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news@showmetimes.com
Written by John Paul Halford
Malden, Missouri - Garrett Potts senior of Malden High School signed a letter of intent to play baseball with Rochester Community and Technical College located in Rochester, MN.
"I chose this school based on the credentials of the baseball program and especially the coach. His consistent ability to produce athletes to further there careers is remarkable their track record speaks for itself. I was also very impressed with the art department and city of Rochester. Yes, I know it will be cold but I'll make due! ," Potts said
Potts plans on majoring in studio art.
Potts also stated that "RCTC has a long lasting winning program with a coach that gives me a great chance to transfer to a great D1 program and further my abilities as he is a very great coach at developing players at the collegiate level."
He will play under the Yellowjackets Head coach Steve Hucke and Assistant coach Michael Burton.
The Baseball program at RCTC has a national reputation of being one of the best Junior Colleges in the nation. We have been ranked in the top 15 nationally 4 out of the last 5 years, placed each of those years in the Regional Tournament, and played in the College World Series. Last year in a rain shortened season, our team was 29-7 and finished 3rd in the Region just missing another chance to play in the College World Series. Over the last 4 years RCTC has compiled an overall record of 121-50, averaging out to over 30 wins a season.
Potts stats current as of April 24th 2014:
AB 34, R 6, H 17, 1B 13, 2B 3, 3B 0, HR 2, RBI 13, TBB 3, AVG 543, Sig 676, Obp. 564, Trend 19, 3Avg. 400, Avg RSP 700, Cont% 824, OBS 1241, G 11, SOL 3, SOS 3, HP 2, SB 5, Sacb 0, Sacf 0, CS 2, SB% 714, TB 23, HS 2,.
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Dexter, Missouri – This will be the first time in Missouri history that the Missouri High School Activities Association (MHSAA) has ever held a spring softball state tournament. So we are about to make history in Southeast Missouri with Bernie, Bloomfield and Dexter all competing in the Class 1, District 4 play-offs!
“We are very excited about getting to participate in districts this year,” commented Dexter softball coach Chris Bolin. “Having spring districts makes our season a lot more meaningful as well as competitive. I know the girls are excited about the opportunity to compete in a district tournament.”
The Lady Bearcats softball team is ranked as the #1 seed in Class 1, District 4 play-offs hosted by Bernie.
The Bernie Lady Mules seeded #2 and the Bloomfield Lady Wildcats seeded #3 will play in the semifinals at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, May 28th. The winner of this game will play Dexter at 5:00 p.m. for the championship in Bernie.
State sectionals will be held on Monday, May 5th with the winner of District 4 hosting the winner of District 3.
State quarterfinals will be held on Thursday, May 8th. Three Rivers College in Poplar Bluff, Missouri will host the state semifinal game on Friday, May 16th with the championship game scheduled for May 17th at 1 p.m.
"I am just happy to get to play at the collegiate level," commented Fox. "I've always wanted to play baseball and I am just happy to get the opportunity."
Tim Fox batted .441, led the team in runs, doubles, walks, and stolen bases last year. Also, last year he was named second team all-state as well as 1st team all-district. He also made the SCAA all- tournament team his freshman year as well as his junior year.
"Obviously he has been a very good high school player," commented Mineral Area assistant baseball coach Mike Overman. I like his tools. He has a strong arm. Swings very well. Very versatile. This year we are returning only one infielder. We are sophomore heavy this year and being a two year college we have a pretty intense fall schedule. We have pretty good competition. We count on Freshman to make an impact for us in the fall. Because we are a two year college we definitely need guys to jump in and make an impact."
When asked why he chose Mineral Area College, "I like Mineral Area, it's close to home and affordable. I like the coaching staff and I know a lot of guys on the team. I visited Mineral Area and the comfort level is good and the community is great. I know a few of the players that are coming in and they seem like nice guys."
The Bloomfield Wildcats last regular season home game will be on May 13th against Bell City. Game time 4:30 p.m. They will begin play-offs in the Class 2, District 3 games on May 26th.
"Tim has given a lot to our program over the last four years," Bloomfield coach Tyler Trover stated. "His hard work and dedication has set a great example for the underclassmen to come. He deserves this opportunity, and I know that if he will continue to work hard and remember what got him to this point, he will have a successful college career."
Sitting Kimberly Fox, Tim Fox, Bill Fox. Standing are Bloomfield athletic director Coach Jason Karnes, Bloomfield baseball coach Tyler Trover and Mineral Area Community College assistant coach Mike Overman.
Tim plans to major in Business Management. We wish Tim the best in his future endeavors!
Dexter, Missouri – Senior D.J. Dowdy will wear a Bearcat uniform again next year, but not for Dexter and he will change his colors from red/black to purple/white. He has signed to play football at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Missouri. On Wednesday a signing ceremony was held at the Bearcat Event Center in Dexter.
Shown in the photo are his parents Jim Dowdy and Carla Dowdy, D.J. sitting in the middle, Dexter assistant football coach Brian Becker, Dexter head football coach Justin Peden, and Dexter assistant football coach Brice Beck standing.
“D.J. is a great kid,” commented Dexter head football coach Justin Peden. “He worked real hard all summer and during the season. I am proud he will be able to go somewhere to get his education and get to play at the next level. If there is anyone that deserves it from this year’s team, it’s Dowdy.”
Dowdy was an outstanding offensive player this past season, catching 30 passes for 718 yards and had six touchdowns. He was also 30 for 57 for 277 yards and threw two touchdown passes as quarterback. D.J. was extremely versatile for the Bearcats playing both quarterback and starting wide receiver. He also competed for Dexter in basketball and baseball.
“Being able to play more than one position is always good,” stated Peden. “He will be able to do whatever the coaches want him to do, offensively or defensively. Being versatile is a good thing and will help him showcase his skills.”
Early this school year at the Fall Sports Banquet, D.J. earned the Most Valuable Back award and the Most Valuable Player of the Year award for football.
Dowdy plans to major in physical education and he said that Coach Peden really helped him embrace football as his chosen sport, though he enjoys both basketball and baseball.
“Growing up baseball was my favorite sport,” commented Dowdy. “After this year I kind of fell in love with football more. After the season was over, I decided I wanted to play football on the college level.”
Southwest Baptist University is an exception four-year college offering a great athletic program. They currently compete in the NCAA Division II Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. SBU is commited to being Christ-centered in every facet of the university life and students are free to express Christian faith and values in the classroom.
Peden went on to say, “This is an amazing time in this young man’s life. I just feel blessed to have played a part in D.J.’s development and can’t wait to see what the future holds for him. He will accomplish great things at Southwest Baptist.”
SBU’s first game will be against William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri on September 4, 2014. For a 2014 Football Schedule click HERE.
Congratulations D.J.! The Dexter community is extremely proud of your accomplishments and we look forward to seeing you in a Bearcat uniform next year. On behalf of the ShowMe Times it has been a pleasure to watch you play during your high school career. Good luck with your future endeavors and we'll see you on the field!!
Bernie, Missouri – The Bernie Mules earned back-to-back SCAA conference baseball tournament wins shutting out the Bloomfield Wildcats.
Top-seeded Bernie had little trouble defeated the Wildcats earning 5 runs in the first inning and 4 runs in the second inning earning them a 9-0 lead early in the game.
“I thought it was big we got out of the first inning,” commented head baseball coach Darrin Shipman. “They had a couple runners on and we held them scoreless. Getting five in the bottom of the first really took the pressure off of us. I thought B.J. Jennings did a good job keeping the ball down and we played great defense behind him.”Devin Trammell collected four RBIs, a team-high. Austin Beck and Devin Trammell each hit a home run.
B.J. Jennings got the win. "It feels great to win this tournament," stated Jennings who is a senior. "I just did my best for the team and put the ball out there and they were great helping me get the outs when we needed them."
Winning this tournament was a top priority of Coach Shipman. “I told the kids we have a good tournament in Malden, but this is more important to me to win the conference tournament just because this is our conference year-in and year-out.”
Bernie 12-3 on the season has won their last ten games. The Mules will host Portageville on Monday, April 28th. Game time 4:00 p.m. They will then travel to Memphis, Tennessee to play Holcomb at the Redbirds Stadium.
The Bloomfield Wildcats 11-5 will be back in action on Saturday when they travel to Malden to take on the Greenway at 11:00 a.m. and East Carter County at 1:00 p.m.
Final score Bernie 9 Bloomfield 0
Bloomfield 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 3 4
Bernie 5 4 0 0 0 0 X - 9 10 0
WP - B.J. Jennings. LP - Tim Hector. HR - Austin Beck (BE), Devin Trammell (BE). 2B - Justin Stanfield (BE). Multiple hits - Bernie: Josh Stevens 3-3, Brad Freed 2-4.
