Redbirds light up scoreboard in sweep

Staff photo by Mike Buhler Dunklin County's Andy Lack connects with a pitch during the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader against Dexter at Indian Park. [Click to enlarge]

The Dunklin County Redbirds sizzled offensively from the outset of their doubleheader with Dexter, sweeping the Bearcats at Indian Park, 19-9 and 15-0, to avenge a June 19 loss.

Dunklin County (32-6) started their offensive onslaught in the first inning of game one, plating four runs on three hits, capped by Logan Dollins' two-run double that scored Gage Blue and Adam Grantham to make the score 4-0.

Dexter answered with three runs in the top of the second, and Dunklin County countered with another run in the bottom of the frame to make the score 5-3.

Staff photo by Mike Buhler Dunklin County's Joe Campbell delivers a pitch during the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader against Dexter. [Click to enlarge]

Dexter exploded in the third inning, tallying five runs on six hits to chase Dunklin County's Joe Campbell from the mound after two-plus innings of work. Four of the runs were charged to Campbell, while Andy Lack was charged with a run in relief, making the score 8-5 in favor of the Bearcats.

Dunklin County head coach Aaron New said the big inning may have been due to a lack of focus.

"We let them back in the game tonight, and that just deals with focus," New said. "Sometimes when you deal with young kids, they tend to get unfocused, but they got locked back in."

After going quietly in the bottom of the third, the Redbirds erupted for five runs in the fourth and seven in the fifth to take control of the contest, 17-8.

On the mound, Lack settled down and retired Dexter in order in the fourth and fifth innings before yielding an unearned run in the sixth, making the score 17-9.

In the bottom of the sixth, Dunklin County put the game away with two runs to enforce the mercy rule. Andrew Hooper led off with a single and Cameron Wallace walked. Lack brought Hooper home with a single, and Blue knocked in Wallace with a single to cap the 19-run outburst.

Aside from picking up the win on the mound with four innings of relief, Lack also went 3-4 at the plate with five RBIs and two runs to lead the Redbirds offensively.

"Andy is a steady player, and he had a great day today at the plate," New said. "He's always going to give you good defense, and he did a good job for us today on the mound by coming in and shutting them down."

Blue was 3-4 with a double and four RBIs, and Dollins also drove in four runs, going 2-2 with two doubles. Hooper was 3-3 with four runs scored, and Grantham and Trey Bazzell each recorded two hits, while Wallace contributed to Dunklin County's 16-hit attack with a single.

"We swung the bats really well up and down the lineup," New said. "We had a good approach, and that's something that we'll need for the rest of the season."

Dunklin County dominated game two as well, scoring eight runs in the first inning and six in the second inning to build a 14-0 lead for starting pitcher Chris Smith.

Smith tossed four shutout innings, giving up two hits and walking one while striking out a pair.

The Redbirds ended the game in the bottom of the fourth when Dylan Lynn scored on a bases-loaded walk to put the 15-run rule into effect.

"These wins should give us a lot of confidence heading into another huge district game against Jackson," New said. "Hopefully, we can swing the bats well and can take care of that game, too."

Joe Campbell recorded three hits and an RBI for the Redbirds, and Lynn was 2-3 with three RBIs. Blake Wilbanks, Daniel Lockhert and Chris Smith drove in two runs each, and Seth Littrell and Alex Bohnert each drove in one.

Dunklin County will play tonight at 5:30 at Indian Park against District XIV foe Jackson. Lockhert is slated as the starting pitcher for the Redbirds.