CHAFFEE -- Dexter put up another impressive SEMO Conference win on Thursday, rallying from a five-run deficit to beat Chaffee 16-9.
"Getting good starting pitching is a big key for us," said Dexter coach Brian Becker. "If our starters come in and do a good job, we feel we can play with anybody. We've got a pretty good hitting lineup, but we've got to have the pitching to go with it."
Chaffee controlled the game early, jumping out to a 7-2 lead. Dexter came back with four runs in the third inning, Chaffee scored one to make it 8-4, "Then the wheels fell off the bus," explained Chaffee coach Brian Horrell. "(Dexter) came out swinging the bats and we contributed to that with a couple of costly errors. One was a very crucial one at the plate that would've been the force out for the third out. Four runs scored after that, which gave them some breathing room."
Dexter improves to 5-2 overall and 3-1 in the conference.
"After we got down 7-0, I kind of gave the kids a gut check and they responded," said Becker. "It would've been real easy to kind of lie down and accept this was Chaffee, and we were going to take a loss. But the kids battled back. This is a good quality win over a good Chaffee ball team."
Willie Dooley pulled through for the Bearcats, batting 3-for-5 with two doubles, one triple and four RBIs. He also picked up the win, pitching 5 1/3 innings. In relief of Josh Miller, he allowed three earned runs on 10 hits. He issued no walks and recorded seven strikeouts.
Kermit Thomley was 2-for-3. Cody Boyer was 2-for-5 with two RBIs and a triple. Josh Miller was 2-for-3 with two RBIs, and Jeff Samoska was 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
Chaffee's Chase Eskew was charged with the loss. He pitched the first 3 2/3 innings for the Red Devils, allowing seven earned runs on nine hits and four walks with four strikeouts.
Brent Thomason threw the final 3 1/3 innings, giving up four earned runs on four hits and two walks with five Ks.
At the plate Eskew and Sam Burnett were both 3-for-3. Andrew Horrell was 3-for-4, Thomason was 2-for-3, Brandon Davis was 2-for-4 and Derek Urhahn also contributed a hit.
"We need somebody to step up and become a leader," said Horrell. "When we got down, we had a lot of ballgame left, but we couldn't get it done."
haffee (5-3, 3-3) will host Cape Central today for a makeup game. Dexter (5-2, 3-1) will travel to Malden today at 4 p.m.
BLOOMFIELD -- Nathan Seyer's dominance at the plate continued on Thursday in Oran's 18-3 win over Bloomfield.
The multi-sport standout went 3-for-3, blasting a home run over dead center field in Bloomfield's cavernous park. He later bounced a triple off the fence, finishing with four RBIs.
On the year, the junior has a .667 batting average.
With home runs from Seyer and Tyler Nelson in the first inning, Oran jumped out to a 4-0 lead and never looked back.
Patrick Friga picked up the win in five innings, allowing no earned runs on four hits and one walk. He struck out four.
At the plate, Tyler Cookson was 3-for-3 with an RBI. Joey Bickings was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI, and Ryne Wood was 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
Other hits came from Craig Friga, Trey Graviett, Garrett Roslen, Tyler Nelson and Patrick Friga.
Bloomfield's Eric Sadler was charged with the loss.
Oran (6-1) will take on Kelly Saturday in the first round of the Notre Dame tournament. The game is scheduled to start at 11 a.m.
LEOPOLD -- Richland was defeated by Leopold on Thursday, 7-1. Landon Wheeler pitched the first four innings for the Rebels, giving up six runs. Brandon Moore threw the final two frames, allowing one run.
At the plate, Zack Petty had three hits and Jordan Kettles hit a double. Jason Vandiver scored Richland's only run.
Richland (0-3) will host Bloomfield on Monday in a doubleheader.