Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor

Malden, Missouri - The Dexter Bearcat baseball team got off to a fantastic start of the 2014 season with a win over the Green Wave of Malden.  Malden earned the first run in the second inning and it was not until the fourth inning before Dexter answered with a run of the their own. 

Jason Mattison pitched the first three innings for Dexter.  He struck out four, walked three and only allowed one run. Colton Averett pitched the fourth and fifth innings allowing one run and was credited with the victory. Garrett Keathley came in with the save striking out five of the Green Wave.

The fifth inning belonged to the Bearcats with three runs.  Dalton Manuel scored first, followed by D.J. Dowdy and Austin Aldridge to bring the score to 4-2.

“I was proud of my kids,” commented Becker.  “We played decent ball.  We did some stuff that made us look like we were playing our first game of the season and at other times we did things that made it look like we knew what we were doing.  Anytime you get a win it is a good thing so I am proud of the kids and they way the way they cam back today.”

Malden scored again in the sixth, but it was not enough to defeat the Bearcats!

Shown in the photo is senior D.J. Dowdy behind the plate catching for the Dexter Bearcats.

Final Score Dexter 4   Malden 3

Malden     0 1 0 0 1 1  0  -  3  8  3 

Dexter      0 0 0 1 3 0  X  -  4  6  2

WP - Colton Averett. LP - Toby Miller. SV - Garrett Keathley. 2B - D.J. Dowdy (D), Garrett Potts (M). Multiple hits - Dexter: Dowdy 2-3; Malden: Potts 3-4.

Poplar Bluff, Missouri - The T.S. Hill Middle School 7th grade volleyball team traveled to Poplar Bluff on Saturday to play in the girls 7th Grade Poplar Bluff Classic volleyball tournament.

Greenville, Doniphan, Advance, Poplar Bluff, and Bloomfield schools all competed along with the Dexter.  The Lady 'Cats earned a first place win!

Dexter, Missouri - It's always special when you have seniors on a team, but for the Lady Bearcats it's the end of an era.  This has been the best season in the history of Dexter High School girls basketball and for these four seniors who are about to graduate it's been one emotional ride!

Though it might be difficult to look past last weekend’s loss to Incarnate Word, these four seniors end their high school basketball careers with a winning legacy, which includes four consecutive District Championship Titles, back-to-back trips to the ShowMe Showdown in Columbia with a 4^th place finish in 2013 and a 2^nd place finish in 2014 – a body of work no sports team in the school’s history has matched.

All four, who have been playing basketball together since grade school use their friendship off the court to create chemistry on the court and create magical wins.

Each of the four seniors hit their 1,000th career point in 2014.  They are a team, but they helped each other accomplish their personal goals on the court.  Each of the four have earned so many accolades and awards over the years, but winning four straight District Championship Titles, hitting 1,000 career points, and going to Columbia placing 2nd in the state of Missouri are probably high on their list of accomplishments.  No other group of girls has ever accomplished so much in four years at Dexter. 

Basketball may be over, but these girls are still going to be busy getting ready for their next phase of life - college!  Each has decided to play basketball and each girl will make Dexter very proud!  Once a Bearcat always a Bearcat!! 

Shown in the photo are the four seniors, Alison Jarrell, Paige Patterson, Hannah Noe, and Erika Cobb each holding a District Championship plaque for the 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014.  In the middle Paige and Hannah are holding the two State plaques, 4th and 2nd place.


Alison Jarrell participated in cross country her freshman year, tennis her sophomore and junior years and basketball all four years.  Alison is a member of FCA, Future Business Leaders of America and the Dexter Honor Society.  Alison will be attending Evangel University in Springfield to play basketball.  Alison plans to major in Athletic Training.  She is the daughter of Dennis and Paula Jarrell.

Paige Patterson participated in volleyball her freshman and junior years, tennis her sophomore year and basketball all four years.  She is a member of FCA, FCCLA, Future Teachers of America, DHS Pep Club, Student Council and the Dexter Honor Society.  Paige plans to attend Evangel University as well in Springfield and major in Elementary Education and Sports Management.  She is the daughter of Ronnie and Judy Patterson.

Hannah Noe participated in track during her freshman year, volleyball her freshman, sophomore and juniors years and basketball all four years.  She is a member of FCA, USAV volleyball, Future Teachers of America and the Dexter Honor Society.  Hannah plans to attend Southeast Missouri State University and play basketball majoring in nursing.  She is the daughter of Jonas and Jo Carolyn Noe.

Erica Cobb participated in volleyball her freshman and sophomore years; however her love of basketball had her playing all four years.  She is a member of the Future Teachers of America, FCA, and the Dexter Honor Society.  She plans to attend Three Rivers College and play basketball.  Erica also plans to major in Physical Education.  She is the daughter of Lonnie and Ginger Cobb.

For coach Chad Allen it's been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have four seniors accomplish so much in four years.  We wish each senior best of luck in their future endeavors and we can't wait to see them on the court next year playing college ball!  Congratulations!!!  One Team One Dream!!

Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor

Dexter, Missouri – The Dexter High School Track Team will have their first meet on Tuesday, March 25^th in Cape Girardeau at 4:00 p.m.

“Last year we had a pretty successful year, I felt,” commented Dexter Coach Greg Lummukka.  “MaKayla Waldner competed at state in the hurdling events and we had a relay team that had a good showing at state.  Two out of those four girls are back and we have got some girls who are going to compete for the other two spots on the relay team.  I really expect us to continue to improve as the season goes on and maybe challenge in the district or region.”

Dexter competes in Class 3, District 1 against local teams such as Notre Dame, Perryville, Sikeston, Ste. Genevieve, Kennett, and Fredericktown.

The Dexter High School Track Team opens its season at Cape Central on Tuesday, March 25^th at 4 p.m.   They will not be at home until April 24^th.

“Everything has to do with showing up for practice, paying attention, working hard and being involved,” stated Coach Lummukka.  “I am hoping as we move forward we have some really good practices and good competition. We want to rise to the occasion.  I think in general it’s a young team and it’s kind of fun to work with some kids that are new to the sport.  It will be an exciting year to see how they develop."

The DHS Track Team members are Hailey Anderson, Weston Avery, Abigail Bates, Dustin Bates, Dylan Bazarian, Drake Bennett, Shayna Bess, Houston Burnett, Bailey Caldwell, Shania Case, Cameron Craft, Chandler Crowley, Matney Davis, Carly Dean, Dustin Fowler, Brittany Gibson, Marcus Gilliam, Julia Hahn, Hunter Hayes, Peyton Holcomb, Cory Holland, Dakota Holt, Taylor Ivy, Karaline Keirsey, Jaclyn Kiger, Joshua Ladd, Trevor Link, Tesa Martin, Corey Martinez, Alexis May, Madison McConnell, Melanie McKuin, Austin Mitchell, Cheyenne Mosby, Emily Page, Caroline Powers, Dakota Reynolds, Dalton Rickel, Logan Sandage, Kaitlyn Seiter, Matt Sims, Alexis Smith, Dakota Southerland, MaKayla Waldner, Mollie Whitehead, Trenten Williams, and Kelsi Wood.

Dexter, Missouri – The Dexter Bearcats Softball Team will take the field for the first time on Tuesday, March 25th in Bloomfield.  Game time is 4:30 p.m.

“We are excited about the season,” stated Dexter softball coach Chris Bolin.  “It is our first season to have a district.  That changes the whole perplexity of the season.  So we have been kind of preparing for that.”

Dexter will have three seniors, Kendra Stevenson, Ashley Brown, and Brittany Bryant along with two juniors, Diana Gilliam, and Dakota Silliman.
 
“I think offensively we will be a pretty solid team,” Bolin added.  “Defensively, we have got a lot of young girls.  I could potentially be starting three or four freshmen.  Getting those girls game-ready will be an issue, but I think offensively we will be very good.    The key right now is just trying to get pitching lined up.”

Riley Rickman, a key pitcher for the Lady Bearcats, was recently diagnosed with leukemia.  She has spent the last month in the hospital undergoing treatment.

“Riley Rickman is a senior this year and was going to be a huge part of our team.  It’s a hard void to fill because she was a phenomenal softball player that was probably going to pitch a majority of our games.”

Home opener will be on Thursday against Advance.  Game time 4:30 p.m.

With all the crazy wintry weather the girls have not had a lot of outside practices, especially outdoors.  “We’ve had about two weeks of practice,” Bolin continued.  “We are trying to deal with the weather situation and get practices in.”

Dexter will compete against top competitors this year in the Stoddard County area.  Teams such as Bloomfield, Bernie, Woodland, Bell City, Advance, and Puxico will compete in the SCAA Tournament in Puxico on April 21^st and 22^nd. 

“The County is always competitive,” Bolin said.  “Bernie won it last year and graduated two or three really good players, but they are returning a very good group.  I think Advance will be a tough team to beat as well.  They have a pitcher that is above average so they will be tough.  I think it’s wide open and because all the county teams are involved in the District, it changes how we approach the county tournament.”

On April 5^th, Dexter will host the Swing Pink Tournament, a local fundraiser for 18Forelife and others who have battled cancer locally.  Sixteen teams are expected to compete.

“This is our third year doing it and I don’t know of all the tournaments that go on in the spring, but I am going to assume this is probably one of the largest tournaments in Southeast Missouri,” continued Bolin.  “Everything we do goes to 18Forelife and the girls are always real excited.”

The 2014 Team Members are:  McKenzie Anthony, Ashley Brown, Brittany Brown, Brittany Bryant, Kaylee Carey, Kirsten Durrow, Cidney Gathings, Diana Gilliam, Reagan Miller, Emily Mouser, Morgan Ross, Halley Sielert, Dakota Silliman, Olivia Sitzes, Amber Spence, Riley Rickman, Kendra Stevenson, and Alexis Tankersley.  Asst. Coach Leonard Morse.