Dreadnaughts 'Let Two Slip Away' to Canton

Dexter dropped both ends of a nonconference doubleheader in heartbreaking fashion, 5-4 and 7-6, this week to Canton, one of the area’s top baseball programs. The Chiefs were regional champions last season and reached the state quarterfinals before losing.

“Had you told me we were going to lose two close games to Canton, I may have been disappointed but not entirely surprised,” Dexter coach Don Little said. “But knowing we should have won both games hurts a little more.”

The Dreadnaughts stood toe-to-toe throughout both games with Canton.

In the opener, Dexter took a 4-2 lead into the ninth inning.

"We all sort of chipped in to watch it slip away,” Little said.

Dreadnaught junior ace Joel Gowen pitched a gem of a ballgame but appeared to falter a bit in the game’s last inning. After a lead-off base hit by Canton, Little headed to the mound to talk with Gowen while reliever Ben Finn warmed up in the Dexter bullpen.

“My gut told me to pull Joel out, but I was hoping he might get one out while giving Ben more time to get ready,” Little said.

Gowen hit the next Chiefs' batter. The following Canton hitter lined a ball just past the outstretched glove of Dreadnaught first baseman MacKay Little, loading the bases.

With the bases jammed and no outs, the Chiefs hit a ball to Nate Jones in right field. Jones made the catch and fired a dart to Dexter catcher Ian Boyd.

“Nate has a strong arm and the play at the plate was close, but the call went to Canton,” Little said. “As soon as Ian applied the tag at home, he threw down to third to get the advancing runner from second. His throw beat the runner, but the ball fell out of Mike Mioduszewski’s glove.”

With the sacrifice fly, Canton trimmed Dexter’s lead to 4-3.

With Finn already on the mound, the Dreadnaughts intentionally walked the next Chiefs batter, loading the bases once again in hopes of getting a force-out at home. With one out, Canton hit a grounder back to Finn, who threw home for the force-out. With two outs and the bases still loaded with Chiefs, the next Canton batter connected for a game-winning, two-run base hit for the game’s final 5-4 score.

“This was a tough loss, but a good measuring stick as to where we are and what we need to do to improve,” Little said.

Leading the Dreads offensively were Justin Hart and Boyd with two hits apiece.

In the second game, Dexter took a six-run lead into the fifth inning. In the fifth frame, Canton recorded six hits and, with the help of two Dreadnaught errors, tied the game at 6. In the sixth inning, the Chiefs continued riding their momentum, scoring the eventual game-winning run.

Jones threw four scoreless innings for Dexter before two errors and a couple of hits removed him from the game.

“Nate threw well today, but his pitch count was getting high and I didn’t want to risk hurting him this early in the season,” Little said. “Unfortunately, our bullpen wasn’t real effective.”

Offensively for the Dreadnaughts, Hank Dreffs finished with two hits, while Mioduszewski added two hits and three RBIs.

“Canton never quit and I give them credit for that, but we let two slip away,” Little said. “I know we will grow from this.”

Dexter's next game is home against Monroe on Monday at 4 p.m.