Dexter defeats Campbell in season opener

Jerry Jarrell photo Dexter's Caleb Miller gathers in a ground ball during the Bearcats' 12-2 season-opening win over Campbell at home Monday.

Dexter banged out eight hits and scored in each of the first four innings before pushing across three in the sixth to bring the 10-run rule into play and end the game.

David Hessling drove in three runs and Matt Banken pushed across two, while Eric Windham and Mason Noe each collected two hits.

"I was really pleased with the way we played today (Monday), considering it was only our second time to actually play on the field and only our first time to pitch off of a dirt mound," Dexter coach Brian Becker said, referring to wet conditions that forced his team to practice where ever they could find a dry spot. "Our batters haven't had a whole lot of live pitching thrown against them. All things considered, I thought both our pitchers and out hitters did a good job."

Windham started on the mound for the Bearcats and worked two hitless innings before giving way to Miller, who kept the Camels hitless through the third.

Noe worked the fourth and gave up two hits and one run on a single by Jake Nelson. He was followed to the hill by Jarrett Laird who worked the fifth and faced six batters, allowing one run on a single by Cale Weeks.

Tyler Scott pitched the sixth and gave up a lead off single to Cote Harralston who was erased on a double play by Noe who charged a sinking liner by Jake Tinnon then threw to first to catch Harralston. Scott got Nelson swinging, one of seven strikeouts by Bearcat pitching, to end the inning.

Dexter scored in the first inning when Banken delivered a one-out bases loaded sacrifice fly to plate Hessling.

Caleb Stanley and Garrett McKuin led off a four-run second for the 'Cats with back-to-back singles before Noe's double plated Stanley to make it a 2-0 game. Mills walked to load the bases and Hessling drew a walk to make it a 3-0 game. Windham followed with an RBI-single and Banken's ground out scored Mills for a 5-0 Dexter lead.

Dexter staged a three-run, two-out rally in the third. Noe reached on an error, stole second and scored on a single by Mills. Hessling drew his second walk of the game and Miller delivered an RBI single before Hessling scored on a passed ball.

Hessling's one-out sacrifice fly with the bases loaded in the fourth plated Dexter's ninth run of the game.

After failing to score in the fifth, Dexter manufactured the winning runs in the sixth. McKuin led off with a double and Noe followed with his second hit of the game.With one out, Hessling's infield out scored McKuin. Miller worked his at bat for a walk to load the bases before Windham's infield grounder was misplayed by the Camels allowing Noe and Miller to cross the plate with the winning runs.

It was the first game of the season for both clubs.

Dexter was scheduled to again today at 4 p. m. at Perryville, weather permitting.

Note: See the game box score under Scoreboard on Page 7 of The Daily Stattesman.