Staff photo by Mike Buhler Kennett's Shane Branum (right) dives back to first base ahead of the tag from Dexter first baseman Eric Windham on a pickoff attempt during Wednesday's high school baseball game at East Park in Dexter. [Click to enlarge]

DEXTER, Mo. -- Ben Mills has not made many starts on the mound this season for the Dexter Bearcats.

But one couldn't tell that Wednesday against the Kennett Indians.

In just his second start of the season, Mills scattered 10 hits and pitched out of several jams to lead Dexter to an 8-2 victory over the Tribe at East Park.

Staff photo by Mike Buhler Kennett's Andrew Hooper (left) tags out Dexter's Ben Mills on a stolen base attempt during Wednesday's high school baseball game at East Park in Dexter. [Click to enlarge]

"Ben is one of those kids that you can put him anywhere on the field and he'll go produce for you," Dexter coach Brian Becker said. "This is the second game that he has pitched for us and second great outing he has had."

On the other side of the coin, Kennett coach Aaron New was frustrated with several things -- the Indians stranded 10 runners on the day and committed four errors that led to four unearned runs.

"The game boiled down to we weren't able to come up with a big hit or make a play when we needed it," said New. "That's it."

Kennett (12-9) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning Andy Lack doubled home courtesy runner Patrick Ratliff, but the lead would be short-lived.

The Bearcats (15-5) tied the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the third inning when Brandon Stoker's two-out base hit drove in Mason Noe, then they took the lead when Bob Miller scored on an error.

The turning point of the game may have came in the bottom of the fourth, when Jarrett Laird's one-out double to left field plated Sawyer Smith and ignited a three-run rally that put the 'Cats in command.

"That was a big hit for us," said Becker. "It was one of those at 'em balls right at the leftfielder and one of the toughest balls for a fielder to field. It snuck over his head and got a big run for us."'

Two batters later, Noe singled to drive in Laird, then Stoker's grounder chased home courtesy runner Hunter Bruce to cap the rally.

The Tribe got one of those runs back in the next inning when Trey Bazzell singled to right to drive in Austin Jackson, but Dexter tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the sixth to seal the contest.

Eric Windham doubled home Miller to make it 6-2, then Stoker scored on a grounder by David Hessling. When the ball was misplayed, it allowed Windham to also come and cap the rally.

Lack had two hits Wednesday -- both doubles -- while Billy Fender and Cameron Wallace also had two-hit games for Kennett.

Noe, Miller and Laird each had two-hit games for the Bearcats, while Stoker drove in a pair of runs.

The two teams may see each other for a third time this season. If the seeds at next week's Class 3, District 1 Tournament hold, the two teams would meet in a semifinal contest.

"Hopefully we'll be able to get through the first-round game (against Doniphan)," New said, "and get another shot at these guys again."

Notes: Both teams have one regular-season game remaining, as Kennett is set to host Kelly today and the Bearcats travel to Scott City on Friday. ... Dexter is seeded second at the District 1 Tournament, while the Tribe is the third seed. Kennett opens district play Monday against No. 6 Doniphan Monday while the Bearcats face No. 7 seed Fredericktown. The winners of those contests will meet in one semifinal next Tuesday. ... Cape-Girardeau-Notre Dame is the top seed and tourney host, while Sikeston is seeded fourth, Perryville is the No. 5 seed and New Madrid County Central is seeded eighth. ... The district finals are set for next Wednesday.