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Dexter hands state-ranked Greenville first loss of the season
DEXTER -- When scheduling senior night the Dexter Bearcats certainly didn't pick a lightweight in Greenville.
Currently ranked No. 2 in the Class 2 Missouri High School Baseball Coaches Association state poll, the Bears entered Wednesday's matchup with an undefeated 18-0 record on the line.
A three-run Bearcat rally in the first inning was all senior hurler Jason Mattison needed as he helped Dexter upset Greenville 4-2, ending their winning streak.
"Today we showed the type of team we can be," Dexter head coach Brian Becker said. "When Jason is on the mound we're a pretty dang good ball team. He works quick, we play good defense behind him for the most part. Today we played real good defense behind him. He just threw a great game today and we swung the bats good too."
Greenville (18-1) was first to strike with a run in the top of the first, but Dexter (9-12) was quick to answer in getting to Bears' starting pitcher Trey McDaniel before he could settle in.
A leadoff single from Jason Jarrell was followed by an infield error putting runners at the corners with no outs.
Colton Averett lined into left field to tie the game, 1-1, before a single from Mattison loaded the bases. Garrett Keathley hit a blooper into right field that plated a pair of runners to put the Bearcats on top for good at 3-1.
Dexter looked ready to do more damage with two runners on base and no outs, but lined into a double play, followed by a strikeout to end the threat.
"They threw a good pitcher against us," Becker said of McDaniel. "That kid is no joke. He's got a real good fastball and his breaking stuff is pretty good. We jumped on him early and that was big. For us to give up a run in the first and then jump right back in the bottom of the first and put up a three spot was huge."
A sacrifice fly from Lathan Blackburn in the top of the second inning made Mattison pay for hitting the first batter of the inning, bringing him home from third to make it a one run game.
Mattison locked down after that, however, to hold the Bears scoreless the last five innings and pick up the complete game win. His team added an insurance run in the fourth off a Blake Horton double to make up the final.
Mattison allowed two runs on six hits without surrendering a walk. He hit two batters while striking out nine and retired the final seven hitters of the game in order.
"I was a little rusty at first, but I think I settled in and did alright," Mattison said. "I felt a lot better."
His counterpart, McDaniel, takes the loss despite settling in after the first inning to allow one run in the final six frames.
McDaniel threw a complete game where he surrendered four runs on six hits and one hit batter while striking out seven. Like Mattison, McDaniel didn't give up a walk.
"Dexter came out and was being aggressive early in the count," Greenville head coach Jeff Null said. "They got a couple hits early on and we had to make adjustments there. Locate a little better and start them off with some off-speed. Trey did a good job of making that adjustment and after that he held them down pretty good."
Offensively, Greenville was led by Devon Duncan, who was 2 for 2 on the day while laying down a key sacrifice bunt in the first inning that eventually led to the Bears' first run. McDaniel, Trent Tompkins, Jake Dorris and Jacob Withrow each singled.
Along with his strong pitching performance, Mattison led the Bearcats at the plate, going 2 for 3 with a double. Jacob Pedigo and Horton both doubled with Keathley, Averett and Jarrell each contributing a single.
"A lot of us were lunging at the plate and we was a heck of a pitcher," Mattison said of McDaniel. "He threw the ball a lot harder than we've seen. I think we just (started to) figure things out. We stayed (after the game)and hit a lot yesterday and hit the ball good today."
Though their chance at a perfect season is lost the Bears remain a favorite to make it to the state finals when postseason play opens up up in a few weeks.
"Everybody has kept saying maybe a loss would be good for you and get it out of the way," Null said. "No pressure then. We look at it as we're trying to win every game. We probably learned more about ourselves today than we had the last 10 games. We let our game plan fall apart because we got down early. They came out and hit us in the mouth and stuff changed for us. We needed that and hopefully we'll learn from it and not make that mistake again."
Greenville 110 000 0 - 2 6 1
Dexter 300 100 x - 4 7 0
WP -- Jason Mattison. LP -- Trey McDaniel. Multiple hitters: (G) Devon Duncan 2-2; (D) Jason Mattison 2-3. 2B -- (D) Mattison, Jacob Pedigo, Blake Horton.