Dexter BB junior is 'veteran leader' at plate, on field

The past week was a historic one for the Dexter High School baseball program, and this coming week could prove to be memorable, as well.

The Bearcats tore through the opening two rounds of the recent SEMO Conference Tournament and advanced to the championship game for the first time in program history before falling to Class 6 No. 10-ranked Jackson 5-0.

Dexter has now won 11 games this spring, which matches its win total from each of the past two seasons, and the Bearcats still have at least four games remaining this season.

A 12th victory would give the program its most successful season in 11 years.

“The reason why I believe in this team is the looks in their eyes,” second-year Bearcat coach Steve Edwards said recently. “When I talk to them, their eyes are just beamed on me. They are focused and they are like ‘Coach, whatever you say, we’ll run through a wall for you.’

“They believe in each other.”

Dexter only has one senior (outfielder Ryan Young), but it has a talented seven-member junior class, of which center fielder Nolan Alford and first baseman Jackson Howard are key parts.

Both were recently named to the All-SEMO Conference Tournament Team following their performances over the three games.

“He is ‘Johnny Hustle,’” Edwards said of Alford following the Bearcats beating Notre Dame in the tournament opener, which was the program’s first win over the Bulldogs in 22 outings.

In that game, Alford stretched a single into a double after using his speed to catch the Notre Dame outfield off-guard a bit.

Alford stole three bases against Notre Dame, which took him to 25 on the season.

“He is so valuable on the base paths,” Edwards continued.

In the championship game, the Bearcats managed just one hit off of Tournament Most Valuable Player, Jackson senior pitcher John-Paul Sauer, and it was Alford who got that connection.

“Nolan is hitting the ball hard,” Alford said. “He is hitting off-speed stuff. He’s hitting the fastball. He is using the whole ballpark.”

Edwards uses the athleticism of Alford in center field, and the coach is very pleased with what he is getting out of Alford in that aspect of play.

“On defense,” Edwards said, “he has a knack for finding the ball. He controls the outfield.”

Edwards said Young “has been such a role model for everyone,” however, he also lauded Alford for being an older guy whom the 12 Bearcat freshmen and sophomores can look up to.

“He is the junior who can help everybody,” Edwards said. “He talks out there (in the field) and everyone trusts him.

“He is just a veteran leader for us. That is exciting because we have a lot of the season left, and then another year of it.”

Dexter will host Farmington (18-12) on Monday at 4:30 p.m.