Local athletes making mark in college

SIKESTON -- Many athletes in the Standard Democrat coverage area have been performing well at the college level. Here is a list of those who are furthering their athletic careers this spring, playing either baseball or softball.

BASEBALL

Cody Stause (Dexter) is a freshman pitcher for Three Rivers College and made his presence felt last week, tossing a no-hitter against Maple Woods, striking out seven and walking one in six innings of work. So far this season, in 17 1/3 innings pitched, Stause is 2-1 with a 3.64 ERA, striking out 21 and walking 10 for the 19-18 Raiders.

Skylar Cobb (Scott City) is also a freshman pitcher for Three Rivers College and has thrown in 10 games this season, compiling 29 innings. He currently has a 1-3 record with a 4.66 ERA, striking out 35 and walking 15.

Vince Howard (Sikeston) is a sophomore outfielder for Meramec College and has played in 35 games with 108 plate appearances. Howard is hitting .287 with 19 RBIs and 28 runs with one triple and five doubles. Howard leads the Magic with 16 steals in 19 attempts.

Josh Jackson (Sikeston) is a senior for Hannibal La Grange and has played in 50 games. Jackson is batting .311 with 31 runs scored while hitting seven doubles, one home run and 12 RBIs. He also leads the team with 27 steals.

Josh Pierce (Sikeston) is a junior with Hannibal La Grange and has played in 41 games, compiling a batting average of .324 with 13 runs, four RBIs and four walks. Pierce is second on the team with 11 steals.

Brandon Bennett (Risco) is a freshman on the Hannibal La Grange team and has played in three games in his young career.

Kody Campbell (Oran) is a junior first baseman for the Southeast Missouri State University Redhawks and has played in 16 games this season, starting six. Campbell is hitting .242 with two doubles, two runs and two RBIs.

Shae Simmons (Scott City) is a sophomore relief pitcher for the Redhawks and leads the team with 17 appearances. He is currently 0-4 with a 5.26 ERA in 25 2/3 innings with 36 strike outs and 22 walks.

Drew Pixley (Dexter) is a senior catcher for Murray State where he has played in 16 games, starting nine. Pixley has three hits in 32 at-bats with one double.

Steven Dooley (Oran) is a sophomore pitcher at Webster University where he has a team-high 10 appearances and three starts. Dooley is 3-1 with a 3.38 era and team-high two saves while striking out 29 and walking 12 in 32 innings.

Mark Freed (Scott County Central) is a junior infielder for the College of the Ozarks where he has played in 22 games, starting eight. Freed is hitting .225 with four doubles, five RBIs and two runs scored.

Zach Secoy (East Prairie) is a junior pitcher for William Woods where he has shined in nine appearances, putting together a 1-1 record with a 1.98 ERA. Secoy has one save and 15 strike outs while walking only 12.

Tyler Tanner (Dexter) is a junior infielder with Williams Baptist and has played in eight games where he has one hit in 10 at-bats with two RBIs and four walks.

Sawyer Smith (Dexter) is a freshman catcher/third baseman for Palm Beach Atlantic. Smith has played in four games with one start and is hitting .333 with an RBI.

Josh Henson (Scott City) is also playing at Shawnee and Ross Carter (Risco) is playing at Crowley's Ridge College, however stats were not available.

SOFTBALL

Krystal Henson (Sikeston) is a freshman third baseman at Jefferson College. Henson has played in 21 games where she is batting .426 with three doubles, 16 RBIs and 10 runs scored with three home runs.

Londyn Backfisch (Kelly) is a freshman infielder/outfielder for Three Rivers College and is batting .360 in 49 games for the Lady Raiders. She has stolen 28 bases while scoring 33 runs and collecting three doubles and four triples.

Jodi Menz (Delta) is a first baseman/outfielder for the Lady Raiders and has played in 36 games where she is hitting .105 with four RBIs and a steal.

Wendy Eftink (Oran) is a junior third baseman at Williams Baptist. She has played in 36 games where she is hitting .220 scoring 20 runs with a triple and a home run, nine RBIs and three stolen bases.

Brittany Ponder (Kelly) is a senior third baseman/shortstop at Maryville University. She has started 39 games and is hitting .220 with 15 runs and five doubles, driving in four runs. She is second on the team with 10 steals.

Emilie Martin (Sikeston) is a sophomore infielder with Mineral Area College. Martin has played in 28 games where she is hitting .182 with eight runs scored and a double with three stolen bases.

Sarah Ruff (Kelly) is a junior starting outfielder for Columbia College where she has helped lead the Cougars to a 27-14 mark. No individual statistics were available .

* All information taken from online statistical sources. If you have any information on somebody we omitted or additional information on the players listed, please e-mail us at sports@standard-democrat.com.