Dexter baseball team edges Malden 4-3 in season opener

Note: A complete photo gallery of the Dexter-Malden game is available at this link: Photos Here

DEXTER, Mo. - Dexter baseball coach Brian Becker didn't hesitate to give No. 2 hitter Austin Aldridge the bunt sign a third time after he obtained two strikes attempting to bunt with runners at first and second and nobody out.

"We were in a situation there where we needed to get a bunt down," Becker said. "If you get yourself in a hole on the first two pitches so be it, you are still going to have to get the job done."

The third time proved to be the charm for Aldridge as he bunted a ball down the third baseline for a hit to load the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the fifth inning. Dexter scored three times following Aldridge's bunt to move ahead of Malden 4-2.

"He got the job done on the third pitch and it ended up being a pivotal play in this game," Becker said.

The three-run fifth inning proved just enough as the Dexter Bearcats beat the Malden Green Wave 4-3 in the season opener for both teams Tuesday afternoon.

"I was proud of my kids," Becker said. "We played decent ball. We did some stuff that made us look like we were playing our first game of the season and at other times we did things that made it look like we knew what we were doing. Anytime you get a win it's a good thing so I'm proud of the kids and the way they came back today."

Malden never trailed until the fifth inning.

The Green Wave jumped on top 1-0 in the top of the second inning when leadoff hitter Jeremy Jones collected an RBI when he grounded out on the infield with a runner at third and less than two outs.

Dexter tallied an unearned run in the bottom of the fourth inning before Malden moved back ahead 2-1 with an unearned run in the top of the fifth inning.

In the bottom of the fifth inning No. 9 hitter Dalton Manuel reached base on an error, leadoff hitter D.J. Dowdy followed with a single and Aldridge reached base on a bunt to load the bases with nobody out. Manuel later scored from third on a wild pitch to make the score 2-2.

Dexter tallied its go-ahead run on a Malden defensive error. An RBI-single by Colton Averett drove home the Bearcats' final run.

Dexter used three arms to secure the one-run win.

"I thought our pitchers pitched from behind quite a bit today," Becker said.

Dexter junior Jason Mattison pitched the first three innings. He allowed one run on three hits, struck out four and walked three.

Averett pitched the fourth and fifth innings for Dexter. He allowed a run on three hits. Averett was credited with the victory.

Averett escaped a bases-loaded nobody out jam in the top of the fourth inning when he secured three straight ground outs.

"This early in the season we are struggling with the sticks so two runs could be the same as giving them five runs," Becker said of the fourth inning. "We played in and got two outs at the plate. We were just fortunate to get out of that situation."

Dexter freshman Garrett Keathley earned a six-out save. Keathley struck out five Malden hitters.

"Garrett Keathley came in as a freshman in his first varsity game and threw strike one," Becker said. "He did a good job of putting their hitters away for the most part. He gave up a run, but I'm extremely proud of the way he threw today."

Malden tallied its only run off of Keathley in the sixth inning when Garrett Potts reached base on a two-out double and Chapen Riley followed with an RBI-single.

Malden received strong performances from its two seniors.

Potts finished 3 for 4 at the plate with two singles and a double.

Senior hurler Darren Green did not allow a run in a three-inning start for the Green Wave. Green allowed two hits and struck out four.

"We've only got two seniors," Malden coach Tim Harmon said. "Potts did a good job at the plate today and made a nice play up the middle on a ball. We started Darren Green off pitching and he had a good day.

"We'll be all right," Harmon added. "We just need the weather to warm up a little bit and the bats to heat up some."

Toby Miller pitched the fourth and fifth innings for Malden. Conner Murphy pitched a scoreless sixth inning for the Green Wave.

"Very good pitching," Harmon said. "We didn't walk anybody so I thought we pounded the strike zone pretty good. It was a typical first game, we had some good defense and some bad defense. I thought we had an opportunity early to really put a number on them with the bases loaded and nobody out and didn't take advantage of it."

Malden returns to action Wednesday when it visits state-ranked Sikeston.

"Hopefully, we will throw strikes like we did today, make plays and maybe the bats will heat up a little bit," Harmon said.

Dexter visits Kennett Wednesday.

"Kennett's always going to be tough," Becker said. "They've got a quality program down there and they are tough as usual, again. We are going to go down there and hopefully we will swing the sticks better Wednesday."

Dexter 4, Malden 3

MHS 010 011 0 - 3 8 3

DHS 000 130 x - 4 6 2

WP - Colton Averett. LP - Toby Miller. SV - Garrett Keathley. 2B - D.J. Dowdy (D), Garrett Potts (M). Multiple hits - Dexter: Dowdy 2-3; Malden: Potts 3-4.