Walnut Ridge, Ark. – With the spring season fast approaching, the Williams Baptist College baseball team is looking towards a successful 2015. The squad is made of a mixture of returners, transfer students and has added a talented class of freshmen.
“I have been very pleased with our fall and now early spring practices,” said Head Coach Frank Lee, who is entering his fourth season as the head Eagle.
Williams returns six seniors to the 2015 team. Jon Coburn, Blake Coffman, Cogan Ford, Kyle Hooker, Paul Keen and Mitchell Wallace will all be looked upon to provide leadership.
Coffman has started at second base the past three seasons and has hit over .300 in all three years. Ford led the team in home runs last season with four in 108 at-bats, while Keen led the team with 37 strikeouts on the mound.
"We will rely on our six seniors and their experiences should help us throughout the year,” added Lee.
In addition to the senior leadership, Williams has brought in newer talent to help supplement the squad and give the team much needed depth.
"We have several freshmen who will have the opportunity to earn playing time and contribute. With them, as well as a number of junior college transfers and underclassmen with significant playing time in previous years, we should have a solid season,” Lee noted.
Williams will open its season on the road in Cedar Hill, Texas, against Arlington Baptist College with a four game weekend set. First pitch is scheduled for Friday, February 6th, at 12:00 p.m.
The first home game for the Eagles will be against in-state foe Central Baptist College on Friday, February 13th.
To stay informed on all Eagles and Lady Eagles athletics, visit www.wbceagles.com.
Jackson, Missouri – The Lady ‘Cats dug a hole early with the Crusaders jumping out to a 14 point lead in the first quarter and never recovered.
Saxony Lutheran scored the first 11 points and jumped ahead 18-4 by the end of the first quarter. The Cats never led securing the Crusader’s 53-44 victory.
“Really the whole difference of the game was the fist quarter. Those first three or four minutes of the ball game sets the tone and we have got to be more aggressive and more active from the field,” commented Dexter head girls basketball coach Chad Allen. “It was hard to come back down 14 to start the game, but they did a great job battling back and we definitely owned the last three quarters.”
Krysten Garrison got taken out early in the game receiving her third foul in the second quarter and her fourth foul in the beginning of the second half. Dakota Reynolds picked up her third foul in the third quarter and fouled out with over four minutes left in the fourth quarter.
“We definitely got in a little big of foul trouble,” stated Allen. “Garrison had a target on her back and it seemed like every time she was out there she was getting a foul. Taking her out of our line-up does hurt us offensively.”
Hannah Thurmon, a freshman, recorded a team-high 18 points for the Bearcats. Melanie McKuin tallied 10 points.
“I thought Hannah did a great job tonight,” continued Allen. “They are big and physical on the inside and she pounded right after them. She made some good shots for us. I am really glad the girls hung in there and didn’t quit.”
In JV action Saxony Lutheran JV defeated Dexter 50 – 35.
Dexter (11-8) will host Naylor on Thursday, February 5, 2015 at the Bearcat Event Center. The JV game will be two quarters only and the varsity game will follow. Game time is 6:00 p.m.
Final Score Saxony Lutheran 53, Dexter 44
Saxony Lutheran 18 10 12 13 - 53
Dexter 4 14 12 14 - 44
Bloomfield, Missouri – The Wildcats hosted the Bell City Cubs Tuesday evening and improved their record to 12-8 with a 59-36 victory!
Bloomfield led by 11 points at the end of the first quarter. Their biggest lead in the game in the 3rd quarter when they outscored the Cubs 23 - 5.
“We were able to catch Bell City at a good time,” commented Bloomfield coach Jason Karnes. “They were short a few kids, but they came in here and played really hard. We had a sluggish first half, but were able to pick it up defensively the second half and that led to some good possessions the other way for us.”
Tyler Battles paced the Wildcats with a team-high 14 points including one trey.
Austin Bond and Noah Vandiver each added 11 points for Bloomfield. Caleb Pulley hit one 3-pointer!
Cole Nichols hit three treys for the Cubs. He finished with a game-high 18 points. Nate Finney finished with 12 points including two 3-pointers.
“We have a big conference game on Friday against a good Puxico team,” stated Karnes. Bloomfield (12-8) will host the Puxico Indians. Game time 6:00 p.m.
Final Score Bloomfield 59, Bell City 36
Bell City 5 13 5 13 - 36
Bloomfield 16 8 23 12 - 59
Bell City (36) – Nate Finney 12, Cole Nichols 18, Logan Yates 3, Jesse Smith 2, Peyton Maddox 1. FG 12, FT 7/15, F 21. (3-pointers: Finney 2, Nichols 3. Fouled Out: Brandon Abner).
Bloomfield (59) – Caleb Pulley 5, Peyton Bell 2, Nathan Newell 8, Austin Bond 11, Tyler Battles 14, Noah Vandiver 11, Alex Gibbs 6, Nate Cazee 2. FG 18, FT 21/28, F 19. (3-pointers: Pulley 1, Battles 1. Fouled Out: Gibbs).
Jon Rodgers was awarded first place in the heavyweight division.
Chance Jarrell earned 2nd place in the 182 lb weight class.
Blake Bolin earned 3rd place in the 182 lb weight class.
Christian Yarber took 3rd place in the 195 lb weight class division and Cory Holland earned a 3rd place medal in the 220 lb weight class division.
Shown in the photo from left to right: Chance Jarrell, Christian Yarber, Jon Rodgers, Blake Bolin, and Cory Holland.
The varsity and junior varsity wrestlers will host a match on Thursday, February 5th at 6:00 p.m. in the Dexter High School gym. It is Senior Night! Cape Girardeau, Poplar Bluff, and Kennett will be in attendance! Should be a great night of BEARCAT Wrestling!!
Congratulations gentlemen on a job well done!
Dexter, Missouri – Peyton Pollock will wear a Bearcat uniform again next year, but not for DHS. He will change his colors from red/black to the purple/white Bearcat jersey at Southwest Baptist University.
Pollock signed a letter of intent today for football with Southwest Baptist University Bearcats! Head Football Coach Craig Schuler announced today that the 6’2” senior would become a SBU Bearcat athlete.
"I am super excited for Peyton," commented head football coach Justin Peden. "It is a great opportunity for him and it is a good school. I am proud of what he has accomplished."
"It is always a neat thing as a coach to see a kid go on to the next level and play," continued Peden. "Peyton is a true athlete. he will do well and he may play multiple positions at SBU. He is very coachable and works hard. Anywhere he may play I believe he will be successful. I am glad to have been involved in Peyton's life at Dexter High School."
Shown in the photo are Pollock’s parents, Monta and Dan Pollock seated with him, Dexter head football coach Justin Peden and Dexter assistant football coach Brice Beck standing.
Pollock performed for the Bearcats as their quarterback for the 2013 and 2014 football seasons.
In the 2013 season as a junior he completed 86 passes for 1,360 yards including 10 touchdowns. He carried the ball 110 times rushing for 504 yards including one touchdown. His total yardage was 1,864 yards with a total of 11 touchdowns. He did miss two games during the regular 2013 season with a mild injury.
He was named to the All-Region Football Team and Honorable Mention SEMO All-Conference in 2013.
In the 2014 season as a senior he completed 130 passes for 1,572 yards including 13 touchdowns. Pollock carried the ball 142 times rushing for 730 yards including 8 touchdowns. His total yardage was 2,302 with 21 touchdowns.
Pollock was named 2014 Media All-Region Second Team Offense as quarterback. He was named the 2014 First Team All-Conference and 2014 Offensive Player of the Year for Conference. At the Dexter Fall Sports Banquet he received the 2014 Most Valuable Back/Skilled Position Award.
He was a member of the Dexter Bearcats football team his junior and senior year and has played football all four years of high school. Prior to moving to Dexter he played football at Crystal City, Missouri. He has also played baseball three years and basketball all four years. He is an active member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Future Teachers of America, FCCLA, Pep Club, Dexter Honor Society and the National Honor Society. Peyton also attended Missouri Boys State.
When asked why he wanted to attend Southwest Baptist University, Peyton said, "My parents went to SBU and I went there and just loved the coaches. It's a great area. I visited in July and fell off for a little bit and then got back on track and I knew then that's where I wanted to go!"
Peyton's older brother Cody Pollock is a Division One Football Player for the Southern Illinois University Salukis. It's in his blood to play football coming from a long lineage of football players.
"My brother told me that it would be the toughest thing I had ever done in my life," Peyton said of transitioning from high school athletes to college football. "I have always wanted a challenge and I have always looked up to him and my father. They both played college football and I wanted to do that some day."
"I was six when I first played organized football and I grew up playing the sport. My Grandpa, Dad, and brother all played and it was a dream of mine to play college ball too."
When asked what was the happiest memory of his high school football career Peyton said with a big grin, "The happiest moment in my football career was when we beat Sikeston! Dexter doesn't beat Sikeston very often and it was just a great moment."
Pollock plans to major in Education and perhaps someday become a high school or even a college coach. Southwest Baptist University is an excellent school and Pollock may start out as a linbacker, something he hasn't done since his sophomore year, so it a relatively new position, but he is up to the challenge and looks forward to his college days as a Bearcat!
Southwest Baptist University is an exceptional four-year college offering a great athletic program. They currently compete in the NCAA Division II Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. SBU is committed to being Christ-centered in every facet of the university life and students are free to express Christian faith and values in the classroom.
Congratulations Peyton! 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!!
