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Sauer overcomes, excels en route to Semoball Awards Comeback Athlete victory (7/24/24)Against all odds, John-Paul Sauer made it happen. Recovering from a torn ACL, signing with Tulane University and finishing his senior season with Jackson baseball undefeated, the kid never let adversity get in the way of pure dominance. The Indians pitcher was an obvious choice for the 2024 Semoball Comeback Athlete of the Year sponsored by the St. Louis Cardinals...
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MSHSAA shakes up state baseball playoffs: Series play coming to Class 5 and 6 (7/23/24)The Missouri high school baseball landscape is set for a significant shake-up in 2025, as the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) has announced a major format change for its Class 5 and 6 state playoffs. Beginning next season, the quarterfinal round will transition from a single-elimination game to a best-of-three series...
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Risco senior putting in the time to elevate already (very) strong game (7/22/24)DELTA – Being physically active might be a problem in the world of some teenagers throughout America, but that doesn’t include Risco High School senior athlete Sammy Smith.
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Former Jackson athlete finds his groove at the plate (eventually) for Tropics (7/22/24)The summer baseball season reached a frustrating point for the Southeast Tropics recently when they dropped a pair of games (3-2 and 7-4) to their rivals, the Aycorp Media Charleston Fighting Squirrels, in the Senior Babe Ruth Baseball State Tournament.
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Oran's Rylan Mills commits to SEMO after stellar championship season (7/19/24)SIKESTON — Fresh off leading Oran to a state championship and earning MBCA Class 1 Player of the Year honors, Rylan Mills, a standout rising senior, has committed to continuing his academic and baseball career at Southeast Missouri State University...
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Squirrels store another trophy, beat Tropics for second straight state title (7/18/24)CHARLESTON, Mo. – The Charleston Fighting Squirrels are back on top in the Show-Me State, claiming their second straight Babe Ruth State Championship with a 7-4 victory over the reigning World Series Champions, the Southeast Tropics. The Squirrels’ win at Hillhouse Park on Tuesday sets the stage for a potential rematch with the Tropics at the 2024 World Series in Cape Girardeau, where Charleston hopes to avenge last year’s underwhelming performance...
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Jackson senior commits to Evansville baseball (7/18/24)The Jackson High School baseball program continues the tradition of having a future Division I player leading the team. Rising senior Cooper Rhodes announced on social media on Thursday, July 18, his commitment to the University of Evansville. The Purple Aces went 39-26 and won the Missouri Valley Conference championship, and the Greenville Regional before falling to Tennessee, the eventual national champions, in a three-game Super Regional...
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Redbirds optimistic ahead of next season (7/17/24)ELLSINORE — The East Carter Redbirds finished the baseball season with a 13-9 record and their fourth consecutive Black River League championship. After falling in the second round of the Class 2 District 2 tournament, head coach Ethan Boyer reflected on the past season and looked ahead to next year...
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'Old Squirrel magic' has returned heading back into State title game (7/16/24)CHARLESTON – It’s been a laborious summer for veteran Aycorp Media Charleston Fighting Squirrels manager Michael Minner.
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Tropics' Payne is perfect in W to set up title tilt with rival Squirrels (7/16/24)CHARLESTON – With an opportunity to defend his team’s 2023 Senior Babe Ruth World Series championship next month hanging in the balance, veteran Southeast Tropics manager Dustin Schwartz left nothing to chance on Monday.
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Squirrels rally late, knock off Tropics in State Tourney (7/15/24)CHARLESTON – For much of this summer baseball season, veteran Aycorp Media Charleston Fighting Squirrels manager Michael Minner hasn’t been thrilled with how his team has performed, beginning with a 10-0 season-opening loss to their rivals, the Southeast Tropics at Hillhouse Park in Charleston.
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Tropics get 'wake-up call' in dramatic State W (7/14/24)Earlier in this summer baseball season, veteran Southeast Tropics manager Dustin Schwartz could find a sense of admiration for his team’s ability to always find a way to success, even if it were in the final pitches of a game. “Our guys don’t quit,” Schwartz said at the time. “We can kind of wait a little late sometimes to get going. “They are never out of a game.”
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Southeast Tropics 'send message' in State Tourney opener (7/13/24)CHARLESTON – The Southeast Tropics took their initial official steps towards defending their 2023 Senior Babe Ruth World Series Championship on Thursday, as they exploded on the SEMO Legends 15-0 in three innings in their opening game of the State Tournament at Hillhouse Park.
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Squirrels dominate Revelers in state tournament opener (7/12/24)CHARLESTON, Mo. — The Charleston Fighting Squirrels bats erupted like a Fourth of July firework show in the opening round of the Babe Ruth State Tournament, hammering the Southern Missouri Revelers into submission with a 15-0 victory on Thursday, July 11 at Hillhouse Park...
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Hard work is paying dividends with Caruthersville athletics (7/11/24)High school athletes returned to the fields, diamonds, gyms, and weight rooms this week following a mandated week break by the MSHSAA last week, and no school is seeking to continue its positive mojo more so than those athletes and coaches at Caruthersville High School.
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Kettering makes nice return, but Catfish pitching labors to another L (7/11/24)There hasn’t been much to cheer for throughout the recent five-game losing streak by the Cape Catfish, but if you’re looking for something to hang your hopes on, the return of Brooks Kettering to the squad after a week off is something.
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Malden grad continues family legacy in helping Tropics find success (7/11/24)There has been no shortage of stars that have shined throughout the strong summer season put forth by the Southeast Tropics, who have won 17 of their 22 games so far.
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'Family' brings former MLB pitcher back to Southeast Missouri (7/11/24)The desire to return home is strong. Matt Palmer wasn’t just a baseball coach in Arizona but also a business owner, working in construction. When Cape Central turned to the Caruthersville native to run the baseball program, Palmer was ready to close that chapter of his life and return to his roots...
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Tropics have flair for dramatic in continued rallying Ws (7/4/24)BENTON - Just a note to fans of the Southeast Tropics, don’t leave their games early, because more than likely you’ll miss out on a rallying win by the highly successful team.
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Tropics' experience, arm depth shows in W over rivals (7/4/24)BENTON – Veteran Southeast Tropics manager Dustin Schwartz has known all summer season that his team had the experience and pitching depth to win a lot of games, and both were on display in a doubleheader sweep of the Aycorp Media Charleston Fighting Squirrels 4-3 and 5-4 at Kelly High School.
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Tropics complete doubleheader comeback against Squirrels (7/3/24)BENTON, MO. — The Southeast Tropics rallied to win both games of a doubleheader against the Charleston Fighting Squirrels on Tuesday, July 2 at Kelly High School. Refusing to go down without a fight, the Tropics (17-4-1) overcome deficits in both games to secure a 4-3 and 5-4 victory...
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Former MLB pitcher hired to lead Cape Central baseball (7/2/24)Cape Central High School’s search for a new baseball coach ended as soon as July began. Former Major League pitcher Matt Palmer has been hired to be the Tigers' new head coach, as announced on Tuesday, July 2. Palmer, a Caruthersville native, previously served as the head coach of the American Leadership Academy in Gilbert, Arizona. ...
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Squirrels sweep Perfectos, extend winning streak to four (7/2/24)CHARLESTON, Mo. — The Charleston Squirrels have seemingly cracked the code when it comes to the Cardinal Legacy Perfectos, sweeping Monday's doubleheader to extend their winning streak to four games, a streak that highlights the team’s recent surge in performance...
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Bell City BB pursuit of the state's best will begin sooner than later (7/2/24)It is rarely NOT baseball season for athletes throughout Southeast Missouri, particularly at the smaller schools, such as Bell City.
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'Coach G' finds a home with, takes the reins of Caruthersville athletics (7/1/24)Dom Guglielmo has traversed this country throughout his life being a “military kid and a football coach.” Two-plus years ago, he moved to Caruthersville to serve as a physical education teacher and varsity football coach, and he has seemingly found a home.
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Another season, another challenge for Cooter High grad (7/1/24)Hayden Nazerenus has done nothing but challenge himself over the past 12 months since graduating from a stellar athletic career at Cooter High School. He left the tiny school (enrollment 128) a year ago and immediately spent a couple of weeks testing his skills with the Cape Catfish but signed on for the entire season this summer.
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Veteran Tropics squad getting boost from new faces (7/1/24)With the core of his team returning this summer from its Babe Ruth World Series championship run last August, veteran Southeast Tropics manager Dustin Schwartz felt confident heading into this summer that his team would be pretty good. And it has been.
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From Struggling to Slugging: CMU-Bound Campbell powers Oran's championship run (6/29/24)ORAN, Mo. — Central Methodist University's commitment to Brenden Campbell was a sign of faith in the Oran second baseman’s potential, but even they couldn't have predicted the meteoric rise that followed. After a slow start to his senior campaign, Campbell became an offensive force in the latter half of the year, capping off his high school career with a 10-game hitting streak that included every postseason contest. ...
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Experience pays off in Tropics' opening game rally in Alabama tournament (6/28/24)Veteran Southeast Tropics manager Dustin Schwartz felt great about his summer baseball squad entering this season not only because of its talent level after winning the 2023 Babe Ruth World Series last August but because of its experience, as well.
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Tiger ball player is primed for success as he inks with Crowley's Ridge (6/27/24)As third-year Caruthersville High School baseball coach Joey Middleton was organizing the ceremony on Wednesday to honor recent Tiger graduate Tristen Hill for signing to play baseball at Crowley’s Ridge College in Paragould, Ark., he ran into an issue.
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Young Tropics catcher proving to be a boost to an already talented squad (6/26/24)The Southeast Tropics’ reputation will precede them as the summer baseball program visits Tuscaloosa, Ala. over the next four days for the Alabama Wood Bat Tournament. Being the reigning Babe Ruth World Series champion will cause that to be the case.
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Jackson grad, Tulane recruit reflects on short Catfish stint (6/26/24)Before recent Jackson High School graduate John-Paul Sauer leaves home to begin his new challenge as a college pitcher at a top-tier conference, he had to experience a taste of what is to come. Fortunately for him, he didn’t have to go far for that experience...
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Oran's Rylan Mills swinging way into MLB Draft conversations (6/25/24)ORAN, MO. — Sometimes, the greatest talents are found in the most unexpected places. Case in point: Rylan Mills, the home-schooled phenom who swung for the fences and knocked it out of the park in his debut season at Oran. “There were a lot of people that questioned if I was good or not,” Mills said. “This spring helped solidify myself as the player I knew I was going to be.”...
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Tropics' Warren continues 'excellent' summer season in latest rout of Squirrels (6/21/24)The Southeast Tropics manhandled the Aycorp Charleston Fighting Squirrels 11-2 on Friday at Hillhouse Park on the opening day of the Big Nuts Classic, and they did so with great pitching and strong offense, both of which Beau-Hunter Warren contributed to.
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Holcomb face Malden Green Wave in summer baseball game (6/20/24)HOLCOMB, Mo. - Two Dunklin County baseball teams went head-to-head on Tuesday. The Holcomb Hornets showed a little bit of their dominance against the Malden Green Wave. Despite Malden's performance, head coach Tim Harmon said these off-season competitions aren’t focused on winning. Rather, he wants his players and coaching staff to focus on what can be fixed to win in the spring where it matters...
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Johnson, Knight garner All-State recognition (6/19/24)EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. — The Missouri Baseball Coaches Association's (MBCA) All-State teams unveiled two East Prairie Eagles among the Class 3 honorees, a fitting reward for a season filled with memorable moments, clutch performances and the program’s second district championships in three years...
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South Pem senior was able to close career as anyone would want to, minus the W (6/18/24)Every athlete’s dream is to close their careers in victorious fashion and South Pemiscot senior baseball player Jadie Morton wasn’t able to do that, as the Bulldogs fell 3-2 to defending champion Bernie last month in the MSHSAA Class 2 District 1 Tournament. Having said that, Morton walked off the diamond with his head held high, because his final outing was a very impressive effort on his part.
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Catfish 'pen can't sustain another strong outing by former Jackson star (6/17/24)The transition to the next level of baseball for former Jackson High School standout pitcher John-Paul Sauer continued on Saturday with another seamless step in the (very) right direction.
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Rylan Mills named Class 1 Player of the Year, leads Oran's all-state haul (6/14/24)ORAN, Mo. — With junior catcher Rylan Mills leading the way as the Class 1 Player of the Year, the Oran Eagles claimed seven spots on the Missouri Baseball Coaches Association All-State Teams. This recognition comes on the heels of a recent state championship victory, showcasing the depth and talent of the program...
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Wilson's big night gives Tribe win over Revelers (6/14/24)Jackson Tribe Senior Legion defeated the Southern Missouri Revelers 16-5 in five innings on Thursday at Jackson Stadium. Lance Wilson led the way on offense and the mound with a 3-3 day and going for all but one out from the rubber. The Revelers opened up the scoring in the first after an error allowed one run to score. The two squads traded runs before entering the third tied up at 2-2...
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Tropics' Forck 'easing his way back' from shoulder injury this spring (6/14/24)BENTON – The high school baseball fans throughout Southeast Missouri didn’t catch a glimpse of the true potential on the mound from Kelly High School senior pitcher Dalton Forck this spring after he suffered a strained rotator cuff early in March.
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Tropics off to nice start with strong offense, but also really, really good pitching (6/13/24)BENTON – With a 50-7 run differential so far, this young summer baseball season, the offensive production for the Southeast Tropics hasn’t been an issue on most nights. However, the alternative to that statistic is that the team’s pitching has been phenomenal, as well.
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Bogenpohl’s early efforts rewarded with NCBWA Freshman All-America honors (6/11/24)Caden Bogenpohl got some mighty honors on Monday as the National College Baseball Writers Association tabbed him as a second-team Freshman All-American. The Missouri State outfielder was selected as one of the top freshmen outfielders in the country, joining the likes of some of the greatest players in the country...
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Seniors laid foundation for Van Buren baseball (6/10/24)VAN BUREN — The dust has finally cleared as the seniors on the Van Buren Bulldogs baseball team took their final swing at the bat as high school athletes. A few short weeks ago, the Bulldogs went head-to-head against Portageville in the opening round of the Class 2 state tournament, where they fell short 3-1 in a close contest. ...
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Lessons learned at Oran, under Bickings, still paying dividends (6/9/24)Both Brenden Campbell and Kolten Payne are now officially FORMER Oran High School baseball players, but after both recently competed for their summer team, the Southeast Tropics, they spoke on the impact that playing for veteran Eagle coach Joe Bickings continues to have on them.
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New Madrid grad takes advantage of 'opportunity' in 19-U Squirrel debut (6/9/24)The summer regular season is underway for the Aycorp Charleston Fighting Squirrels, but in many regards, veteran manager Michael Minner considers this “spring training.”
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Hackworth earns early bragging rights over Jackson alums in Catfish-Hoots rivalry (6/9/24)Eight Jackson High School baseball alums were on the field when the O'Fallon Hoots and Cape Catfish clashed for the first of a seven-game rivalry series on Saturday, June 8, at Capaha Field. Only one of them was with the away team. Braden Hackworth went 2-for-5 with an RBI and led off the Hoots' three-run rally in the ninth inning to beat the Catfish 6-5...
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Former Jackson High star strong - eventually - in Catfish debut (6/8/24)First-year Cape Catfish pitcher John-Paul Sauer learned quickly that the Prospect League ain’t high school baseball.
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Squirrels, Tropics trade shutouts in season-opener (6/8/24)CHARLESTON, Mo. — Summer baseball is back, and it arrived with a collision of hardball heavyweights. The Charleston Squirrels and the reigning Babe Ruth World Series champion Southeast Tropics locked horns in a season-opening doubleheader at Hillhouse Park on Thursday night, showcasing the region’s elite talent...
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Payne picks up where he left off with great start to 2024 summer (6/8/24)Pitching was way ahead of the hitting on Thursday at Hillhouse Park, as summertime rivals Aycorp Charleston Fighting Squirrels and the Southeast Tropics split a doubleheader with the Tropics taking the opener 10-0 and the Squirrels bouncing back with a 5-0 win in the nightcap.