Storm Center Column: Fall baseball participation surging in Bootheel

BOOTHEEL — Fall baseball participation numbers are like modern analytics studying the launch angle of a home run.

They are on the upswing.

Part of the reason is a new fall baseball program at Delta C-7 in Deering. It’s a reported co-op with Hayti — however all the players come from Delta.

Delta C-7 pitcher Hayden Ward, a sophomore, throws toward home plate during a Sept. 13, 2023, game versus Southland in Arbyrd. Ward has featured as a starting pitcher this season for the Chargers. (Photo by Eric Viccaro, staff)

Last week, the Chargers picked up their first victory of the season, defeating Tri-County Conference rival Southland in a 22-12 slugfest.

Delta C-7 draws students from Deering as well as Gobler and Braggadocio.

“Everyone’s been excited,” high school principal Bradley Sneed, the district’s former athletic director, reported. “The crowds have been good.”

Cooter High School head baseball coach and athletic director David Mathis was one of the people who brainstormed moving the Tri-County Conference tournament from the spring to the fall. (Photo by Eric Viccaro, staff)

The addition of fall baseball stems from adding junior high school baseball, which has been going for a couple of years, the district reported.

It’s expected new Delta C-7 high school head boys basketball coach Chris Dye

will steer junior high baseball.

Delta C-7 pitcher Hayden Ward, a sophomore, throws toward home plate during a Sept. 13, 2023, game versus Southland in Arbyrd. Ward has featured as a starting pitcher this season for the Chargers. (Photo by Eric Viccaro, staff)

“We’re going to build it up,” Dye said in a Facebook message. “Hopefully, I can help.”

During a game this season against Cooter, Delta C-7 featured the following lineup: Hayden Ward, pitcher; Coby Cook, second baseman; Eli Serna, catcher; Carson Jackson, right field; Kristian Greenway, third baseman; Hunter Ward, shortstop; Gavin Brents, center field; Kasen Dullenty, left field; Parker Cummings, first base; and Landin Kilbreth as a reserve.

“The kids have been working hard in the hot sun since August,” athletic director Alex Morgan said.

The public has donated money to help fill the concession stand and help feed the players, school administration explained.

Former Crowley’s Ridge College baseball player Tyler Battles serves as the head coach. He was a right-handed pitcher and utility player for the Pioneers.

Battles played his scholastic baseball at Cooter, where he was a member of the 2014 state championship team.

Morgan said the district is working on getting a new scoreboard. Thanks to copious rains during August, the field was in great shape for home games, as the sports editor witnessed.

With the addition of Delta C-7 — and returning programs at Southland and Gideon — today’s Tri-County Conference tournament in Arbyrd will feature six teams.

Admission for the tournament is free, Southland head coach and athletic director Ben Nelson said.

“We’re excited,” Nelson said about serving as tournament host. “The sport is becoming more popular with our kids.”

Logan McCay is the lone Rebel senior, according to a roster provided on the Missouri State High School Activities Association website.

Nelson reported the Arbyrd community has helped reinvigorate the baseball field, which has a storied tradition.

The field’s sprinkler system is working again. New doors were constructed at the concession stand. Dirt work, from five truckloads of material, was completed.

Risco head coach and athletic director Brandon Blankenship said the Tri-County Conference made the decision to have its league tournament in the fall several years ago.

Cooter proposed the switch, and the leadership accepted the measure.

Blankenship said playing the tournament in the fall helps gives teams more games to play.

MSHSAA allows baseball teams to play a maximum of 36 games in both the fall and the spring, according to the sport’s manual.

“This is the largest tournament field in years,” said Blankenship, and you could tell he was happy with that just in his voice. “With more teams in the tournament field this year, we were able to move all the games to one site. It’s going to feel more like a tournament.”

Cooter head coach David Mathis, one of a handful of people serving as brainchild for having the tournament in the fall, said this allows the Wildcats to focus on having a different schedule during the spring — one focused more on district opposition.

Typically, weather in Bootheel is better in September than it is in April. Schools have spring break at varying times. There are also senior trips to contend with during that time of year.

One question remaining is whether or not Clarkton will bring back fall baseball.

Mathis said fall baseball is all about giving younger players more experience, and gives them a chance to work on repetitive skill sets in a game environment.

The tournament means something to everyone.

“It’s something we’re going to try and win,” Mathis said.

And don’t forget, readers, the tournament is free. Go and support your fall baseball teams.

What’s more, beginning Saturday, Risco, Senath-Hornersville and Campbell will participate in a season-ending tournament at Bernie. There will be more on this event in the Thursday edition of the Delta Dunklin Democrat.

Editor’s Note: This column doesn’t necessarily reflect the views of the Delta Dunklin Democrat, Concord House Publishing or Rust Communications. The views are solely that of the author.