Joey Tessmer has a simple yet inspiring plan for the next two years at Dexter High School. “I plan on playing basketball throughout high school but baseball I hope to be at the next level,” he says. “But I just want to enjoy playing with my high school friends and not put too much pressure on myself.”
Sounds like a plan. Sounds like a very good plan – and one that is working.
Tessmer was one of four Dreadnaughts named to the SEC White Division All-Conference baseball team this past season after Dexter went 25-9-2 on the season and won the SEC White (The Dreads lost to Howell 10-5 in a District final). Only a sophomore, Tessmer played the outfield and batted a solid .350 for Dexter.
Tessmer also excels on the basketball court and spent his sophomore season on the JV team. “Basketball this past year really was a struggle because it was a short season and every other week our games were canceled because of COVID contact tracing,” he said. “Our team started off with a losing record but we just kept playing hard and our coach didn’t give up on us and we finished strong.”
But it’s on the diamond where he really shines.
“Baseball is for sure my main sport, and I hope to keep working to potentially play at the next level,” he says. “I enjoy how baseball is more a relaxed, low key game compared to a faster game like basketball or football.”
Tessmer said the Dreadnaughts were successful in baseball because they didn’t back down from anyone and worked hard to improve from the first pitch to the final out. The 2021 Dreads came within one game of the school record for most wins in a season.
“We challenged ourselves by going out and playing top ranked teams in the state, and we often won or competed with them,” he says. “As a team there were always guys putting in extra work. Coming early and swinging in the cages or staying after to field grounders or to work on pitching. Everybody simply just wanted to get better.”
Tessmer didn’t get to play his freshman season because of the pandemic shutdown but takes a positive spin on a difficult situation. “It was very tough and disheartening, but it puts into perspective that you can’t take any moment on the field for granted.”
Joey, 16, is the son of Steven and Lisa Tessmer. He also hits it out of the park in the classroom (he has a 3.9 GPA).
He started playing t-ball at a very young age and “always loved the challenge that the game offers and hanging with your teammates all day.”
“It’s just a great atmosphere and community,” he says.
