Softball

Saying that Reese Dobbins has had a storied career on the softball diamond at Neelyville High School might be a pretty big understatement — and now those accomplishments have paved the way for her to take her game to the collegiate level. Dobbins recently signed her letter of intent to play softball next season for the McKendree University Bearcats in Lebanon, Illinois, which is in the St. Louis metropolitan area...

For East Carter High School senior Anna Crowley, choosing to play softball next season at Mineral Area College was a family affair. “What led to MAC was mostly my sister (Elizabeth) that currently plays ball there right now,” Crowley said. “Me and her are really close. I also really like (head) coach C.J. (Wright). He’s a great coach and he has given me a great opportunity. I think that MAC is going to do great things and is developing an awesome program.”...

Mykencie Hutchison is going from being a Redbird to being a Cardinal. The East Carter senior recently signed to play softball at the collegiate level next season with Mineral Area College in Park Hills. While East Carter’s athletic teams are the Redbirds, MAC’s teams are the Cardinals...

Southland's Kylie Walker, a record-breaking softball star, signs with Three Rivers College, marking a new chapter in her athletic journey.

Emma Tinnin signs to play softball at Missouri State-West Plains, reuniting with former teammate Hadley Wilson.

Chaffee claims softball bronze with a decisive 10-2 win over Linn in the MSHSAA Class 2 third-place game. Behind a strong offensive display, the Red Devils end their season on a high note.

Mid-Buchanan edges Chaffee 8-6 in a thrilling softball semifinal, securing its first state title game since 1979. A late rally sealed the win in a game marked by explosive plays and fierce competition.

Lafayette softball triumphs over Jackson 4-1, securing a spot in the Class 5 state final four for the first time in 17 years. Pitcher Abby Carr shines, leading the Lancers to victory.

Chaffee softball triumphs over Elsberry 3-2, clinching a spot in the state semifinals. With stellar pitching from Carlyanne Cossou, the Red Devils aim for their first championship in school history.

The Notre Dame Bulldogs have done it again. Head coach Ray Reinagel’s squad slugged their way to a third straight District 1 softball title behind three early runs and a lights-out complete game from ace Taylor Kutz on the bump to outlast Farmington 3-1 on Monday night in the Class 4 District 1 championship...

Perryville senior Bair Hopkins set a new school record with a time of 16:10 at the JCAA Conference Invitational on Saturday in Festus. The previous record time was 16:29, set 34 years ago by Damien Erzfeld. Hopkins placed third in the race, earning First Team All Conference honors in the process...

BENTON, Mo. — Senior Night was a clear-cut success as Kelly soared to an 8-0 victory over Sikeston on Thursday, Oct. 3. This win not only marked a celebratory evening for the seniors but also underscored the Lady Hawks’ (14-8) longstanding dominance in a rivalry that has been decidedly one-sided, with Kelly securing 17 consecutive wins since 2009 and outscoring the Lady Bulldogs (2-16) 246-33 in that span...

KENNETT — Kaitlyn Booker continued her strong run as a girls tennis player for the Poplar Bluff Lady Mules by adding a SEMO Conference individual championship to her trophy case during Thursday’s SEMO Conference Tournament at Kennett High School. She wasn’t the only Lady Mule to play well Thursday, as Molly Maurer finished fourth in the conference...

The last month has been a honeymoon for Jackson and its resurgent softball team. Entering Thursday evening’s District 1 showdown against Chaffee, the Lady Indians were riding a 10-game winning steak and outscoring their opponents 76-13 in that span...

NEELYVILLE — It was a record-setting day for Neelyville’s Reese Dobbins on Monday as her Lady Tigers defeated Chaffee 3-2. Dobbins connected on an RBI double in the bottom of the fifth inning to get the 69th double of her high school career, eclipsing the old record of 68 set by Sullivan’s Kayla Urich in 2019...

It was definitely a good day for the Poplar Bluff Mules and Lady Mules sports teams on Monday as all four varsity teams in action on Monday — softball, volleyball, girls tennis and boys soccer — picked up wins. The Lady Mules softball team shut out Kelly 3-0 at Strenfel Field, while the volleyball team picked up a 25-13, 16-25, 16-25, 25-14, 15-8 win at the Poplar Bluff High School gym. ...

The Jackson Indians softball defeated the Notre Dame Bulldogs 3-1 on Thursday at the Jackson City Park. Despite going down 1-0 early, the Indians wrestled the lead away from Notre Dame and took the victory home. Through the first two innings, the teams were locked in a pitcher duel as Jackson’s Kimmora Carothers and Notre Dame’s Taylor Kutz were not allowing many hits. ...

It was a night of celebration and triumph for the Poplar Bluff Lady Mules volleyball team — and not just because the Lady Mules secured a hard-fought victory over Kennett. Thursday’s 25-17, 25-15, 29-27 win over the Kennett Lady Indians also saw senior setter Kyra Mizell reach the milestone of 1,000 career assists...

BENTON, Mo. — Kelly added another memorable chapter to its season with a 13-5 comeback win over Twin Rivers on Tuesday, Sep. 24. In a game filled with dramatic twists and turns, the Lady Hawks’ (11-6) explosive fourth inning proved decisive in securing the victory against the Lady Royals (4-6), a Class 2, District 1 opponent...

SIKESTON — Neelyville ace September Preslar reached a historic milestone, striking out her 700th career batter in a 13-0 victory over Sikeston at the Sports Complex on Tuesday, Sep. 24.  The Lady Tigers' (11-1) senior hurler pitched a complete game in the win over the Lady Bulldogs (2-12), allowing just one hit and striking out 10 in the five-inning rout...

A change of scenery was not enough to lift the Poplar Bluff Lady Mules softball team past the Jackson Indians on Tuesday. Playing at Strenfel Field since the Jackson field was too wet to play on, the Lady Mules managed just two hits and fell victim to a nine-run, three-home run third inning on the way to a 13-0 loss...

The Poplar Bluff Lady Mules softball team entered Thursday’s contest with the Sikeston Bulldogs needing a bounce-back game after losing three in a row. Mission accomplished. The Lady Mules scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning and never trailed again, pounding out 12 hits on the way to a 12-5 win at Strenfel Field Thursday afternoon...

Blaire Riley continued to climb in the Kelly softball record book Thursday. The senior shortstop blasted her 14th-career home run in the bottom of the fourth inning against Saxony Lutheran, tying Marissa Worth for the Kelly career home run record. “It was really crazy,” Riley said. ...

SIKESTON — Cape Central stayed a step ahead of the curve in a 9-6 win over Sikeston at the Sports Complex on Tuesday, Sep. 17.  The Lady Tigers (3-10) ability to capitalize on momentum and contain the Lady Bulldogs’ (2-9) rallies proved to be the difference-maker. ...

Notre Dame sophomore Kynna Johnson found herself in an early-season slump entering Tuesday’s game. The promising third baseman was hitless in her previous two starts and was just 2-for-13 in her last six. When Johnson stepped into the batter’s box in the bottom of the first inning against Poplar Bluff on Tuesday evening at Notre Dame High School, she felt like her normal self — patient, focused, confident...

NEELYVILLE — The Neelyville Lady Tigers continue to show their dominance on the softball field. Parker Ernst collected three hits in three at-bats to lead the Lady Tigers to victory over the Naylor Lady Eagles 15-0 on Tuesday at Neelyville High School...

A new name has been etched into the record books of Jackson High School Athletics, Kimmora Carothers. The Jackson senior softball player is the new record holder for career home runs after hitting her 14th long ball against Winfield on September 7. Since then the power hitter has another home run for a career total of 15 and is closing in on the single-season record of seven, hitting four in the first 13 games...

On a cloudy October afternoon in Springfield, Chaffee softball fans came to their feet to cheer on freshman ace Carlyanne Cossou in the bottom of the seventh in the 2023 Class 2 state semifinals at the Killian Softball Complex. The Lady Devils were one strike away from reaching the state championship game, and Cossou was met with exuberance and a collective deep breath while on the mound against Linn High School...

The Jackson Indians softball defeated the Cape Central Tigers 15-0 in four innings on Wednesday at the Jackson City Park. After holding the Tigers scoreless in the top of the first, the Indians scored 12 runs in the bottom half of the inning. Jackson’s Ashlyn Dawes doubled, scoring one run, Maddie Stelling, Rilee Monighan and Bella Rose each drove in runs with a single. Dawes singled her second time up in the inning and Stelling hit a three-run home run to bring the lead to 12-0...

NEELYVILLE — The Neelyville Lady Tigers outlasted some tough competition on Tuesday to improve their overall record to 8-1. In a matchup against the Notre Dame Lady Bulldogs at Neelyville High School, the Lady Tigers made some key plays late in the sixth inning to pull away with a 4-2 victory...

SIKESTON — Perryville rallied from behind to snatch a 6-5 victory over Sikeston at the Sports Complex on Tuesday, Sep. 10. The lead changed hands several times, with both teams taking advantage of the other’s mistakes. “We took a big step up mentally,” said Perryville coach Jim Simpson. “The thing that has been holding us back is confidence. Things started going bad and we would put our heads down, but today Sikeston had us on the ropes and our girl really stepped it up.”...

Ava Miller timed her swing perfectly on a 3-2 count in the bottom of the first inning against Doniphan on Thursday night at Notre Dame Softballfest when she smashed a fastball in the zone for an RBI double. One batter later, Jacie Smith was faced with a 3-2 count herself before scorching a sharp liner into right field for another RBI...

The Lady Mules softball squad launches their season on a high note after securing back-to-back wins. Poplar Bluff went head-to-head against Fox High School on Tuesday, where they defeated the Lady Warriors 6-2 for their season opener. The Lady Mules followed with a tough battle against the North County Lady Raiders on Wednesday at Strenfel Field...

Cape Central's Bella Pattengill is off to an explosive start, hitting .500 and striking out 28 in six games, yet remains a hidden gem. Can she lead the Tigers to a comeback season?

The 33rd Annual Jackson Invitational softball tournament kicked off the 2024 softball season for many local teams. Cape Central, Chaffee, Jackson and Notre Dame were just four of the sixteen teams participating in the tournament at the Shawnee Sports Complex in Cape Girardeau...

ELLSINORE, Mo. — Kelly’s bats were hotter than a summer day, scorching East Carter 12-7 in its season debut on Thursday, August 29.  The Lady Hawks (2-0) came out swinging and started the game with six consecutive hits, igniting a five-run explosion in the top of the first. Blaire Riley kicked off the rally with a leadoff double, followed by a single from her sister, Averee. ...

The Poplar Bluff Mules football team will face a stiff challenge when district play starts in November. The Missouri State High School Activities Association released district assignments for all fall sports except for cross country on Friday — and the Mules learned they will be joined in Class 5 District 1 by not only two-time defending district champion Cape Central, but also by defending Class 5 state champion Cardinal Ritter...

SIKESTON — Last season was a tough pill to swallow for the Sikeston softball team. But with a new coach at the helm and a steadfast group full of hungry players, the Lady Bulldogs are focused on turning things around.  “Our youth and energy are the biggest strengths for this season,” said first-year coach Wyatt Pratt, who also served as the school’s baseball coach. “We’ve got a lot of new faces who are learning on the fly and getting a lot better in a short time.”...

The high school softball season is right around the corner, and the Poplar Bluff Lady Mules will look to their young core to propel them this season. The Lady Mules had their ups and downs last season, but their focus is on starting fresh with a positive mindset this year. Aaron Duncan will enter his third year as head coach and faces the challenge of having a young team but emphasizes the potential for growth and improvement...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - The Semoball Awards were presented with glamor, nerves and excitement. The best student athletes in all of Southeast Missouri showed up hoping to do what they do best, win. Three student athletes from Kennett and Holcomb athletes were honored and recognized as the best players in their sport and the best athletes in the SEMO region for 2024...

HOLCOMB, Mo. - Kaetlyn Danley, a graduated senior from Holcomb High School, was selected for the 2024 NFCA High School Spring All-Region team. The NFCA, National Fastpitch Coaches Association, recognized 191 athletes from 108 schools as All-Region. The award honors softball athletes from eight regions in the United States. ...

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.

Alexis Parson had a tremendous season for the Twin Rivers Lady Royals this past season leaving her return this season filled with anticipation and expectations. Parson, a pitcher, recorded 175 strikeouts last season. From the plate, she hit .457 with 32 hits and 29 RBIs...