Missourian Diamond Roundup, Apr. 17: Advance hounds Dexter in SCAA softball opener

Another slower day in Southeast Missouri with the after-effects of weather kept the scoreboard fairly light, but there was still ample to talk about.

Starting with Advance softball, the Hornets made a big statement against a sizeable foe in Dexter in Wednesday's big SCAA-opening win.

__SB: Advance 12, Dexter 2__

Advance (12-2) opened its run in the Stoddard County Athletic Association Tournament with a shortened 10-run victory over Dexter.

The Hornets scored four in the first, getting out in front early thanks to a balanced day for the offense that saw almost every better notch a hit.

Brogan Wright-Hawkins hit thrice to lead Advance, while Maggie Stubenrauch hit a homer for one of two hits as she drove in a team-high two runs while walking twice.

Natalee Roper and Rylee Roper each hit twice in the win, helping Advance score 12 runs in five innings to open their conference tournament with a bang.

Addison Carlton earned the win for the Hornets with three innings of two-run ball, while Wright-Hawkins shut it down with two scoreless frames.

__BB: Saxony 15, Oak Ridge 6__

You might remember Saxony's (9-4) loss Tuesday, but the Crusaders showed no such signs as they flushed it for a dominant win against Oak Ridge (3-8) on Wednesday.

Owen Tarry finished with a game-high four hits, going 4-for-5 with a triple while Korby Engert and Blake Gaebler each finished with three hits behind him, both doubling once.

All three finished with three RBIs as the Crusaders combined for 16 hits to pounce on Oak Ridge's pitching from start to finish.

Noah Engler finished his day with three singles for the Bluejays, keeping them alive offensively as they scored six despite the loss.

Konnor Hobeck also grabbed a pair of singles in the loss, with Kaden Borgfield and Landon Burnett each driving in a pair of runs.

__SB: Oran 16, Charleston 1__

Oran (7-2) was the latest team to pack it on one-win Charleston, scoring eight runs in the first and adding six in the second for good measure.

It took three innings for the Eagles to wrap this one up, led by a three-hit night from Molly Spane as she drove in six runs on a double and two singles.

Kolie Morgan and Kendall Burger combined for three innings without an earned run, along one hit and one run but overall holding Charleston mostly off the scoreboard.

Soma Hooper again reached the box score for Charleston as she notched the only hit of the game for the Blue Jays. Kari Murphy came around to score Charleston's lone run.

__BB: Bloomfield 14, Bell City 10__

Thanks to a late rally that saw 11 runs cross in the final two frames, Bloomfield came all the way back to stun Bell City (8-5) in a wild one on Wednesday.

The Cubs, at one point, led 8-1 in the matchup and looked to be cruising to a dominant win in a third-place battle, but it wasn't to be.

Baylor Eftink hit a solo homer and racked up four hits as Bell City built and built a big lead, but it all came crashing down in the final two.

Ayden Hutchison met him there, hitting four times for four RBIs for Bloomfield while Caleb Upchurch hit twice, once for a double, and Justice Cossey's two hits drove in four.

Upchurch pitched the final 6.0 innings for Bloomfield and allowed just two runs as he struck out 10 and solidified a wild 'Cats comeback.

__BB: Notre Dame 6, Kennett 4__

Notre Dame (10-4) made the most of a big road showdown for Kennett on Wednesday, scoring five in the third to lead a fiery win against the Indians.

Reid Morgan and Lawson Mills each hit twice, with each also notching a double while Mills drove in a run.

Hunter Bonham grabbed the save late, coming in for TJ Bolen with two on up a pair and slammed the door shut with a one-batter-faced strikeout to solidify the dub.

Peyton Branum, Ashton Williams and Kaiden Prewett each hit twice in the middle of the order for Kennett, with Williams driving in two, but it wasn't enough to hold off the 'Dawgs.

__BB: Oran 10, Advance 0__

In what was initially a tight game, Oran (8-4) rejuvenated some of that Tuesday momentum late with a mercy-rule winner over Advance (2-11).

Kole Burger and Rylan Mills each hit twice in the win, with Mills' two hits being a double and a homer as he drove in a ridiculous five runs.

Cooper Senciboy drove in another two Eagles on one single, while Gabriel Dirnberger drew three walks as he was seeing the ball excellently.

Parker Bryant got the victory on the mound, throwing all five innings while allowing just a hit and a walk, hitting two but striking out 11 Hornet batters.

Cole Curtis got both of Advance's two hits on Wednesday, singling twice to give the Hornets some life while Grady Tolbert drew the Hornets' only walk.

Footnote

The Southeast Missourian newspaper coverage area is comprised of 20 teams: Advance, Bell City, Cape Central, Chaffee, Delta, Eagle Ridge, Jackson, Kelly, Leopold, Marquand, Meadow Heights, Notre Dame, Oak Ridge, Oran, Perryville, Saxony Lutheran, Scott City, St. Vincent, Woodland and Zalma.

To submit a box score, or to get in contact with our team, please reach out to us via email at preps@semoball.com. Our goal is to get your team in the paper.