NMCC rallies past Scott City

NEW MADRID - The New Madrid County Central Eagles rallied from a 5-0 deficit to defeat SEMO Conference foe Scott City 7-5 on Monday in New Madrid.

Tied 5-5 in the bottom of the sixth, Zach Kribs plated the go-ahead run with a two-out double. Josh King added a run-scoring single to make it 7-5.

"Both of them are seniors," said NMCC head coach John Jones. "They stepped up and put the game away for us."

NMCC trailed 5-0 after four innings but rallied in the fifth. Ben Pyles tied the score at 5-5 with a three-run home run.

"That hit by Ben Pyles lifted everybody's spirits and we decided we were going to go ahead and try to win this thing," said Jones.

Ryan Lawrence threw all seven innings to pick up the win. He allowed five runs (three earned) on four hits. He struck out six and walked three.

Scott City's Mark Johnston was the losing pitcher in 1 2/3 innings. He allowed five runs off six hits with four walks and three strikeouts.

Tyler Ward got a no-decision in 5 1/3 innings of work. He allowed two runs off three hits. He struck out three, walked three and hit two batters.

Pyles led the Eagles with three hits and three RBIs. King went 2-4 with an RBI. Brandon Fields also had two hits.

"We had nine errors in the game and they scored four runs in the first inning," said Jones. "Ryan was pitching a great game, but we had routine grounders that we missed and the wind was blowing hard, making it tough in the outfield. He pitched a heck of a ballgame. It took us about three innings to get focused. We settled down and played good fundamental baseball after that."

NMCC (2-0, 1-0 SEMO) will host Dexter on Monday at 4 p.m.

NMCC won the junior varsity game 13-3 in five innings to improve to 1-0 on the season.

DEXTER - The Dexter Bearcats improved to 3-0 on the season with a 7-2 win against Twin Rivers.

Tied at 2-2 in the sixth, Brandon Miller plated two runs with a bases-loaded double which led to the victory.

Justin Sanders later added an RBI-double in the inning to give the Bearcats some insurance.

"In every game we've played Brandon Miller has stepped up and delivered," said Dexter head coach Brian Becker. "He had a two-run homer against Perryville and had an RBI-double against Kennett. He's just getting the job done. He's a senior and he's doing what we're expecting him to do."

Twin Rivers pitcher Jared Deken had a no-hitter going through four innings, but the Royals couldn't support him with any runs.

Deken was saddled with the loss in the game.

"Their pitcher was doing a good job of mixing up his pitches," said Becker. "I'm not satisfied with the way we're swinging the bats right now. We're getting out in front too much and we're lunging. Fortunately we're winning ballgames and that's what matters. But we're going to have to step up our hitting a bunch before our next game."

Dexter took a 1-0 lead in the first on double-steal when Kermit Thomley reached home.

Mack Taylor drove in Willie Dooley with an RBI-double in the fourth to make it 2-0.

Twin Rivers eventually tied the score in the sixth inning.

Dexter went with a five-man rotation on the mound. Nolan Pixley, Cale Williams, Garrett Williams, Taylor Pyle and Miller combined for the seven innings.

Pyle picked up the win in his one inning of work.

They combined to allow seven hits with two runs, two walks and six strikeouts.

"It was a non-conference and non-district game," said Becker. "So I wanted to get a chance to see what we've got on the mound. Overall I was fairly pleased with the pitching performances today. Hopefully that mound experience will pay off here in the near future."

Dexter (3-0) rescheduled its game with Kelly and it will be played tomorrow at 4:30 p.m. at Kelly High School.

CAPE GIRARDEAU - The Notre Dame Bulldogs out-scored the Hawks 6-1 in the final two innings to pull out the win.

The score was tied at 9-9 heading into the sixth, but Notre Dame's Matt Wulfers launched a three-run homer to propel the Bulldogs to victory.

It was one of three home runs for Wulfers as he totaled seven RBIs in the game.

"I should've walked him, but I didn't want to juice the bases for Kyle Diveley," said Kelly head coach John Gandt. "Looking back on it, I probably would've been better off walking Wulfers."

Kelly's Kendal Deason took the loss. He threw six innings and allowed 12 runs off 11 hits with three strikeouts.

"We went up against an excellent team and played a competitive ballgame," said Gandt. "Finally, our bats are starting to wake up. If we swing the bats like we did tonight, we're going to beat a lot of good teams."

Notre Dame's Jared Jinkerson picked up the win.

For Kelly, Kent Deason went 1-3 with a three-run homer in the fourth inning.

Jordan Proctor had two doubles and two RBIs. Jarod Staggs had a double.

"We're just starting to scratch the surface with what we've got," said Gandt. "We've got an excellent team athletically. Our record doesn't show what we have. We've got a lot of monsters in our lineup and they're just waiting to be woken up. Even though we're young, I think we can bring it."

Kelly (1-3, 0-3 SEMO) will play at Poplar Bluff today at 4 p.m. The Hawks will host Dexter in a rescheduled game tomorrow at 4:30 p.m.

ESSEX - The Wildcats put the mercy rule on Richland in a 24-5, five-inning win.

Richland's James Wheeler was the losing pitcher. Vandiver picked up the win for Bloomfield.

Hitters for Richland were Jordan Kettles, Derek Barnes, Wheeler, Blake Waters and Jackie Smith.

Kettles had two RBIs and Wheeler added an RBI.

Further information wasn't available at press time.

Richland (0-3) will host Advance tomorrow at 4:15 p.m.