Dyer County dominates Wildcats in Wenzler no-no, advances to region title game



Jason Peevyhouse

Editor, JP Productions

Coming in as the top-seed and hosting the Region 7-3A Tournament after winning the district championship three days earlier, Dyer County made short work of their semifinal opponent as the Choctaws defeated Fayette-Ware 15-0 in four innings in the semifinals of the tournament on Friday evening in Newbern behind a no-hitter from Jake Wenzler.


Dyer County got on the board early and often in the bottom of the first inning. Singles from Jack Smith and David Headtke opened the inning then both scored when Talon Messer reached on a throwing error. Nick Epperson followed with a double then scored two batters later on a single from Landon Daniels. Gavin Lynn then doubled in a run to put the Choctaws up 5-0 after one inning.

After the Choctaws and starting pitcher Wenzler cruised through a second straight 1-2-3 inning, Dyer County added a run in the bottom of the second. Messer walked then Epperson singled before a Jake Gentry groundout pushed Messer across to give the Choctaws a 6-0 lead after two innings.

Wenzler struck out two of the four batters in the top of the third, allowing only a two-out walk before retiring the Wildcats in the frame.

Dyer County’s big inning followed in the bottom of the third. Lynn reached on an error and advanced to second on the play to lead off the inning. Lynn’s courtesy runner, Graham Travis, scored on a passed ball moments later. Easton Ozment and Everett Kuykendall drew walks and Smith was hit by a pitch with Ozment and Kuykendall scoring on the same passed ball during the at bat. Headtke was also hit by a pitch while Smith scored on a passed ball during a Messer walk. Noah Turnbow added a sacrifice fly to push the Dyer County lead to 11. Ethan Scroggins singled in a run then scored moments later on a passed ball. Travis added an RBI single to put the Choctaws up 14-0. After a walk, Dyer County looked to end it in the third but a groundout ended the frame and the game continued into the fourth inning.


Wenzler and the Dyer County defense got through the fourth with a 1-2-3 inning then the Choctaw offense looked to make it an early night. But, two quick outs were recorded before Dalton Muncrief singled then scored on a Scroggins double to bring the game to an end via the mercy rule.

Epperson and Scroggins each had a single and a double to lead the way for the Choctaws at the plate.

Wenzler needed 50 pitches to throw the no-hitter while recording four strikeouts in the win over four innings of work.

Dyer County advances to the Region 7-3A Winner’s Bracket Championship where the Choctaws will take on South Gibson for the sixth time since April 16 at noon on Saturday in Newbern. . The winner will claim the region championship as well as the right to host Class 3A Sectional play next week. The loser will move down to the consolation bracket and play the winner of the consolation bracket semifinal between Bolivar and Fayette-Ware (to be played at 3 p.m. Saturday) at 6 p.m. in the final game of the tournament. All games on Saturday will be played at Dyer County High School.

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