Dexter, Missouri - This was the 4th annual Hits for Hope Volleyball Game and what a wonderful fundraising opportunity for the Dexter Middle School girls' volleyball team to give to their favorite charity, Ben Kruse 18 FORE Life. 
 
These young athletes were dressed in pink uniforms, pink whistles were used by the referees and the game is always played with a pink volleyball.

Volunteers manned the silent auction in the lobby area with wonderful donations from the community.  Pink t-shirts were sold throughout the night with the Hits for Hope logo on the front.

The 18 FORE Life originated in 2000, when four friends got together an decided it would be fun to raise some money for a good cause by hosting a golf tournament. In 2002, love offerings were sent out for the first time to families all over Southeast Missouri battling cancer and in need of love, hope, and encouragement.

After losing Ben Kruse in 2004, the event grew into much more than a golf tournament.  The phrase Celebrate/Give/Remember was coined and guided the efforts of organizers, sponsors, volunteers and golfers as hundred gathered for the 2005 event and over $100,000 was raised.

To date, 18 FORE Life has given away just over 1 million dollars in love offerings.

The 7th and 8th grade Lady 'Cats Volleyball Teams are proud to host the Hits for Hope game and with the community's support they promise to continue this game annually.

2015 Hits for Hope 7th Grade Lady Bearcats were Colby Christian, Emily Jarrell, Margo Nea, Alexa Werneck, Blair Rogers, Madilyn Hampton, Sydney Patrick, Madeline Parker, Kelsey Carrier, Annie Slaton, Maddie Slaton, and Audrey Lutmer.

2015 Hits for Hope 8th Grade Lady Bearcats were Kelby Hill, Jerica Porter, Natalie Sitze, Emily Smith, Jayden Northcutt, Maci McBride, Anna Bishop, Hallie Keathley, Keirstan Keirsey, Maycie Martin, Rylee Allen, and Chaylea Mosby.

2015 Hits for Hope 7th Grade Lady Wildcats were Ryann Stroup, Hannah Jarrell, Natalie Powell, Eva Hester, Emily McGowin, Breanna Phillips, Shelby Sandage, Madison Cox, Sierra Gigaroa, and Natalie Cazee.

2015 Hits for Hope 8th Grade Lady Wildcats were Natalie Powell, Laura Stickles, Tyrah Hartle, Creylee Huddleston, Lillie Sherfield, Sydney Mayo, Lilly Warrick, Bailey Below, and Haley Persfull.

Dexter, Missouri – Blake Horton hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the second inning against Scott City to put the Bearcats back in the game after trailing by six.

Horton followed up with his second home run in the fourth inning with a two-run home run improving their run total to six, but Scott City still lead by four.

In the fifth inning the Bearcats propelled themselves to the top with a 10-10 tie on a three-run home run by Garrett Keathley.

Jason Jarrell slid at home plate scoring the winning run for the Bearcats. 

Jason Mattison earned the win for the Bearcats.

Final Score  Dexter 11, Scott City 10

Scott City   2  4  0  4  0  0  0  0  0  -  10  9  3

Dexter        0  3  1  2  4  0  0  0  1  -  11  9  3

WP – Jason Mattison,  LP – Bryan McNeely, Multiple Hitters (SCC) Braden Cox 2-6, Trent Pobst 2-3, Tyler Rogers 3-4; (D) Colton Averett 2-4, Jason Jarrell 2-3, Blake Horton 2-3.  2B – (SCC) Braden Cox, Jordan Kluesner.  HR (SCC) Trent Pobst, (D) Blake Horton 2, Garrett Keathley.

Dexter lost to Notre Dame 12-0 prior to the Scott City game.  On Saturday, the Bearcats lost to Ste. Genevieve 14-3 and Perryville 2-1. 

Dexter will be back in action on Monday, April 13^th when they travel to Sikeston.  Game time 4:00 p.m.

Dexter, Missouri - It's that time of year when the Lady Cats host their annual Swing Pink softball tournament to raise money for 18FORE Life.  The schedule has been released and all the fun begins out at the softball park in Dexter on Saturday morning.  There are 16 teams scheduled to compete.

This will be the 4^th annual Swing Pink.  The 3^rd annual however was rained out.  All proceeds from the Swing Pink Tournament will got to the Ben Kruse 18 FORE Life Foundation, a local organization dedicated to helping families who are battling cancer. 

The 18 FORE Life originated in 2000, when four friends got together an decided it would be fun to raise some money for a good cause by hosting a golf tournament. In 2002, love offerings were sent out for the first time to families all over Southeast Missouri battling cancer and in need of love, hope, and encouragement.

After losing Ben Kruse in 2004, the event grew into much more than a golf tournament.  The phrase Celebrate/Give/Remember was coined and guided the efforts of organizers, sponsors, volunteers and golfers as hundreds gathered for the 2005 event and over $100,000 was raised.  To date they have given over one million dollars in love offerings.

The Lady Cats raised over $4,300 in their first year and placed third in the tournament of eight teams. 

In 2013 the girls once again placed third and raised $3,800 with twelve teams participating. 

The 2014 Swing Pink was rained out however teams did donate their entry fees to 18 FORE Life.

Sixteen teams will compete: No. 1 seeded West County takes on No. 8 seeded Charleston, No. 4 seeded Dexter takes on No. 5 seeded Southland, No. 3 seeded Neelyville takes on No. 6 seeded East Prairie and No. 2 seeded Van Buren takes on No. 7 seeded Senath-Hornersville Saturday at 9 a.m in Bracket B. The semifinals for Bracket B are at 1 p.m. and the Bracket B championship is at 5 p.m.

No. 1 seeded Naylor takes on No. 8 seeded South Pemiscot, No. 4 seeded Advance takes on No. 5 seeded Winona, No. 3 seeded Clearwater takes on No. 6 seeded Holcomb and No. 2 seeded Scott City takes on No. 7 seeded Bloomfield Saturday at 11 a.m. in Bracket A. The semifinals for Bracket A are at 3 p.m. and the Bracket A championship is at 7 p.m.

BRACKET A

11:00 a.m.

Field A  Naylor vs South Pemiscot

Field B Advance vs Winona

Field C Clearwater vs Holcomb

Field D Scott City vs Bloomfield

3:00 p.m.

Field C Winner of Naylor/S. Pemiscot and Advance/Winona

Field D Winner of Clearwater/Holcomb and Scott City/Bloomfield

7:00 p.m. Championship Game - Field C

3:00 p.m.

Field A Consolation Bracket

Field B Consolation Bracket

7:00 p.m. - Field A Consolation Bracket

BRACKET B

9:00 a.m.

Field A West County vs Charleston

Field B Dexter vs Southland

Field C Neelyville vs East Prairie

Field D Van Buren vs Senath-Hornersville

1:00 p.m.

Field C Winner of the West County/Charleston and Dexter/Southland

Field D Winner of the Neelyville/East Prairie and Van Buren/Senath-Hornersville

5:00 p.m. - Field C – Championship Game

5:00 p.m. - Field D – Third Place Bracket

Good luck to all of the teams and remember it's all for fun and to raise money for those who are battling cancer!

Bernie, Missouri - The Lady Mules Softball team will play at home on Friday afternoon against the Puxico Lady Indians beginning at 4:15 p.m.

The Mules (3-2) have defeated Woodland 15 - 5 in their season opener, Dexter 5 - 0 at Dexter, and Campbell 7 - 1.  They lost to Malden 5-1, and Advance 7-4.

Playing for the Lady Mules are Morgan Baker #4, Addie Shelton #2, Lari Spitzer #5, Madi Corbin #12, Blakely Bradshaw #6, Jescie McGuire #3, Vanessa Stephens #11, Jacque Corbin #15, Macayla Owens #13, Ashley Gallamore #10, Kayli Tanner #8, Bailee Hyslip #9, Kaylee Turner #14, Shianne Spitzer #7, Christina Dowdy #00, Mabree Stone #1, and Kayla Gates #50.

2015 Bernie Lady Mules Schedule

Fri.      April 10  Puxico   Home  4:15

Mon.   April 13  Caruthersville  There   4:30           

Wed.   April 15  Clearwater  There 4:30           

Thur.   April 16  Bloomfield    Home  4:15           

Fri.       April 17  New Madrid There 4:30           

Mon-Wed   April 20-22   SCAA tourn  TBA                      

Fri.       April 24   Twin Rivers  There   4:30                       

Tue.     April 28    Zalma   Home   4:15                       

Wed.     April 29   Van Buren@TRC  There    4:00           

Mon-Thur    May 4-7   District tourn  Bernie    TBA

Dexter, Missouri – The undefeated Dexter boys tennis team defeated last season district champions the Notre Dame Bulldogs on Tuesday afternoon.

Dexter secured a 7-2 victory winning all three doubles matches and four of six of their singles matches.

In JV action Jacob Crumley secured his win over William Popp 7-5 and in doubles Will Brehmer and Logan Elder won their match 6-1.

VARSITY SINGLES 

No. 1 - Ethan Flowers (D) def. Brendan Boswell 8-5

No. 2 - Noah Kronk (D) def. John Stroup 8-5

No. 3 - Dalton Stroup (ND) def. Zach Potts 8-4

No. 4 - Joshua Kohlbaker (D) def. Jack Gerecke 8-3

No. 5 - Brooks Propst (D) def. Alex Rivas 9-7

No. 6 - Treyton Fitzgerald (ND) def. Addison Moore 8-3

VARSITY DOUBLES 

No. 1 - Flowers-Kronk (D) def. Boswell-John Stroup 9-7

No. 2 - Potts-Kohlbaker (D) def. Gerecke-Fitzgerald 9-7

No. 3 - Propst-Moore (D) def. Rivas-William Popp 8-5

JUNIOR VARSITY SINGLES

No. 1 - Jacob Crumley (D) def. William Popp 7-6 (7-5)

JUNIOR VARSITY DOUBLES

No. 1 - Collin Smith-John Story (ND) def. Jacob Crumley-Bryce Simmons 6-3

No. 2 - Will Brehmer-Logan Elder (D) def. William Gibbs-Austin Van de Ven 6-1

Dexter boys tennis will be back in action on Thursday, April 9^th when they host the Poplar Bluff Mules.