Dexter SB junior helps 'Cats manage District split to end season

The Dexter High School softball season came to a close with mixed results on Saturday in the MSHSAA Class 2 District 1 Tournament at Malden, as the Bearcats beat Charleston 9-3 in the opening round before falling to Kennett 15-0.

For Dexter junior Isabella Pittman, she finished the season with some solid production, which was expected following a nice season.

“She just hits the ball,” first-year Bearcat coach Christina Jenkins said recently.

In the win over the Blue Jays, Pittman banged out one of the eight hits that Dexter notched, including a triple.

She scored a run and also drove in a run, as the Bearcats scored five runs in the sixth inning to pull away from the win.

The Dexter bats were shut down by Kennett junior Handley McAtee and only recorded one hit by freshman Melanie Pfeffer. However, Pittman did draw a walk to reach base in her one at-bat.

Like several of the Bearcat players this spring, Pittman has had to learn on the job throughout her career, according to Jenkins, who served as an assistant coach with the program over the past several seasons.

“(Pittman) came out as a freshman and couldn’t catch a ball, couldn’t throw a ball, and her swing looked atrocious,” Jenkins said. “But she has worked hours perfecting her swing. She has really learned to hit the ball well this year, and that is what we need from her.”

Bearcat junior Alexis Sisk was very good against Charleston, as she connected for three hits, including a double.

Sisk also drove in a couple of runs, scored twice, and stole a pair of bases.

Dexter also got stolen bases from freshman Chelsey Nation, sophomore Elizabeth Norris, and Pfeffer.

Pfeffer had two hits in the win, including a double, and she also drove in three runs, walked once, and scored once while senior Amelia Jenkins (one walk), sophomore Meredith Benton (one walk), Nation (two walks, one run), Norris (one hit, two runs, one walk), and sophomore Ava Schaefer (one hit, one RBI, two runs) also contributed.

Schaefer’s hit was a triple.

Amelia Jenkins closed out her fantastic career with her final victory, as she limited the Blue Jays (1-16) to just three earned runs and five hits in seven innings.

Jenkins, who had over 600 strikeouts in her career, struck out 13 Charleston batters.

Jenkins was the lone senior on this year’s squad, which finished with a 5-14 mark.

Charleston got two hits apiece from seniors Soma Hooper and Mary Cox.

Hooper added an RBI while senior Kyndal Whitfield (one walk), Cox (one run), sophomore Kari Murphy (two runs, two walks), sophomore Bailey Eastman (one hit), and freshman Natalie Brown-Williams (one RBI) also were productive.

Hooper connected for a triple while Murphy had a stolen base.

Cox allowed just one earned run in three innings of work on the mound and gave up three hits and walked three.

Kennett (21-8) will face the Green Wave (14-16) at 4 p.m. today in one semifinal while Portageville (19-8) will battle East Prairie (13-13-1) at 6 p.m. in the other semifinal.