Dexter pitcher continues record-setting spring in Bearcat W

Dexter needed a solid pitching outing out of junior hard-thrower Amelia Jenkins on Monday in its game against Woodland at East Park, and Jenkins – as usual – delivered.

She struck out 13 Cardinal hitters and led the Bearcats (5-7) to a 13-7 win. The victory snapped a three-game skid for Dexter.

“Amelia has so much grit,” Bearcat coach Starla Pulley said. “We talk about mental toughness and that girl is the definition of it.”

Against Woodland (6-5), Jenkins allowed just four hits and no earned runs, while walking three.

Of her 137 pitches, 90 went for strikes.

Pulley explained that Jenkins has the ability to compartmentalize the game into one pitch, right now, and not get caught up in the macro-view of what is happening.

“For instance,” Pulley explained, “earlier this year, a girl hit a home run against (Jenkins), and it was a good hit. But, the next two batters, Amelia threw six straight strikes.

“She has the mental fortitude to get there and get the job done.”

Earlier this month, she struck out 20 batters in an 11-2 win over Charleston and later broke the magical 400 barrier for career strikeouts.

With each strikeout registered, the Bearcat record book gets rewritten by Jenkins.

“She is just tough as nails,” Pulley continued.

On Monday, Woodland jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. However, Dexter answered with a couple of runs in its first at-bat.

The Cardinals took a 5-2 lead in the second inning, but again, the Bearcats rallied with two runs in the bottom of that inning.

Dexter seized control of the game with nine runs scored in its final three at-bats.

The Bearcats were able to overcome nine errors, which has been an ongoing struggle for them.

In a recent loss against Bernie in the Stoddard County Athletic Association Tournament semifinal, Jenkins allowed just two earned runs on five hits, yet the Mules scored 20 runs due to 16 Bearcat errors.

“If you have a good pitcher,” Pulley explained, “you just have to have a defense behind her. We were slowly getting better with that (earlier).”

Bearcat senior Kinleigh Chappell paced her team offensively on Monday with three hits, three runs scored, and a pair of RBI while Alexis Sisk (one walk), Abbie Sandage (one hit, two runs, two walks), Jenkins (two hits, two runs, two RBI, two walks), Isabella Pittman (one hit, two runs, two RBI, two walks), Emily Hester (one hit, one run, one RBI), Molly Simmons (one hit, two runs, one RBI, two walks), Payton Short (one run, one walk), Meredith Benton (one RBI), and Ava Schaefer (two walks) also contributed in the win.

Woodland got a hit and two runs from sophomore lead-off hitter Mallary Barks while Rylee Cureton (one hit, one run, one walk), Rhodie Long (one hit, one RBI, two runs), Laci Detjen (one hit, one run, two RBI), Janelle Fox (one run, one walk), and Allie Davis (one walk) were productive for Woodland.

Long pitched six innings and allowed nine hits with seven earned runs while walking 12 and striking out six.

Woodland will visit Delta (4-6) today at 4:30 p.m.

Dexter will host Senath-Hornersville with Southland (9-3) on Thursday at 4:30 p.m.