Missouri - According to preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), young turkey hunters harvested 4,060 birds during the 2017 spring youth season, April 8 and 9. Top harvest counties were Franklin with 118 birds harvested, Callaway with 91, and Gasconade with 87. 

Young hunters checked 4,167 turkeys during last year's youth weekend.

Dexter, Missouri - The Dexter Lady Cats will host the 6th annual Swing Pink Softball Tournament on Saturday, April 8, 2017 with games slated to begin at 9:00 a.m. at the softball fields behind East City Park in Dexter.

The tournament will benefit the Ben Kruse 18FORE Life Foundation.

The 18 FORE Life Foundation 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 1.9 million dollars in love offerings.  They hope to break the 2 million dollar mark this year!

The Lady Cats will begin the tournament at 9:00 a.m. on Field B against Southland.  There will be 16 teams participating in two brackets, in addition to pool play.

The semifinals for Bracket B are at 1 p.m. and the championship at 5:00 p.m.  the semifinals for Bracket A are at 3:00 p.m. and the finals are at 7:00 p.m.

The following games are set to be played along with the brackets:

Bracket A

11 a.m.

Field A - Van Buren (1) vs Portageville (*)

Field B - Clearwater (4) vs Greenville (5)

Field C - Bernie (3) vs Southland (6)

Field D - West County (2) vs NMCC (7)

Bracket B

9:00 a.m.

Field A - Winona (1) vs Charleston (8)

Field B - East Carter (4) vs Neelyville (5)

Field C - East Prairie (3) vs Puxico (6)

Field D - Dexter (2) vs Advance/Zalma (7)

Pool Play

Field J - Twin Rivers (2) vs Bloomfield (3) at 9 a.m.

Field J - Senath (1) vs Holcomb (4) at 11 a.m.

Field C - Bloomfield vs Holcomb 5 p.m.

Field C - Senath vs Twin Rivers 7 p.m.

A Silent Auction will be held throughout the day and the winners will be announced at the end of the day.  T-shirts will also be available.  Long sleeve are $20 and short sleeve are $15.

Dexter, Missouri - The annual Hits for Hope middle school volleyball fundraiser is slated for Thursday, April 6th at T.S. Hill Middle School between the Dexter Lady Cats and the Bloomfield Lady Wildcats.  Game time is 6:00 p.m. with the 7th grade taking the floor first.

"We are excited this year to play on the court at the middle school.  This is one of our biggest years with silent auction items.  My office is full of great items," commented T.S. Hill Middle School Principal Scott Kruse.  "The gym is already decorated with pink volleyballs made by our students and we hope to have a packed house for the event!  I am always proud of these kids and what they do to help those with cancer."

Each year the athletes play in honor of someone who is fighting the cancer battle, survived their battle or passed away from cancer.  All proceeds will benefit 18 FORE Life.

People from around the area and local businesses have graciously donated items for a silent auction to be held during the event. Volunteers will man the silent auction in the lobby of the middle school.  Pink t-shirts with the Hits for Hope logo will also be sold to raise money.

These young athletes will be dressed in pink uniforms, pink whistles will be used by the referees and the game is always played with a special pink volleyball.

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 1.9 million dollars in love offerings and hope to break the $2 million dollar mark this year!

Please join the 7th and 8th grade girls volleyball team on Thursday, April 6th and raise money for an awesome cause!  Thank you in advance for your patronage!

Cape Girardeau, Missouri - The Dexter boys tennis team traveled to Cape Girardeau to take on the Notre Dame Bulldogs on Tuesday, March 28th.  The Bulldogs came out on top 6 - 3.

Erich Hahn and Zach Potts won their individual singles matches and teamed up to win their doubles match for the only Dexter Bearcat wins.

Notre Dame improved to 2-0 while Dexter dropped to 0-2.

Singles Results:

1. Zach Potts (D) def. Garrett Hesselrode (ND) 8-1

2. Eric Hahn (D) def. Andrew West (ND) 8-2

3. Collin Smith (ND) def. Will Brehmer (D) 8-0

4. Willie Gibbs (ND) def. Matthew Chesser (D) 8-4

5. James Stroup (ND) def. Nate Gargas (D) 8-3

6. Michael Rosenquist (ND) def. Logan Wyman (D) 8-0

Doubles Results:

1. Potts/Hahn (D) def. Hesselrode/West (ND) 8-4

2. Gibbs/Stroup (ND) def. Brehmer/Gargas (D) 9-7

3. Rosenquist/Sam Mocherman (ND) def. Chesser/Wyman (D) 8-1

Cape Girardeau, Missouri - The Dexter Bearcats Baseball Team defeated Cape Central Tigers 3 - 1 on Tuesday, March 28, 2017 on the Tiger's home turf.

Spencer Owens was the only multiple hitter in the game.

The pitching was strong on both sides.  Dexter's pitchers struck out three, while hurlers for Central sat down eight. Clay Mullins lasted four innings on the mound to get the win. He gave up no hits and no runs and had one strikeout and two walks.

Dexter took a 1 - 0 lead in the third, but Cape Central (1-6) tied it in the bottom of the fifth with C. Borders driving in one when he singled.

D. Mills took the loss for Central.  He threw two innings, allowing two runs, four hits, striking out tow, and walking none.

Trevor McDonald started the game for the Bearcats.  He went five innings, giving up one run, three hits, striking out two, and walking one.  J. Baker started the game for Central.  He pitched seven innings, giving up one run, four hits, striking out six, and walking one.

Mullins and McDonald each drove in one run to lead Dexter.

Dexter defeated Neelyville 17 - 6 on Thursday, March 30th.  They will play at Notre Dame on Wednesday, April 5th at 4:30 p.m.