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May drawn to Sikeston by the challenge, community, and past (7/26/24)Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-DemocratSIKESTON — At one time, Sikeston was a dynasty, rattling off 51 straight victories and boasting five undefeated seasons. But the Bulldogs of today are a far cry from those legendary teams. Now, a new dawn breaks, as Jim May, a coach with a proven track record who has seen the highs and lows of high school football, answers the call to reestablish the once-proud program. ...
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Zack Gieg: SEMO O-line will 'be the reason why we win games' (7/25/24)By Tony Capobianco ~ Southeast MissourianThe first official practice of Southeast Missouri State football training camp feels like the first day of school. For a lot of seniors, it felt like the first day of the finale, one that senior linebacker Bryce Norman considered, "a little surreal." It's a sentiment seconded by offensive center Zack Gieg...
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Catfish are rolling of late following inconsistent summer (7/25/24)Tom DavisThis summer has been a rollercoaster for the Cape Catfish, which is a tad unusual for its fan base to follow after watching the franchise methodically achieve success year after year after year since its inception.
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Williams has been a "hit" with the Catfish this summer (7/25/24)Tom DavisAs the Cape Catfish summer has turned decidedly in the right direction over the past few weeks, there have been several factors that the Catfish coaching staff can point to as to why that has occurred.
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Redhawks QB returns to camp bigger, stronger, faster (7/24/24)By Tony Capobianco ~ Southeast MissourianWith the first practice of training camp underway on Wednesday, July 24, at Houck Field, college football is rising in Cape Girardeau like the blistering sun. While nobody truly looks forward to training camp, the first day is always one to look forward to...
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MSHSAA shakes up state baseball playoffs: Series play coming to Class 5 and 6 (7/23/24)9Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-DemocratThe Missouri high school baseball landscape is set for a significant shake-up in 2025, as the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) has announced a major format change for its Class 5 and 6 state playoffs. Beginning next season, the quarterfinal round will transition from a single-elimination game to a best-of-three series...
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Former Jackson athlete finds his groove at the plate (eventually) for Tropics (7/22/24)Tom DavisThe summer baseball season reached a frustrating point for the Southeast Tropics recently when they dropped a pair of games (3-2 and 7-4) to their rivals, the Aycorp Media Charleston Fighting Squirrels, in the Senior Babe Ruth Baseball State Tournament.
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Don't look now, the Catfish are in hot pursuit of a playoff berth (7/22/24)Tom DavisAt the beginning of this month, the Cape Catfish signed several new players and gave a couple of existing regulars a few days off during the July 4th holiday. First-year manager Phil Butler felt when he had his full complement of players returning, his squad had a chance to compete among the best teams in the Prospect League.
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Oran's Rylan Mills commits to SEMO after stellar championship season (7/19/24)2Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-DemocratSIKESTON — Fresh off leading Oran to a state championship and earning MBCA Class 1 Player of the Year honors, Rylan Mills, a standout rising senior, has committed to continuing his academic and baseball career at Southeast Missouri State University...
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Semoball Scholar-Athlete Asher Britt takes talents to Quincy (7/19/24)Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-DemocratSIKESTON, Mo. – The path to college basketball is rarely a straight line, but for Asher Britt, every challenge has been met with the same quiet intensity: a refusal to fail. From a season-ending injury to balancing a demanding academic workload, the newly minted Semoball Scholar-Athlete has consistently found ways to overcome obstacles and excel both on and off the court. ...
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Paxton DeLaurent headlines 7 Redhawks to watch (7/19/24)By Tony Capobianco ~ tcapobianco@semoball.comMuch to the surprise of head coach Tom Matukewicz, the Southeast Missouri State football team was picked to finish third in the Big South-OVC preseason poll earlier in the week. “I was shocked. I would’ve voted myself 10th,” Matukewicz said. “I can’t watch the film, it looks so bad. Fundamentally, stupid penalties, it made my eyes bleed.”...
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Henne, Rosario continue strong summer in leading 'Fish to DH split (7/19/24)Tom DavisThe up-and-down Cape Catfish season was epitomized on Thursday in a doubleheader with its rival Thrillville at Capaha Field. The series has been dubbed the “Battle for the Border,” with the Catfish holding the trophy from last summer.
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Squirrels store another trophy, beat Tropics for second straight state title (7/18/24)Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-DemocratCHARLESTON, Mo. – The Charleston Fighting Squirrels are back on top in the Show-Me State, claiming their second straight Babe Ruth State Championship with a 7-4 victory over the reigning World Series Champions, the Southeast Tropics. The Squirrels’ win at Hillhouse Park on Tuesday sets the stage for a potential rematch with the Tropics at the 2024 World Series in Cape Girardeau, where Charleston hopes to avenge last year’s underwhelming performance...
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Southard, West depart Notre Dame tennis as Semoball Awards co-winners (7/18/24)By Cole Lee ~ Southeast MissourianFor Charlie West, it’s a three-peat. For Thomas Southard, it’s the perfect way to end a long, productive career at Notre Dame Regional High School. The top doubles pairing in Southeast Missouri got their seasons put out for all to see on July 12 as the pairing of Southard-West was tabbed as the top boys tennis performance at the 2024 Semoball Awards...
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Bryce ‘Mr. SEMO’ Norman tabbed Big South-OVC DPOY (7/18/24)7By Tony Capobianco ~ Southeast MissourianBig things are expected out of Southeast Missouri State senior linebacker Bryce Norman. Not just locally, but conference wide. Norman was announced on Wednesday, July 17, as the 2024 Big South-OVC Association Defensive Player of the Year. While he seemed appreciative of the preseason honor during his virtual media day press conference on Wednesday, Norman emphasized his focus on helping the team win this year, which will be his last as a collegiate player...
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Hoffman takes second Volleyball award at Semoball Awards (7/18/24)By MIKE BUHLER, Dexter StatesmanSaying recent Advance High School graduate Lexi Hoffman had a memorable career on the volleyball court might be just a bit of an understatement. “I really didn't expect to get it two years in a row,” Hoffman said after winning the award. “It's crazy. There was a lot of good competition this year.”...
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Notre Dame’s Sides grabs Boys Soccer Award at 2024 Semoball Awards (7/17/24)By Cole Lee ~ Southeast MissourianOne of the greatest goal-scoring talents in Southeast Missouri, the spectacular Bryce Sides capped off his prep career in style with a Boys Soccer Player of the Year win in last week’s 2024 Semoball Awards. Part of a Notre Dame squad that has far and wide established a reputation of being one of the top teams in Southeast Missouri, Sides became the de facto leader in goals for a tough Bulldog squad...
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Minner set for return of Babe Ruth World Series (7/17/24)By Kaiden Karper ~ Special to the Southeast MissourianThe mecca of the Babe Ruth League will once again take center stage in Cape Girardeau next month with the 55th running of the Babe Ruth World Series. The 2024 19U World Series baseball tournament will be hosted by the Charleston Fighting Squirrels at Capaha Field for the second consecutive season. The highly coveted event will take place August 9-15, with this season marking the largest World Series in history due to the expanded 18-team field...
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Lauren Eftink goes out with a bang with Semoball Award (7/16/24)By Justin Trovillion ~ Southeast MissourianFor the second year in a row, Notre Dame cross-country and track and field athlete Lauren Eftink took home the Semoball Girls Cross Country Athlete of the Year award, adding to three total including her Semoball Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year award in 2023...
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Father-son Layton duo headline Woodland’s splashing Semoball Awards performance (7/16/24)By Cole Lee ~ Southeast MissourianPart of the Woodland Cardinals’ efforts to claim the Semoball Cup this year, the Marble Hill program made a big statement in this year’s Semoball Awards. This push came largely behind the efforts of Reed Layton, who took home the crown as the Boys Cross Country Athlete of the Year for his pair of state titles this fall...
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'Old Squirrel magic' has returned heading back into State title game (7/16/24)Tom DavisCHARLESTON – It’s been a laborious summer for veteran Aycorp Media Charleston Fighting Squirrels manager Michael Minner.
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Tropics' Payne is perfect in W to set up title tilt with rival Squirrels (7/16/24)Tom DavisCHARLESTON – With an opportunity to defend his team’s 2023 Senior Babe Ruth World Series championship next month hanging in the balance, veteran Southeast Tropics manager Dustin Schwartz left nothing to chance on Monday.
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Kennett and Holcomb athletes represent bootheel at Semoball awards (7/16/24)Kaelin Triggs ~ Delta Dunklin DemocratCAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - The Semoball Awards were presented with glamor, nerves and excitement. The best student athletes in all of Southeast Missouri showed up hoping to do what they do best, win. Three student athletes from Kennett and Holcomb athletes were honored and recognized as the best players in their sport and the best athletes in the SEMO region for 2024...
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Squirrels rally late, knock off Tropics in State Tourney (7/15/24)Tom DavisCHARLESTON – For much of this summer baseball season, veteran Aycorp Media Charleston Fighting Squirrels manager Michael Minner hasn’t been thrilled with how his team has performed, beginning with a 10-0 season-opening loss to their rivals, the Southeast Tropics at Hillhouse Park in Charleston.
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New Cape catcher has adjusted to Midwest, pitching very easily (7/15/24)Tom DavisWhen Moises Rosario ventured to Lake Land College in Mattoon, Illinois two years ago, the native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic had to make a shocking climate adjustment.
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Catfish finding their offense during recent surge (7/15/24)Tom DavisThe Cape Catfish season – of late – has been difficult to follow. The team recently endured a six-game losing streak in which its pitching staff gave up 60 runs, but Cape has bounced back by winning three of its last four games.
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Tropics get 'wake-up call' in dramatic State W (7/14/24)Tom DavisEarlier in this summer baseball season, veteran Southeast Tropics manager Dustin Schwartz could find a sense of admiration for his team’s ability to always find a way to success, even if it were in the final pitches of a game. “Our guys don’t quit,” Schwartz said at the time. “We can kind of wait a little late sometimes to get going. “They are never out of a game.”
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Brian Jordan shares life lessons at Semoball Awards (7/13/24)By Justin Trovillion ~ Southeast MissourianBrian Jordan, a two-sport athlete who played in the NFL and MLB, shared lessons he’s learned throughout his life at the 11th Annual Semoball Awards, presented by Mercy, on Friday night at La Croix Church in Cape Girardeau. Jordan shared three goals he has lived his life by from when he was a kid to even now as an adult...
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Jadis Jones, Handley McAtee win Athlete of the Year at 2024 Semoball Awards (7/13/24)By Tony Capobianco ~ Southeast MissourianThe 11th Annual Semoball Awards, presented by Mercy, was the night when the last high school athletic year ended and the upcoming year began. Many finalists and winners had already said goodbye to their high school past and moved on to the next phase of their life journey. For them, Friday night at La Croix Church in Cape Girardeau was a reunion with friends and rivals alike...
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Southeast Tropics 'send message' in State Tourney opener (7/13/24)Tom DavisCHARLESTON – The Southeast Tropics took their initial official steps towards defending their 2023 Senior Babe Ruth World Series Championship on Thursday, as they exploded on the SEMO Legends 15-0 in three innings in their opening game of the State Tournament at Hillhouse Park.
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SEMO football represented at Semoball Awards (7/12/24)By Tony Capobianco ~ Southeast MissourianIn a unique turn of events, a handful of incoming freshmen from the Southeast Missouri State football team made an appearance at the 2024 Semoball Awards. Jamarion Smith won the Offensive Football Player of the Year after a record senior year at Portageville. ...
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Squirrels dominate Revelers in state tournament opener (7/12/24)Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-DemocratCHARLESTON, Mo. — The Charleston Fighting Squirrels bats erupted like a Fourth of July firework show in the opening round of the Babe Ruth State Tournament, hammering the Southern Missouri Revelers into submission with a 15-0 victory on Thursday, July 11 at Hillhouse Park...
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Kelly clinches 7-on-7 title; Sikeston shows promising strides (7/11/24)Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-DemocratSIKESTON — Two weeks removed from the Dexter 7-on-7, Sikeston showcased noticeable improvements on both sides of the ball at Thursday's home 7-on-7 tournament, leaving first-year coach Jim May encouraged by the team's progress, albeit acknowledging the challenges that still lie ahead...
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Semoball Awards speaker's message one of tough choices and a dream (7/11/24)By Tony Capobianco ~ Southeast Missourian“If you believe, you can achieve anything in life.” “And it all starts with a dream.” That is the theme of the speech former St. Louis Cardinals slugger Brian Jordan is set to deliver as the keynote speaker at the 2024 Semoball Awards on July 12 at LaCroix Church...
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Kettering makes nice return, but Catfish pitching labors to another L (7/11/24)Tom DavisThere hasn’t been much to cheer for throughout the recent five-game losing streak by the Cape Catfish, but if you’re looking for something to hang your hopes on, the return of Brooks Kettering to the squad after a week off is something.
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Following the Flock: David joins Blue Jay teammates at MBU (7/9/24)Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-DemocratCHARLESTON, M0. — Charleston may boast a trophy case overflowing with basketball gold, but a gridiron pipeline is quietly flowing to the Missouri Baptist University. This summer, Charles David becomes the latest Blue Jay standout to make the jump to college football, joining former teammates Lane Morrow and Rommie Turner on the St. Louis campus...
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Newest Catfish IF bursts onto the scene and adds to deep talent pool (7/9/24)Tom DavisOwen Henne has been with the Cape Catfish for just a brief period, but the Pennsylvania native has wasted no time in making a positive impact with his new club this summer.
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Catfish arms tiring as skid reaches four games (7/7/24)Tom DavisThroughout the recent four-game losing skid by the Cape Catfish, there have been some overriding themes.
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Tropics have flair for dramatic in continued rallying Ws (7/4/24)Tom DavisBENTON - Just a note to fans of the Southeast Tropics, don’t leave their games early, because more than likely you’ll miss out on a rallying win by the highly successful team.
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Tropics' experience, arm depth shows in W over rivals (7/4/24)Tom DavisBENTON – Veteran Southeast Tropics manager Dustin Schwartz has known all summer season that his team had the experience and pitching depth to win a lot of games, and both were on display in a doubleheader sweep of the Aycorp Media Charleston Fighting Squirrels 4-3 and 5-4 at Kelly High School.
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Lone Star lessons shape Ty Powers' path to SEMO (7/3/24)2Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-DemocratCAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — In the world of college football, where million-dollar facilities and high-priced kicking coaches are the norm, Ty Powers took a different path. He turned YouTube tutorials into his playbook, sweat equity into a Division I opportunity, and a small-town Texas field into a launching pad. ...
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Tropics complete doubleheader comeback against Squirrels (7/3/24)Dennis Marshall ~ Standard DemocratBENTON, MO. — The Southeast Tropics rallied to win both games of a doubleheader against the Charleston Fighting Squirrels on Tuesday, July 2 at Kelly High School. Refusing to go down without a fight, the Tropics (17-4-1) overcome deficits in both games to secure a 4-3 and 5-4 victory...
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Squirrels sweep Perfectos, extend winning streak to four (7/2/24)Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-DemocratCHARLESTON, Mo. — The Charleston Squirrels have seemingly cracked the code when it comes to the Cardinal Legacy Perfectos, sweeping Monday's doubleheader to extend their winning streak to four games, a streak that highlights the team’s recent surge in performance...
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Living legend: Advance's Erin Hoffman honored with 2024 Semoball's Lifetime Achievement Award (7/1/24)1By MIKE BUHLER, Dexter StatesmanADVANCE, Mo. — Believe it or not, Advance High School volleyball coach Erin Hoffman was surprised to find out she was receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2024 Semoball Awards. “This wasn't even on my radar. I wasn't even expecting it,” Hoffman said. “I think when the guy called me to tell me that I'd got it, I asked him if he was sure he had the right number.”...
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Another season, another challenge for Cooter High grad (7/1/24)Tom DavisHayden Nazerenus has done nothing but challenge himself over the past 12 months since graduating from a stellar athletic career at Cooter High School. He left the tiny school (enrollment 128) a year ago and immediately spent a couple of weeks testing his skills with the Cape Catfish but signed on for the entire season this summer.
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Veteran Tropics squad getting boost from new faces (7/1/24)Tom DavisWith the core of his team returning this summer from its Babe Ruth World Series championship run last August, veteran Southeast Tropics manager Dustin Schwartz felt confident heading into this summer that his team would be pretty good. And it has been.
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Henley, 'Fish mates get aggressive early at the plate in home W (6/30/24)Tom DavisThe Cape Catfish have not struggled through this Prospect League season to score runs – at times. In four of their past six games, Cape has scored a combined 38 runs, with shutout losses coming in the other two outings, which leads to some maddening consistency in production.
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From Struggling to Slugging: CMU-Bound Campbell powers Oran's championship run (6/29/24)5Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-DemocratORAN, Mo. — Central Methodist University's commitment to Brenden Campbell was a sign of faith in the Oran second baseman’s potential, but even they couldn't have predicted the meteoric rise that followed. After a slow start to his senior campaign, Campbell became an offensive force in the latter half of the year, capping off his high school career with a 10-game hitting streak that included every postseason contest. ...
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Charleston FB working hard, gaining interest for bounce-back year (6/29/24)Tom DavisThere is a world of difference between coaching football at a school like Charleston, as opposed to a much larger school district.
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Catfish K'd by Rhythm, which is an ongoing issue (6/29/24)Tom DavisThere is no shortage of statistical areas in which the Cape Catfish have thrived during the 2024 Prospect League season.
Sports
- First practice of SEMO training camp (7/25/24)
- Summer Hoops at Delta HS (7/21/24)DELTA - Several high school varsity boy's basketball teams gathered recently for a scrimmage tournament at Delta High School.
- Senior State Babe Ruth Tournament (7/21/24)CHARLESTON - The Aycorp Media Charleston Fighting Squirrels got past the Southeast Tropics 7-4 in the recent championship game of the Senior Babe Ruth Baseball State Tournament at Hillhouse Park in Charleston.
- Catfish vs. Thrillbillies doubleheader (7/19/24)
- Babe Ruth 19U Missouri State Championship Tournament (7/18/24)Photos from the Charleston Squirrels' 7-4 win over the Southeast Tropics in the championship game of the Babe Ruth 19U Missouri State Tournament on Tuesday, July 16 at Hillhouse Park, and from the Squirrels' 18-0 win over the Southern Missouri Revelers in the opening round of the tournament on Thursday, July 11, 2024.