Baseball

ELLINGTON — With the season opener a couple weeks away, the Ellington Whippets baseball team has started their run as defending state champions. “There’s a lot of pride in town about it. But this group has got a lot to prove still. We lost a lot of seniors, but we also brought back a lot of experience and a lot of talented young kids. ...

BROSELEY — With three returning seniors, a returning ace, experienced juniors and a talented crop of underclassmen, Twin Rivers would like the improvement it saw from fall to spring last season to continue into this fall. After batting below .200 as a team during last fall’s 6-11 season, the Royals hit above .300 in the spring as they finished 13-25 for the year...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — Tuesday was a night to remember for former Sikeston Bulldog Trey Smith. Playing for the Chillicothe Paints in the Prospect League, his team squared off with the Cape Catfish at Capaha Field in Game 3 of the Prospect League championship series...

NEELYVILLE — Depending on how you figure it, Neelyville returns anywhere from seven to 11 starters. “We lost two seniors that played quite a bit but we started 10-11 of these guys at some point last year, so we’ve got a good chunk returning, and then we got a pretty good freshmen class coming in,” Neelyville coach Tyler Thompson said. “We’ve got to obviously get better on the mound from where we were last year, but pretty much everyone who pitched last year has varsity experience this year.”...

PIEDMONT — Clearwater returns seven starters from a team that went undefeated last fall and won the Ozark Foothills Conference Tournament. However, the two starters they lost were big losses. Two of the Tigers’ four seniors last season were Heath Ayers and Jesse Holmes, who were the team’s top two pitchers as Clearwater went 12-0 and outscored opponents 141-18...

ELLSINORE — East Carter opened last season’s Ozark Foothills Conference Tournament championship on a great note. The Redbirds took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning against undefeated Clearwater after Alex Kearbey stole home. The Tigers tied it up in the bottom frame, and both teams scored a second run in the fourth. It was still tied at 2-all in the sixth, but East Carter committed three errors and lost 7-2 to finish the fall season 17-6...

Three Rivers College assistant baseball coach Tyler Smith encouraged his second baseman, Zane Wallace, to consider playing in the Prospect League this summer if he wanted an experience similar to the daily grind of playing professional baseball.

BROSELEY — Twin Rivers recently filled its vacant softball head coach role. Ryan Medlin — a Jackson native — will serve as the new coach while filling in as a substitute teacher in the school district. “I’m really excited for the opportunity to lead a quality program,” Medlin said...

STE. GENEVIEVE, Mo. – Tyler Martin spent a lot of time Friday night staring off into the nighttime sky and beating himself up. The Jackson Legion Post 158 pitcher would saunter into the bullpen while his teammates hit and try to compose himself and get ready for the next inning.

Ste. Genevieve, Mo. – Jackson American Legion Post 158 baseball coach Mark Lewis has two decades of coaching summer baseball under his belt and six more springs of working with the Saxony Lutheran program. All of that experience has helped him develop an intuition on how to handle his pitchers.

The Perryville football program hadn’t had much success when Blane Boss took over as the Pirates’ head coach prior to the 2017 season. And the brutally honest young coach didn’t make things any easier on the Pirate student-athletes.

CHARLESTON, Mo. — Just a few hours removed from defeating the defending Senior Babe Ruth World Series champion Charleston Fighting Squirrels, the Southeast Tropics found themselves only 21 outs away from advancing to the World Series themselves. To get there, the Tropics faced the Buckley Bombers, from Colorado...

CHARLESTON, Mo. — In the final game of pool play, the Charleston Fighting Squirrels used a pair of three-run innings to squeak by Parsons (Kansas) in American Division play of the Senior Babe Ruth Midwest Plains Regional. The away team on the scoreboard, Charleston led off the game with momentum in its 7-5 victory...

CHARLESTON, Mo. - Malden graduate Tye Miller enjoys being the table setter at the top of the Southeast Tropics batting order. “I’m always confident if I can get on base in the first inning the big boys are going to bring me in,” Miller said of batting leadoff...

CHARLESTON, Mo. — It was deja vu for the Charleston Fighting Squirrels on Friday evening, in the second night of pool play, at the Senior Babe Ruth Midwest Plains Regional. Dawson Treat took the ball against the Perfectos, in a Missouri matchup, that saw each team win one game in the previous two head-to-head contests. Charleston edged the Perfectos in their first meeting, 8-7, while the Perfectos returned the favor in the Senior Babe Ruth State Tournament, 3-2...

CHARLESTON, Mo. — Needing a big night in all areas of the game, the Charleston Fighting Squirrels did just that in its 9-0 rout of East Twins (Minnesota) on Thursday evening, at Hillhouse Park. Opening night of the Senior Babe Ruth Midwest Plains Regional was a good one for the defending World Series champions. Charleston got timely hits, made solid defensive plays and added a gem from hurler Tanner King on the mound to improve to 1-0 in pool play of the American Division...

CHARLESTON, Mo. — Hillhouse Park hosts the Senior Babe Ruth Midwest Plains Regional, beginning Thursday evening, as the Charleston Fighting Squirrels World Series title defense begins. “This is a huge deal for our community,” Charleston head coach Michael Minner said. ...

What I learned from living the initial 52 years of my life in the state of Indiana was that Hoosiers are passionate about three things: religion, farming, and sports. And depending on the time of year and whether the Indiana University men’s basketball team is underachieving or not, the order of those things could fluctuate.

CHARLESTON, Mo. — Chances were put on the table but not converted for the Charleston Fighting Squirrels in Friday’s matchup against Jackson Legion. The Fighting Squirrels went 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position, as they fell to Jackson 3-2 in nine innings at Hillhouse Park...

In every game, wins and losses normally determine the outcome. However, there’s also another component associated with a success that one local high school athlete hopes to bring his teammates. Learning.

CHARLESTON, Mo. — Just three outs separated the Charleston Fighting Squirrels from advancing on in the Senior Babe Ruth State Tournament on Monday night against the Mineral Area Orioles. Some late inning heroics helped the Fighting Squirrels, as two runs crossed the plate in the bottom of the sixth inning to a break a 3-3 tie...

SIKESTON — Confidence is something that Sikeston senior Nate Self does not shy away from very often. He knows he can help any team he’s on, and make everyone around him a better player. To add on, he’s also a winner and showed that on numerous occasions throughout his tenure at Sikeston High School...

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. — Earning all-state honors in one sport is a recognition that would make any athlete proud. However, earning all-state honors in multiple sports puts into perspective the amount of energy and passion an athlete has for numerous activities...

SIKESTON — Walks will hurt any baseball team. In Tuesday’s game against Cape Girardeau Legion, the Sikeston Silver Sox felt that same fate. The Silver Sox walked a total of seven batters in its 12-2 loss at VFW Memorial Stadium. However, despite the downpouring of runs, the Silver Sox did lead the game...

Last summer 2014 Kennett graduate Tyson Campbell thought his baseball career had ended despite putting together a stellar junior season at Lyon College in Batesville, Arkansas, in 2018.

SIKESTON — Joe Miles reached base safely in all of his three at-bats on Saturday in the second day of the #GoNuts Classic, at VFW Memorial Stadium. Miles went 2-for-3 in the second game of the Sikeston Silver Sox’s doubleheader, with a pair of RBI. His breakout game came in a losing effort, however, as the Silver Sox dropped to 0-3 in the tournament, after a 5-3 loss to Mayfield Legion...

If one needs to find Landon Hahn on a random day, the search most likely would start and end at the same place: the batting cages next to Jackson baseball's home stadium. Hahn goes there almost every single day to work on everything from his swing to fielding. Games, team practices or vacations are about the only things that keep him away. That dedication and work ethic comes from a place of love. He wants to improve, sure. He also just loves working on his craft that much...

Meet the 12 selections

SIKESTON — What seemingly has cost the Sikeston Silver Sox all season, did once again on Friday morning in the opening game of pool play of the #GoNuts Classic. Errors are this team’s Achilles heel, and once again, they played a pivotal role on Friday, as the Silver Sox committed five errors in its 3-2 loss against the Southern Illinois Stix. No error more significant than the game-ending miscue...

CHARLESTON, Mo – What looked to be a competitive game turned into a blowout Friday afternoon when the Charleston Fighting Squirrels opened pool play of the #GoNuts Classic at Hillhouse Park in Charleston. Holding a one-run lead against Mountain Home, Ark., after three innings, the Squirrels broke out for nine runs in the fourth frame to end the game early, 12-2, on the mercy-rule...

SIKESTON — When Sikeston native and former Bulldog Lance Rhodes answered the phone call from Southern Illinois University athletic director Jerry Kill about becoming its new head baseball coach, he was in awe. After all — on Monday — Rhodes was announced as, not only, the program’s eighth baseball coach, but it also marked the beginning of what will be his first head coaching position...

Two proposals passed at the 2019 Missouri High School Activities Association Election in May will alter the postseason playoff field for local high schools in the Missouri Bootheel beginning in the 2020-21 school year.

The Kennett Indians High School baseball team is among the 17 teams set to compete at the 17-team Go Nuts Classic Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The tournament takes place at Hillhouse Park in Charleston, VFW Stadium in Sikeston, and Notre Dame Regional High School in Cape Girardeau...

CHARLESTON, Mo. — Strong defense and pitching aided to what was looking like a low-scoring contest between the Charleston Fighting Squirrels and Kennett Indians on Tuesday evening. Dawson Treat and Bodey Ellis each pitched well, with each hurler allowing one earned run heading into the sixth frame...

Another successful spring sports season has concluded, and awards have been doled out to student-athletes in the Southeast Missourian's coverage area. Notre Dame girls soccer won its second Class 2 state championship in three seasons, and other teams, such as Saxony Lutheran baseball and St. Vincent girls soccer, also advanced to the final four...

The 2019 Missouri High School Baseball Coaches Association all-state baseball team has been released. Six players from the Delta Dunklin Democrat coverage area have been selected all-state. Cooter senior Dawson Treat is a first-team all-state pitcher in Class 1. Treat finished 7-5 with a 2.72 ERA. He struck out 97 and walked 27 in 69.1 innings pitched...

PARAGOULD, Ark. - The Kennett Indians played the defending national champion Charleston Fighting Squirrels to a 5-5 stalemate through six innings but was unable to put together the finish it needed to walk away with a victory. Charleston broke the five-all tie when it scored seven runs in the top of the seventh inning and held on to beat Kennett 12-5 in a championship semifinal of the Glen Sain GMC Tournament at Paragould, Arkansas, Saturday night...

PARAGOULD, Ark. - The scoreboard beyond the fence in left-center field wasn’t the target for the Kennett Indians lineup when they arrived on the scene at the Glen Sain GMC Tournament in Paragould, Arkansas. “We were just looking to hit a good line drive to the outfield grass,” Kennett No. 3 hitter Andrew Spence said...

SIKESTON — Sports connects people in various ways. For Fellowship of Christian Athletes Three Rivers Area Representative Josh Mills, the goal is always to use faith to teach a lesson. Kids from third-to-sixth grade, along with six junior high-college coaches, crowded Field No. 1 at the Sikeston Recreation Complex to learn about that exact message, as Mills hosted the FCA Baseball Camp on Friday...

For the first time in four years, the Senath-Hornersville Lions baseball program has a new skipper in its dugout. Chris McLain, who is a 2000 graduate of Senath-Hornersville High School, is returning home to serve as high school baseball coach for the Lions...

The list of Semoball Awards finalists is complete. In Tuesday's selection show streamed exclusively on Facebook, the 45 spring sport finalists were revealed, along with the Lifetime Achievement Award winner, 13 nominees in Coach of the Year, Comeback Player of the Year and Best of Sportsmanship...

SIKESTON — Umpiring is a tough job. It is also a job that is handled by adults, but when it comes to Sikeston Area Youth Baseball, games are mostly under the control of teenagers. “The purpose of a recreational baseball league is supposed to be centered around community,” Director of Parks and Recreation Dustin Care said. ...

CHARLESTON, Mo. — Through four innings offense was limited between the Southeast Tropics and Charleston Fighting Squirrels. It was a pitcher’s dual to begin the game, as Charleston’s Tanner King and the Tropics’ Wyatt Barnett dazzled early. However, in the fifth inning, the bats woke up for both teams, as nine runs crossed the plate — six of them by the Fighting Squirrels — in their 7-3 victory over the Tropics at Hillhouse Park...

CHARLESTON, Mo – After struggling to plate an insurance run to go with their one-run advantage the Charleston Fighting Squirrels broke through for nine runs in the final two innings against the visiting Mineral Area Orioles Monday night. The late outburst proved to be vital in fending off a seventh-inning rally by the Orioles with the Squirrels holding on for a 10-4 win in the first game of a doubleheader...

SIKESTON — An early crooked number proved to be the difference for the Charleston Fighting Squirrels 18u team on Monday. Charleston put a three-spot on the board in the top of the first against the Sikeston Silver Sox at VFW Memorial Stadium. Charleston wound up winning the game 8-5, making those runs that much more critical...

KENNETT, Mo. - The summer success continued for the Kennett Indians high school baseball program Sunday afternoon at Indian Park. Kennett improved to 7-1 on the summer as it beat the visiting Mineral Area Orioles in both games of a doubleheader. Kennett edged Mineral Area 2-0 in Game 1 before run-ruling Mineral Area 12-2 in five innings in Game 2...

KENNETT, Mo. - The two-out success the Kennett Indians offense experienced proved to be the difference in Game 1 of a doubleheader against the visiting Southeast Tropics Thursday evening. Kennett drove home all 11 of its runs with two outs as it pounded its way past the Southeast Tropics 11-1 in six innings in Game 1 of a doubleheader at Indian Park...

KENNETT, Mo. - Kennett Indians starting pitcher Marshall Brown went the distance on the hill but did not receive the run support he needed to knock off the defending Senior Babe Ruth national champion Charleston Fighting Squirrels Tuesday evening at Indian Park...

SIKESTON — Four Sikeston Bulldog baseball players earned a spot on the All-District team. Junior outfielder Payton Howard, sophomore catcher Nolan Self, and senior infielder/pitcher Nate Self along with senior outfielder/pitcher Jeffery Thornbrough all made the team...

SIKESTON — Costly mistakes hurt the Sikeston Silver Sox in its opening night matchup against Perryville Post 133 on Monday night. In the first game of the doubleheader, Perryville Post 133 scored three runs on three errors, as it went on to defeat the Silver Sox 7-2...