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Sports

Dexter's Baseball Team Walks Away With Split at Tough Tourney

The Dreadnaughts continue league play against Ypsilanti on Thursday.

Dexter High School's varsity baseball traveled to Saginaw on Saturday to participate in a tournament that included some of the state’s top baseball teams. The Dreadnaughts (4-7-1, 0-3 Southeastern Conference), who have one of the area’s most difficult schedules, played well, splitting their two games.

In the tournament opener, Dexter lost to host Saginaw Heritage, 9-5. The reigning Division 1 state semifinalists raced out to a 5-1 early lead against the Dreadnaughts. As it has all season, however, Dexter refused to quit, battling back to tie the game at 5 in the sixth inning. The Hawks, however, regrouped and countered with four more runs for the game’s final margin.

“This was a great comeback, but we ran out of gas in the last inning,” Dexter coach Don Little said.

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Suffering the loss on the mound for the Dreads was Joel Gowen.

Offensively for Dexter, Mike Mioduszewski had a monster game, finishing with three hits—two triples and a double—while Taylor Schmidt added two RBIs.

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“Mike basically put on a hitting clinic today,” Little said. “He was crushing the ball today, hitting fast balls, curve balls, anything they threw at him.”

Despite the opening setback, Little said he was pleased with his club’s effort.

“The score is misleading,” he said. “These guys (Heritage) were in the Final Four last year and we were right with them. I’m real pleased at how we’ve responded after the two tough losses to (Ypsilanti) Lincoln on April 28.”

In the second game of the tournament for Dexter, the competition didn’t ease up as the Dreadnaughts faced off against Mount Pleasant, ranked No. 4 in the state in Division 2. Dexter rallied to defeat the Oilers, 9-7.

Kevin Skiver recorded the victory from the hill for the Dreadnaughts, allowing one hit in three innings. Mioduszewski started the game against Mount Pleasant. Ian Boyd posted the save for Dexter, striking out two Oiler batters and slamming the door in the seventh inning for the hard-earned win.

At the plate, Brett Garwood had two base hits, while Hank Dreffs had three RBIs to lead the Dreadnaught attack. Justin Hart and Jake Stegemann each scored two runs, while Zack Byron and MacKay Little each had RBI singles for Dexter.

“This was a good win against a very good team,” Little said. “I think we showed that if we make plays and keep the ball in play, we can play with anyone.”

On Thursday, the Dreadnaughts dropped a doubleheader to SEC White Division rival Ypsilanti Lincoln (11-3, 3-2 SEC) by scores of 7-2 and 8-1.

“I knew Lincoln was going to be tough,” Little said. “They have seven returning starters from last year’s club. But our bats were unusually quiet. I know it sounds like a broken record, but we hadn’t been outside at all this week due to the weather. Hitting in the cages is just not the same.”

Dexter next travels to SEC White Division foe Ypsilanti for a doubleheader Thursday at 4 p.m.

On Monday, the Dreadnaughts host defending three-time Division 1 state runner-up Saline for a twin bill at 4 p.m.

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