lot of official hits, but we caused a lot of errors because we were hitting. Tonight...when you get steamrolled by a good team, you just get steamrolled by a good team."

"The girls are still in it; they're getting better about overcoming mistakes and staying in games," Morse added. "That's the biggest thing we're working on. Even there at the end, we were still hitting, still in to it. They are coming together as a team, and this is something that I hope the girls can build on."

Stevenson and Maddy Christian were both 1-1 at the plate for the Lady 'Cats; Stevenson also plated the Bearcats' only run of the game.

Kelsi Sturgeon led the Hornets' offensive attack, going 3-4 with four RBI's and four runs scored.

Dexter will be back in action Friday (April 20) when they take the field in the opening round of the Bernie Invitational Tournament.

Photos Above:
Top: Head coach Leonard Morse addresses the team before Thursday's SCAA Tournament championship game.
Bottom: Kendra Stevenson winds up for a pitch during the first inning.

CREVE COUER - Former Bearcat athlete and Chaminade standout Matthew Greer has signed to play college football for the Bulldogs of Drake University.

Greer departed Dexter to follow his father's career to the St. Louis area. Quickly making the adjustment to the metro area, he joined the strong football program of coach John Davis at Chaminade College Prep School.

A naturally gifted athlete, Greer was extremely focused on extending God-given abilities and overcoming the obstacles of his small stature and average speed. His goal was to not only compete, but to prove that he had the ability to become a competitive player at the high level of St. Louis-area high school football.

With countless hours in the weight room, a strict diet program and a dedicated training regimen, everyone started to see a significant change in his overall size and quickness.

During his career at Chaminade, Greer became known throughout the St. Louis region as the dangerous 5'9", 185 pound wide receiver that could not only catch, but could also hold his own while blocking linebackers and defensive ends. His concentration and sharp pass routes allowed him to find open areas on the field, burning opponents while making difficult receptions look easy.

His commitment to the game marked his character. His perseverance to overcome his limitations set him apart and helped him earn First Team All-Metro Catholic honors in the highly competitive St. Louis region. Greer's work ethic proved to be one of his greatest assets in high school. On any given day or night, it was easy to find him at the field catching passes with former Chaminade teammate and Boston College quarterback, Christian Suntrup.

Drake University is a private, fully accredited, coeducational university in Des Moines, Iowa; the school is consistently recognized as one of the very best universities in the Midwest for academic excellence. The Bulldogs compete at the NCAA Division I FCS level (formerly known as Division I-AA) as members of the Pioneer Football League, where they face off against opponents such as Butler, Valparaiso, Morehead State, and Jacksonville University.

"The football program is a very family team oriented group", Greer said. "I'm honored to have this opportunity to continue my football career as a Bulldog."

Finishing 9-2 overall in the 2011 season and 7-1 in the Pioneer Leage, the Bulldogs enter the 2012 season with high hopes of defending their PFL co-championship. Drake's only conference loss last year came on the road at the University of San Diego with a 31-24 final score.

The Bulldogs will return their 2011 Pioneer Football League Offensive Player of the Year and quarterback, Mike Piatkowski. The Bulldogs will bring back six total starters on offense, as well as six more on the defensive side of the ball from the 2011 campaign.

While most freshmen face the high probability of a redshirt season Greer's tenacious attitude toward achieving his goals, you never know what the 2012 season might hold in store for him.

The Greer family will travel to Des Moines, Iowa this weekend to participate in the Bulldogs' Blue-White Game and Youth Day. Drake opens the 2012 season on August 30th at home against the Grand View Vikings, an NAIA program also located in Des Moines.

Greer comes from a long line of quality Dexter athletes. The Greer | Espey | Hunter family was unique and were all driven competitors. This family of athletes provided great sports memories for Bearcat fans throughout the 70's and 80's, capturing many conference, district and all-state honors throughout their careers.  

Matt is the son of Matt and Lisa Greer, formerly of Dexter, residing in Creve Cour, Missouri.  He has one sister, Gabrielle, and one younger brother, Marcus.  His proud grandparents are Beverly Hunter and Gary and Judy Crump. 

Greer is the type of young man that we should all follow, encourage and become a fan. His enthusiasm for life and desire for excellence is contagious. His qualities will be a great addition to the Drake Bulldog football program.

In most streams south of the Missouri River, black bass season will open May 26, 2012, until that date all black bass in those streams must be returned to the water unharmed immediately after being caught. For details see Chapter 6 of the Wildlife Code.

PLEASE CHECK REGULATIONS CAREFULLY: Special regulations may apply to designated portions of water bodies; some baits and lures may not be legal for all portions.

SOUTHEAST REGION (573) 290-5858

LAKES

Clearwater Lake: 73 degrees, normal, clear; crappie fair in shallow water on jigs; all other species slow. (Report made on 4/18/2012)

Council Bluff Lake: 62 degrees, normal, clear; largemouth bass good on dark colored soft plastics; crappie fair on jigs and minnows; all other species slow. (Report made on 4/19/2012)

Cypress Lake: 63 degrees, normal, dingy; crappie fair on minnows and jigs in 1 - 2' depths, mostly smaller fish being caught right now; bluegill fair on jigs and crickets in 2 - 3' depths; largemouth bass slow on minnows and jigs incidental to crappie fishing, and plastic worms in 2 - 3' depths; channel catfish fair on worms and stinkbait in 2 - 3' depths. (Report made on 4/18/2012)

Duck Creek CA Pool 1: 64 degrees, high, clear; all species slow. (Report made on 4/18/2012)

Perry County Lake: 70 degrees, clear; crappie good on jigs; sunfish good on red wigglers; all other species slow. (Report made on 4/19/2012)

Robert DeLaney Lake: 62 degrees, normal, crappie fair on jigs and minnows; channel catfish fair on stinkbaits; all other species slow. (Report made on 4/18/2012)

Wappapello Lake: low, black bass fair on crankbaits and plastic worms; crappie fair on minnows and jigs; channel catfish fair on trotlines and jug lines using live bait at night; all other species slow.

Anglers should note the 9" minimum length limit regulation for crappie on Wappapello Lake. Call the Wappapello Lake Recreation Hotline for updates at 573-222-8139. (Report made on 4/19/2012)

RIVERS

Black River (above Clearwater Lake): 62 degrees, normal, clear; all species slow. (Report made on 4/18/2012)

Black River (below Clearwater Lake): 70 degrees, normal, dingy; channel catfish good on live bait; crappie fair on jigs and minnows; white bass fair on tube jigs; black bass season closed (catch and release only) fair on minnows; all other species slow. (Report made on 4/19/2012)

Castor River (above Zalma): normal, clear; all species fair. (Report made on 4/19/2012)

Mississippi River (Ohio River to Arkansas): normal, muddy; channel catfish fair on liver and cut baits; all other species slow. (Report made on 4/18/2012)

St. Francis River (above Wappapello): normal, dingy; channel catfish good on live bait; black bass (season closed until May 26th) fair on minnows and jigs; bluegill fair on crickets; all other species slow. (Report made on 4/19/2012)

St. Francis River (below Wappapello): 64 degrees, normal, dingy; channel catfish fair on liver, nightcrawlers and stinkbaits; black bass fair on plastic worms and spinnerbaits; crappie fair using chartreuse tube jigs and minnows; all other species slow. (Report made on 4/18/2012)

Anglers are invited to send pictures of their catch to the ShowMe Times - simply email a photo to SMT Sports Editor Andrew Cato, including your name, where the fish was caught, the species of the fish, and - if you care to share - what bait you were using!

By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports Editor

POPLAR BLUFF - The Bearcats opened the 2012 tennis season in March with a 4-5 loss to the Poplar Bluff Mules. On Wednesday (April 18), the Bearcats took a 6-3 victory from the Mules on their home court.

"Revenge is sweet," said head tennis coach Leanne Dooley.

In the Varsity-only match, the 'Cats won the #1 through #4 matches in singles, and the #1/#2 and #3/#4 matches in the doubles division.

Tyler Miller, Dexter's #1, had a fierce battle with Cody Hillis in singles competition. Hillis defeated Miller in their previous meeting, but this time, Miller came back from a 4-6 deficit to win the match 9-7.

"[It was a] great match, they're both good players." Dooley said. "Very fun to watch."

In the #2 match, Sam Ward faced off against Devin Allison. Ward got down early, but worked his way back into an 8-4 win.

"Sam kept cool in a very uncomfortable situation," Dooley noted. "It was impressive."

Kyle Willis picked up an 8-2 win over Wesley Page, while Joseph Greer picked up and 8-4 win over Paramveer Hundal. Freshman Noah Kronk fell 4-8 to James Parison, while Jake Robinson fell 5-8 to Collin Gullett.

Willis and Greer won an 11-9 tiebreak to take their doubles match against Page and Hundal.

"Kyle and Joe played well together," Dooley noted. Their singles were both well-played matches."

Ward and Miller picked up an 8-5 win over Hillis and Allison; Dooley noted the 'good tennis' on both sides of the net in the match.

The 'Cats will be back in action on Saturday (April 21), when they compete in a tournament at Poplar Bluff.

By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports Editor

Tuesday afternoon's late-inning heroics were nowhere to be found when the Bearcats faced off against Poplar Bluff on Wednesday afternoon. Trailing 6-5 in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Bearcats were three up, three down to end the game.

All five of Dexter's runs were the results of home runs that barely made it out of the park; Chase Young smacked a three-run shot in the third inning that bounced off the top of the fence, while Daniel Fitts' two-run blast in the second inning dinged off the foul pole in left field.

"Today's game seemed like it was a game of inches all day long," head coach Brian Becker said after the loss. "Chase [Young] hits one over the fence by an inch, and Daniel [Fitts] hits [a home run] that was an inch fair; on their end, they had a base hit go off the end of [Jordan] Miller's glove that brought in two runs for them, and had a play here at third off the end of Owen [Flowers]'s glove that brought in the tying run."

Miller took the start for the Bearcats, striking out one batter, walking three, and giving up five runs (three earned) in his five innings of work. The junior right-hander struggled with command of his breaking ball throughout the contest.

Alex Cliff struck out two batters and gave up one earned run in his two innings of relief.

"[Jordan] threw all right. He didn't have his best stuff today, and he was pushing the ball quite a bit, which makes him throw it high," Becker said of his starter. "He struggled with his breaking ball, but all-in-all I thought he worked out of some jams pretty good for the most part. He did a good job."

"Cliff came in and did all right," Becker added. "He gave up a hard-hit ball down the left field line that plated the game-winner for them, but other than that he did a good job."

The Mules quickly responded to Young's three-run shot in the first, plating two runs on a double from Charlie Kayser in the top of the second. The top of the fourth saw the Mules add two more runs, this time on a single by Kayser, to take a 4-3 lead.

Fitts' solo shot to left in the fifth inning gave the Bearcats a 5-4 lead, but Drew Dowd crossed home plate for the Mules after an infield throwing error on the Bearcats.

Cliff smacked a line drive to left field for a one-out single in the bottom of the fifth inning; singles from Miller and D.J. Dowdy loaded the bases, but the 'Cats were unable to take advantage of the situation and couldn't score.

Logan Faith hit a hot shot down the left field line for an RBI double to plate the game-winning run for the Mules in the top of the sixth inning; the Bearcats would strand men on first and second in the bottom half of the inning. Lefty reliever Brandon Stuchenschneider would retire the 'Cats in order in the bottom of the seventh inning to seal the victory for the Mules.

"You've got to give credit to Poplar Bluff; they swung the bats well today," Becker said. "I thought we swung 'em well early, but after that the left hander came in and did a good job against us. We just couldn't get the big hit there; we had opportunities, we just couldn't get them in. You can't do that against teams like Bluff; they are a good ball club, and when you get runners in scoring position, you have to get them in."

With the loss, the 'Cats fall to 10-4 on the season, with a 4-3 record in conference games. With the SEMO Conference tournament beginning in less than a week, Becker noted the high level of competition this season.

"This conference is as tough as it's ever been. From town to town, there is good baseball all over southeast Missouri. The conference is as good as I've ever seen it this year," Becker said. "It's going to be really tough to seed this tournament. It's going to be really interesting to see who has who where; it's going to be a fun tournament with some good baseball."

The Bearcats will be back in action on Friday (April 20) afternoon, when they open the Notre Dame Classic against Country Day (MICDS) in a 3:00 p.m. contest. Owen Flowers (2-1, 1.68 ERA) will be on the mound for the 'Cats.

Photos Above:
Top: Jordan Miller fires a pitch to Poplar Bluff's Josh King during the second inning of Wednesday's SEMO Conference battle.
Bottom: Daniel Fitts is congratulated by head coach Brian Becker after hitting a two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning.