Howard, Dexter BB explode on Kelly in 13-4 romp

It’s been a memorable spring for the Dexter High School baseball program.

The Bearcats recently advanced to the SEMO Conference Tournament championship game for the first time, after beating Notre Dame in the opening round for the first time in 22 games against the Bulldogs. And on Tuesday, Dexter knocked off Kelly 13-4 for its 12th victory, which is the most in 11 seasons.

“The reason why I believe in this team,” second-year Bearcat coach Steve Edwards said recently, “is the looks in their eyes. When I talk to them, their eyes are just beamed on me. They are focused.”

No Bearcat was more “focused” against the Hawks (10-15) than junior first baseman Jackson Howard.

Howard connected for three hits to lead his team, which included a double. He also scored twice, drove in a run, and stole a base, as the Bearcats scored nine runs in their final at-bat.

“Jackson has just been working on every pitch,” Edwards said of Howard’s approach at the plate, “and his pitch recognition in practice.”

Edwards said that “he sets the (pitching) machine up” and his team sees “fastballs inside, they’ll see sliders, and they’ll see curveballs.”

That diligence paid dividends against Kelly, as Dexter (12-10) pounded out 14 hits, including a double from junior Nolan Alford.

“It’s not so much just to hit,” Edwards said of his practice routine, “but just pitch recognition. Then they work on (batting) tees, and they work on hitting the ball where it needs to be.”

Dexter got a pair of hits against the Hawks from sophomore Gibson Booker, who also had one run, one RBI, and one walk while Alford (one hit, two RBI, two runs, one walk), senior Ryan Young (one RBI, one run, one walk), junior Beau Carrier (one hit, two runs, one walk), freshman Justus Lovelady (one hit, two RBI, one walk), freshman Trey Pedigo (two hits, one run, one RBI, one walk), freshman Jaxon Miller (three hits, one run), and sophomore Houston Neely (one hit, one run, one RBI) also contributed.

Lovelady had a couple of stolen bases while Alford also stole a base.

Booker started the game and threw 2 2/3 innings, as he allowed just one earned run and one hit while striking out two.

Dexter got 2 2/3 innings of relief from freshman Connor Hankins, who gave up five hits, three earned runs, and struck out three Hawk hitters while Lovelady closed the game with 1 2/3 innings pitched, three hits allowed, no runs, no walks, and one strikeout.

Kelly junior Ross Peters led his team with two hits while freshman Kaleb Yount (one hit, two runs, one walk), senior Reece Eftink (one hit, one run, one walk), senior Dalton Forck (one double), senior Nicholas Christian (one hit, one RBI, two walks), freshman Avery Wolsey (two hits, one run, two RBI, two walks), sophomore Brandon Herrion (one walk), and freshman Brody Oesch (one hit, one walk) were also productive in the loss.

Wolsey nabbed a pair of stolen bases while Eftink and Peters each had one.

Herrion threw three innings of one-hit, no-run baseball. He struck out three hitters and walked just one.

Eftink worked a couple of innings in relief and allowed three hits, one earned run, and three walks while Oesch and freshman Tyson Carr pitched the final two innings.

Kelly will face Clearwater (3-16) on Friday at 11 a.m. in the opening round of the MSHSAA Class 3 District 2 Tournament at Scott City.

Dexter will host Bloomfield (11-10) today at 4:30 p.m. before opening the postseason by hosting Doniphan (6-14) at East Park in the Class 4 District 1 Tournament on Friday at 11 a.m.