Neldon homer propels Dexter baseball team by Cape Central 8-5

Note: A photo gallery of the Dexter-Cape Central game is available at this link: View Photos Here

DEXTER, Mo. - Dexter high school baseball coach Brian Becker didn't pass up an opportunity to talk hitting with senior slugger Cody Neldon before he stepped into the batter's box with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning of a tie game against Cape Central Wednesday afternoon.

"Cape's coach went out to the mound when we had the winning run on third base," Becker said. "I had the opportunity to talk to Cody and said 'squeeze or drive the ball?' He said 'drive the ball' and I said 'all right drive it.' I left it in his hands and he did a good job keeping his end of the bargain on that."

Neldon drove the ball farther than any Bearcat had the entire season following the short conversation with Becker as he blasted a two-run homer well over the left center fence to put Dexter on top of Cape Central 7-5. The Bearcats padded its lead to 8-5 before the sixth inning ended when it tallied an unearned run. Jason Mattison took care of the rest when he retired all three Cape Central hitters he faced in the top of the seventh inning to collect a complete-game victory.

Cape Central led 4-0 after four innings before Dexter rallied with four runs in the fifth inning and four more in the sixth frame.

"We started out slow at the plate," Becker said. "Their pitcher did a good job of mixing his pitches up and keeping us off-balance, but the later in the game we got the better we looked at home plate. That's a positive sign and I'm proud of my guys for coming back and winning the ballgame."

Mattison, Colton Averett and Nick Noble had consecutive two-out RBI hits for Dexter in the bottom of the fifth inning.

An RBI single by Ryan Tegel put Cape Central back on top 5-4 in the top of the sixth inning.

The Bearcats first two hitters reached base on errors in the bottom of the sixth inning. Leadoff hitter Dalton Manuel followed with a sacrifice fly to tie things up at 5-5.

"It's kind of a synopsis of how our year is going," Cape Central coach Tatum Kitchen said. "I think we gave up one earned run today and that is just how it has been. Our pitchers have been good all year. I thought Josh threw well and we just didn't help him.

"To Dexter's credit they are just hard tough-nosed kids," Kitchen said. "I couldn't help but appreciate Dowdy's hustle on the bases and the Neldon kid in center. We beat them Saturday in 10 innings and we knew they would be ready for us today."

Josh Morse, who pitched the first 5 1/3 innings for Cape Central, drove home a runner from third base when he grounded out in the top of the first.

Tyler Myers had a two-RBI single in the top of the fourth inning. Hayden Lynn also collected an RBI in the top of the fourth on a ground out.

Mattison allowed seven hits and struck out six in seven innings pitched.

"He didn't have his best stuff today, but pitched good enough to get the victory and at the end of the day that's all you can ask for," Becker said.

Neldon, who recently returned to the Bearcats' lineup after missing time due to a knee injury, was announced as the SEMO Conference Comeback Player of the Year over the weekend.

"Having him healthy makes our team a different animal," Becker said. "He patrols centerfield as well as anybody in the state even after two surgeries. He gets a great read off the ball and goes and makes plays. I would have loved to have had him these past two seasons for a full season. Unfortunately, that's the way it is with high school sports. You have to deal with injuries and adversities and I couldn't be more happy for the kid to comeback and do what he has done."

Weather permitting Dexter is slated to visit Twin Rivers Friday.

Dexter 8, Cape Central 5

CCS 100 301 0 - 5 7 4

DHS 000 044 x - 8 7 3

WP - Jason Mattison. LP - Josh Morse. HR - Cody Neldon (D). 2B - Colton Averett (D), Matt Chism (C), Trevor Propst (C). Multiple hits - Dexter: Averett 2-4.