Mules, Bratcher shut down 'Cats for convincing W

DEXTER – With as strong of a high school baseball season as the Poplar Bluff squad is having this spring, the chances of Dexter knocking off the visiting Mules on Friday at East Park weren’t high, to begin with.

The Mules (14-7) have enjoyed their most successful season since 2019 and six games into the SEMO Conference schedule, Poplar Bluff has yet to drop a league contest.

“With the type of kids that we have,” second-year Poplar Bluff coach John David Patillo said following his team’s 11-0 beating of the Bearcats, “they have been willing to work at the game and grow.”

Poplar Bluff built a 6-0 margin by the third inning and never had to look back, in large part due to the right arm of senior pitcher Dylan Bratcher.

The Mineral Area College signee was simply incredible, as he limited the Bearcats (7-8) to just three hits and no runs in a complete-game victory.

“’Bratch’ did a great job,” Patillo said. “He’s throwing strikes. He is throwing three pitches for strikes, so that is always good.”

Bratcher threw 94 pitches with 65 of those coming in for strikes.

He only walked three of the 28 batters that he faced, and he struck out nine Dexter hitters.

“He has just been solid like that all year long,” Patillo continued.

While Bratcher was dominant, young Dexter thrower Trey Pedigo labored through 5 2/3 innings.

The Bearcat freshman allowed six earned runs on six hits while walking three Mules and striking out a couple.

Despite Friday’s outing, second-year Dexter coach Steve Edwards recently spoke very well of Pedigo’s first season at this level of baseball.

“Trey is pitching well,” Edwards said. “He keeps his fastball down and, in the zone well.”

Poplar Bluff added five more runs off Dexter relievers Connor Hankins (another freshman), and sophomore Houston Neely. In all, the Mules connected for 10 hits, led by senior Kolby Greenwall, who had two hits, three RBI, and scored a run.

Poplar Bluff sophomore Kade Huffman added two hits, one RBI, and a run while sophomore Bryce Dobbs (two hits, including a double, two RBI), sophomore Remington Seesengood (two hits, two runs, one RBI, one walk), junior Dylan Hall (one RBI, one run, one walk), senior Cameron Settle (one RBI, one walk), sophomore Marcus Tabanera (one RBI), Noah Spain (one hit, two runs, one walk), Bratcher (one hit, one RBI, one walk), and freshman Rion Tenchavez (two runs, one walk) also contributed.

Seesengood and Tenchavez were each hit by pitches while Seesengood had three stolen bases and Settle, Drew Cooper, Huffman, and Spain also had one theft apiece.

Dexter sophomore Gibson Booker had one hit in the loss while Pedigo (one hit), Neely (one hit, one walk), and senior Ryan Young (one walk) were also productive.

Poplar Bluff will host Central (Park Hills) (7-7) on Monday at 4:30 p.m.

Dexter will host Doniphan (5-7) on Monday at 4:30 p.m. and will honor Young as the team’s lone senior at the game.