Top-seeded Dexter rallies past Jackson to take third

Dexter High School baseball coach Brian Becker believes the 2008 Bearcats are among the most resilient teams he has ever coached.

That's why Becker said he was not surprised that the Bearcats staged two late rallies Monday night to claim third place in the SEMO Conference tournament.

Top-seeded Dexter, which was upset by Central in Saturday's semifinals, knocked off third-seeded Jackson 5-4 in eight innings at Capaha Field.

"It's the kind of game we've been winning all year long," said Becker, whose squad improved to 12-4. "We've had some of the most unbelievable finishes you can imagine.

"These kids are so resilient it's unbelievable."

Jackson led 3-0 entering the bottom of the sixth inning, but Dexter scored three times to tie.

The teams finished the regulation seven innings still deadlocked 3-3.

Jackson pitcher Caleb Guilliams delivered a pitch during Monday's game.

The Indians pushed across a run in the top of the eighth, but Dexter won with two in the bottom of the frame.

"I've seen Dexter play several times this year and this is a team that keeps battling back," said Jackson coach Rob French, whose squad fell to 7-11. "I thought overall we played well.

"We didn't hit with runners on base and there were a lot of little things we didn't do."

Both teams received strong starting pitching performances.

Jackson's Caleb Guilliams had a two-hit shutout through five innings before Dexter finally reached him for three runs on three hits in the sixth.

Dexter's Ben Mills, who Becker said was making his first start of the season, allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits in 5 2/3 innings.

"Caleb Guilliams threw great. He gave us a chance to win the game," French said. "Their kid also threw a really good game."

The Indians had seven hits, led by Josh Duncan's 3-for-4 performance. Duncan drove in two runs.

But Jackson left eight stranded and had a runner thrown out at the plate trying to score when a pitch got away in both the seventh and eighth innings.

"I thought we would get them in, but their catcher [Mills] did a great job getting to those balls," French said.

Dexter had eight hits, including two triples and two doubles. Matt Banken, Eric Windham and David Hessling each had two hits.

"I think early in the game our energy was low," Becker said. "About the fifth or sixth inning we started hitting the ball.

"But you have to credit their pitcher, and our pitcher did a great job."

Andy Winkleblack's RBI single in the third inning gave Jackson a 1-0 lead.

The Indians made it 3-0 in the sixth as Duncan and Tyler Qualls had RBI singles.

Dexter came back with three in the bottom of the sixth. Windham and Hessling had RBI triples, then Hessling stole home with two outs to tie the contest.

Duncan's perfectly executed squeeze bunt that went for a single scored Evan Watkins in the eighth as Jackson regained the lead.

But the Bearcats rallied one more time, off Jackson reliever Alex Tripp, who replaced Guilliams on the mound to begin the seventh.

Banken led off the bottom of the eighth with a double and went to third on Windham's single. Windham stole second and Hessling walked to load the bases.

Tripp got one out on a pop foul, but then walked two straight hitters, including Caleb Stanley to end things.

Despite the loss, French likes the way the Indians have rebounded after a 1-8 start. They are 6-3 since then.

"We've played better baseball," French said.

Dexter 5, Jackson 4, 8 inn.

Jackson 001 002 01 — 4 7 2

Dexter 000 003 02 — 5 8 3

WP — Eric Windham. LP — Alex Tripp. 3B — Michael Mouser (J), Windham (D), David Hessling (D). 2B — Caleb Miller (D), Matt Banken (D). Multiple hits — Jackson, Josh Duncan 3-4; Dexter, Hessling 2-3, Banken 2-3, Windham 2-4. Records — Jackson 7-11, Dexter 12-4.