Dexter BB to bring back talent, experience in abundance in 2025

The Dexter High School baseball players have moved onto their summer training programs, which should have some extra motivation this year following what was a special spring.

The Bearcats, which had just one senior (outfielder Ryan Young) on its 2024 roster, won more games (14) than the program had in 12 seasons.

“I love these guys so much,” second-year Bearcat coach Steve Edwards said following a 4-2 loss to Fredericktown in the MSHSAA Class 4 District 1 championship game. “We have built the culture that we wanted. The tears, the pain, and the little bit of anger in their hearts right now are good things, because it matters to them.”

That will be the lesson that carries over into the 2025 season, as well as having an abundance of talent returning.

Dexter returns eight position starters and all of its pitching rotation.

“This whole season,” Edwards said after beating area-power Kennett in the District tournament, “people looked by us because of our youth.”

Dexter got major contributions from three juniors (Beau Carrier, Jackson Howard, and Nolan Alford), as well as sophomores Gibson Booker and Houston Neely, but also, surprisingly to some, freshmen Justus Lovelady, Jaxon Miller, and Trey Pedigo.

“That is why we work so hard in the bullpen,” Edwards said of developing young players, “and that is why we work so hard in the off-season.”

Carrier was recently named as to the All-Stoddard County Athletic Association squad after having a very good spring on the mound and at third base.

“Beau just works,” Edwards said during this season. “He’s a student of the game. He is always picking our brains as coaches and talking about the game.

“He just works on his craft.”

At the end of the season, no Bearcat arm was as good as Pedigo.

“We believe in Trey,” Edwards said.

Pedigo closed his season by throwing six innings against Kennett and not allowing an earned run.

“We didn’t expect Trey to go as far as he did,” Edwards explained. “But he was dealing, and he looked good.”

Offensively, Pedigo had two of his team’s four hits in the final loss while Carrier and Lovelady allowed just two earned runs to the Blackcats from the mound.

Dexter will also return a couple of players (freshman Connor Hankins and junior Fisher Menley), who gained some experience this spring.

“I am extremely proud of this team, this program, and everything that we have done this season,” Edwards said. “These boys have fought through adversity. They fought through doubt. They fought through a lot.

“What makes me proud as the coach, is inside that dugout, they have built this bond to stick together and not let the youth get to them and be a factor.”