By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports Editor

STE. GENEVIEVE - The Lady Bearcats sent five athletes to the Class 3, Sectional 1 Track meet on Saturday (May 19) afternoon; a top four finish in their respective events would garner a trip to the State Championship meet.

The 'Cats brought home a pair of sixth and seventh place medals to end their hopes for a trip to state.

Seniors Taylor Martin and Lindsey Hindman, juniors Brooke Baker and Samantha Midgett, and freshman Courtney Potts all competed in the sectional meet in four events.

The 4x100 meter relay team, made up of Baker, Midgett, Martin, and Hindman, finished in seventh place with a 52.43 time.

The 4x200 meter relay team, composed of Baker, Midgett, Martin, and Potts, recently broke the school record with a 1:49.10 time. The team brought home seventh place from sectionals with a 1:50.23.

Martin also competed in the 100 and 200 meter runs; she finished in sixth in both events, with 13.0 and 27.39 times, respectively. Martin also broke the DHS record in the 200 with a 26.01 in an earlier meet.

In the girls division of the team competition, the Lady 'Cats finished in 20th place with 10 points. Notre Dame came in second with 48 points, narrowly edging third-place Sikeston with 47 points.

In the boys division, Festus took first place with 103 points. Sikeston took fourth with 65, while Notre Dame finished in fifth place with 53 points.

Photo Above: Taylor Martin finished sixth in both the 100 and 200 meter dashes at the Class 3, Sectional 1 meet on Saturday. Martin also recently broke the DHS record in the 200 with a 26.01 run. (SMT file photo by Andrew Cato)

By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports Editor

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Cody Stevens was the lone representative for the Dexter Bearcats at the MSHSAA Class 3 Golf State Championships, held last week at Rivercut Golf Club in Springfield, Mo.

After two rounds of the par-72 course, Stevens carded a 163 total (80 in Round 1, 83 in Round 2) to finish in a three-way tie with Eric Stange (Priory) and Gabe Wheeler (Sikeston) for 53rd on the leader-board.

Republic's Dylan Bekemeier took First place with a combined 140 score; Notre Dame's Christopher Dixon and Jacob Seabaugh tied for 17th with a 152.

Benjamin Murray of Sikeston finished in a three-way tie for 34th with 159, while teammate Ben Hoggatt carded a 162 to end the tournament in a two-way tie for 45th place.

In the team competition, St. Francis Borgia took home gold with a 609; Notre Dame finished fifth with a 632, while Sikeston came in seventh with a score of 651 strokes.

The lone senior on the squad, Stevens leaves behind a young team that earned valuable experience this season, with freshman Drake Mitchell and sophomore Myles Urhahn both making it to the Sectional round of the State Tournament.

Photo Above: Cody Stevens warms up before a practice round at Hidden Trails Country Club (SMT file photo by Andrew Cato).

Click here for the full scorecard.

By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports Editor

IMPERIAL -The DHS Tennis team had a great showing at the Class 1, Sectional 1 Tournament on Tuesday (May 15) afternoon at Windsor High School in Imperial, Mo.

Tyler Miller and Sam Ward both represented DHS in the singles competition; Miller defeated Dylan Elbl of St. Pius X (Festus) 6-0, 6-2, while Ward beat Austin Sides of Festus, 7-5, 7-5.

The Dexter pair met in the final match of the day, where Ward emerged the victor in the competition.

Both have qualified for the Class 1 State Tournament, held May 24-25 in Springfield.

It looks like there could be some good fishing in the days ahead, especially bluegill and channel catfish at Lake Wappapello!

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: 79 degrees, normal, clear; bluegill good on live worms and crickets; channel catfish fair on trotlines and jug lines; all other species fair. (Report made on 5/17/2012)

Council Bluff Lake: normal, clear; channel catfish good on worms and liver; largemouth bass fair on dark colored soft plastics and topwater lures during low light periods; redear sunfish fair on worms and crickets; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/17/2012)

Cypress Lake: 74 degrees, normal, dingy; bluegill and redear sunfish good on jigs, crickets and worms in 1 - 3' depths; largemouth bass good on minnows and jigs in 1 - 3' depths, plastic worms and crankbaits in 1 - 3' depths; crappie fair on minnows and jigs in 1 - 3' depths; channel catfish fair on worms and crickets in 2 - 3' depths. (Report made on 5/17/2012)

Duck Creek CA Pool 1: 74 degrees, falling, clear; bluegill fair on crickets and jigs; largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/17/2012)

Lake Girardeau: normal, clear; bluegill and redear sunfish good on crickets and worms; largemouth bass and channel catfish fair on worms; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/16/2012)

Perry County Lake: 76 degrees, clear; redear sunfish good on crickets; black bass fair on plastic worms; channel catfish fair on worms; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/17/2012)

Robert DeLaney Lake: 77 degrees, normal, bluegill fair on crickets, worms and wax worms; channel catfish fair on stinkbaits; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/16/2012)

Wappapello Lake: 82 degrees, low, bluegill good on crickets and worms; channel catfish good on trotlines and jug lines using live bait at night; crappie fair on minnows and jigs; black bass fair on spinnerbaits and plastic worms early and late; 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 5/17/2012)

RIVERS

Black River (above Clearwater Lake): 73 degrees, low, clear; smallmouth bass (catch and release only) and goggle-eye slow on plastic baits; channel catfish slow on live baits or stinkbaits; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/16/2012)

Black River (below Clearwater Lake): 73 degrees, dingy; level is at summer pool; black bass good on minnows and jigs (season closed until 5/26); channel catfish good on live bait; crappie fair on jigs and minnows; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/16/2012)

Castor River (above Zalma): low, clear; goggle-eye good on jigs; smallmouth bass good on plastic lures (season closed until 5/26); all other species fair. (Report made on 5/16/2012)

Mississippi River (middle): falling, muddy; channel catfish and blue catfish good on worms; all other species fair. (Report made on 5/16/2012)

Mississippi River (Ohio River to Arkansas): normal, muddy; channel catfish fair on worms and cut baits; sturgeon being caught on worms; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/16/2012)

St. Francis River (above Wappapello): dingy; channel catfish good on live bait and chicken liver; black bass (season closed until May 26th) good on minnows and jigs; redear sunfish fair on crickets and worms; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/17/2012)

St. Francis River (below Wappapello): No report available.

Photo Above: Dalton Putnam said this catch is why he loves to fish! Dalton, a senior at Dexter High School, caught this "monster" at a area pond. (Photo submitted - Thanks, Dalton!)

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

CAPE GIRARDEAU - Cody Heisserer's dominating performance on the mound during Monday's Class 3, District 1 semifinal contest led the Notre Dame Bulldgos to a 3-0 victory over the Dexter Bearcats.

Notre Dame's ace struck out 13 batters during the complete game, three-hit shutout.

"We knew that he would work us away the whole time; we started crowding the plate in the middle innings, and it worked on him for a little bit," head coach Brian Becker said after the game. "It messed with his command, and he gave us a few walks, but Heisserer is one of the best pitchers in the state - he threw an outstanding ball game for them and he deserved the win."

Brad Potts advanced to third base after a one-out single in the top of the first inning, but the Bearcats weren't able to capitalize; in total, the 'Cats stranded six base-runners on the day.

Dexter starter Alex Cliff threw six innings of three-hit ball, but an early walk and four infield errors behind him would prove fatal for the 'Cats. Despite the undesirable outcome, Becker noted the senior's effort and composure on the mound.

"We had an opportunity early there in the first, but just didn't capitalize on it, and that came back and bit us," he said. "Alex Cliff threw a heck of a game; he deserved a better fate. We kicked the ball around a few times out there; the biggest mistake he made all day was walking the number nine hitter on a 3-2 pitch; he came around to score what would wind up being the winning run."

The Bulldogs would tack on two runs in the third inning, thanks to an RBI single from Jonathan Lynch and a hard-hit ball from Chase Simmons that caused an error and allowed Lynch to score.

Heisserer would help his case in the bottom of the sixth with a sac fly to right fielder Josh Overall that scored Chase Urhahn for the third run of the game.

Cody Neldon was the only Bearcat to reach base twice in the contest; he bunted himself on in the fifth inning and drew a walk in the seventh. Jordan Miller connected on a double in the sixth, with Potts' single in the first inning rounding out the Bearcats' production at the plate in the loss.

The 'Cats end the season with a 17-8 record - the team's third straight 17 win season - and will lose four seniors next season. Becker had nothing but great things to say about his seniors, and noted that they would be missed on the roster next year.

"Alex [Cliff] worked hard out there today," Becker said. "He threw a heck of a game and gutted it out on the mound, and I couldn't be more proud of his effort. Daniel Fitts did a good job for us patrolling the outfield; he struggled with the stick a bit this year, but when he hit it he hit it hard."

"Owen Flowers did a heck of a job for us this year; he's the most improved baseball player, from freshman year to senior year, that I've had. He made a lot of strides, and you can attribute all that to his work ethic. He worked hard in the offseason, he stayed extra after practice a lot of times; he came out and did a good job for us on the mound and in the field," he continued. "Josh [Overall] did a great job for us in the infield; his bat started out a little cold, but it warmed up as the year went on. I'm proud of the effort he gave on the mound this year, too. All four of them will definitely be missed; they had a good senior campaign."

The 21-4 Bulldogs will move on to face the Kennett Indians in the Class 3, District 1 Championship game on Wednesday night; the Tribe defeated Ste. Genevive 5-1 in Monday's nightcap.

Photos Above:
Top: Senior Alex Cliff went the distance for the 'Cats, striking out five batters and giving up just three hits in the loss.
Bottom: First basemen Brad Potts prepares for a tag after a pickoff move from Cliff.