C4D1BB: Pitching propels Blackcats to title over Bearcats

History was going to be made one way or another in the championship game of the MSHSAA Class 4 District 1 Baseball Tournament on Wednesday at Cape Central High School.

Neither Dexter nor Fredericktown had won a District title as far back as anyone could recall (1998 for the Bearcats was the best guess while it had been longer for the Blackcats). However, Fredericktown had the arms to break that curse, as junior hurlers Ryan Souden and Ethan Marler were spectacular in the semifinal and title games, respectively, and the Blackcats topped Dexter 4-2.

“Hats off to Fredericktown,” second-year Bearcat coach Steve Edwards said after the game. “That kid (Marler) was really good.”

Fredericktown advanced to Wednesday’s game with a 3-1 win over Perryville on Monday, as Souden allowed just one hit, one earned run, two walks, and struck out seven.

Marler wasn’t quite as effective against Dexter, but he was very, very good, nonetheless.

He allowed the Bearcats (14-11) to connect for three hits but only gave up one earned run while walking three and striking out 10.

“I told our boys,” Edwards said, “it hurts so bad, but it is a ballgame. It’s not like we made six errors and lost 12-2. It was a ballgame.”

The Blackcats opened the game with a double off junior Bearcat starter Beau Carrier and put runners on the corners following a Dexter miscue.

Carrier then gave up a walk to load the bases before the Blackcats (15-7) got a sacrifice fly to take a 1-0 lead.

A Fredericktown single put it up 2-0 a couple of batters later, but Dexter fought back with a run in the second inning.

Freshman Justus Lovelady reached on a lead-off single in the inning and moved to second base on a Blackcat wild pitch.

Sophomore Gibson Booker sacrificed Lovelady to third base and freshman Trey Pedigo brought him home for a 2-1 margin.

The Blackcats answered with another run in the third inning for a 3-1 advantage while Dexter came back with a second run in the fourth.

Pedigo again was the catalyst, as he singled Lovelady home for a 3-2 score.

Fredericktown put a run across in the fifth inning while Dexter could only muster one hit and one walk in their final two at-bats.

Pedigo had a couple of hits and a pair of RBI to lead the Bearcats while junior Nolan Alford (one walk), Lovelady (one hit, two runs scored, one walk), and Booker (one walk) were also productive.

Carrier threw 4 1/3 innings and gave up eight hits and a pair of earned runs while walking one and striking out two.

Lovelady pitched 1 2/3 innings of relief and allowed one hit, no earned runs or walks.

Fredericktown junior Brayden Homan, who attends Marquand-Zion, had a hit and two RBI in the win.

Both teams enjoyed stellar springs.

Fredericktown has won the most games in (at least) 15 years while Dexter enjoyed its most successful season in 11 seasons.

“I love these guys so much,” Edwards said. “We have built the culture that we wanted.

“The tears, the pain, and the little bit of anger in their hearts is a good thing because it matters so much to them.”