Kennett baseball team homers its way past GCT 3-2
KENNETT, Mo. - The Kennett Indians varsity baseball team ended its week on a high note Friday afternoon.
Kennett finished the week 2-2 after it hit a pair of home runs in the final innings to edge Greene County Tech, Ark., 3-2.
The Indians trailed 1-0 after one inning and 2-1 after the top of the fourth inning. The Indians tallied a run in the bottom of the fourth inning to tie things up at 2-2 and moved ahead 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning. The game was called because of lighting with Greene County batting in the top of the sixth inning.
“It was a really competitive game against Greene County Tech and we really appreciate them coming here to play us,” Kennett baseball coach Aaron New said. “All three pitchers pitched well. It was a low-scoring game and we just happened to be ahead at the right time.”
Kennett No. 3 hitter Patrick Maddox hit a solo home run to left field with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning to secure the victory.
“Good swing by Patrick,” New said. “He’s been hitting well with two strikes and finally hit one hard before he got two strikes.”
Kennett tied things up at 2-2 when Payton Heinley hit a solo home run with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Heinley also collected a two-out RBI double to tie things up at 1-1 in the bottom of the second inning.
“He came through with two big hits,” New said.
Both of the runs Greene County Tech plated were unearned.
The first run scored in the top of the first inning after No. 3 hitter Westin Shelton was hit by a pitch, stole second, advanced to third base on a throwing error and scored on an infield error.
The second run scored in the top of the fourth inning after Greene County Tech No. 6 hitter Cade Cancilla was hit by a pitch with nobody out, advanced to third base on an infield error and scored from third base when Brady Sterns grounded out for the first out.
Greene County Tech loaded the bases later in the fourth inning after Kennett starting pitcher Bodey Ellis walked Hunter Berry and Kennett reliever Kobe Gates walked the first hitter he faced, Peyton Hart. Gates then escaped the jam by striking out Alex Harrell for the second out and getting Shelton to pop out to end the frame.
“That’s a big part of the game right there,” New said. “He walked the first guy and then really settled in and threw the ball extremely well.”
Gates pitched a scoreless top of the fifth inning. He allowed no hits, walked two and struck out one in 1 2/3 innings of work.
Bodey Ellis pitched the first 3 1/3 innings for Kennett. He allowed two unearned runs, one hit, struck out two, walked three and hit two.
Shelton suffered a complete game loss for Greene County Tech. He allowed three runs, 10 hits, struck out two and did not walk a hitter.
Kennett’s Brenton Tidd finished 2 for 3 with a double.
Maddox went 2 for 3 and Heinley was 2 for 2.
A one-out single by Harrell in the top of the third inning was Greene County Tech’s only hit.
Kennett (8-5) is back in action Tuesday when it hosts Notre Dame.
“Huge game,” New said. “We always love playing them.”
Kennett 3, Greene Co. Tech 2
GCT 100 10 - 2 1 1
KHS 010 11 - 3 10 3
WP - Kobe Gates. LP - Westin Shelton. HR - Patrick Maddox (K), Payton Heinley (K). 2B - Heinley (K), Brenton Tidd (K). Multiple hits - Kennett: Maddox 2-3, Tidd 2-3, Heinley 2-2.
Dyer County (Tenn.) 13, Kennett 3
NEWBERN, Tenn. - The Kennett Indians varsity baseball team allowed at least one run in every inning as it suffered a 13-3 loss at Dyer County Thursday.
Dyer County led 4-0 after one inning, 5-1 after two innings, 7-1 after three innings, 9-1 after four innings and 13-3 after five innings.
Zane Wallace collected an RBI triple for Kennett in the top of the fifth inning and scored on an errant throw to the infield.
Payton Heinley drove home Kennett’s other run with a two-out RBI single in the top of the second inning.
Dyer County outhit Kennett 9-5.
Six players recorded at least one RBI for Dyer County, which finished with four triples.
Kennett made four errors and Dyer County committed two errors.
Ryan White earned a complete game victory for Dyer County. He allowed three runs (one earned), four hits, struck out eight and did not walk a hitter in five innings pitched. White threw 99 pitches.
Andrew Spence pitched the first 2 2/3 innings for Kennett. He allowed seven runs (one earned), five hits, struck out three and walked four. Spence threw 72 pitches.
Luke Lockhert pitched the remainder of the five-inning game. He allowed six runs (two earned), four hits, struck out one and walked zero in two innings of work. Lockhert threw 47 pitches.
Kennett 13, Dyer County 3
KHS 010 02 - 3 5 4
DCS 412 24 - 13 9 2
WP - LP - Andrew Spence. 3B - Zane Wallace (K), Tanner Holcomb (DC), Landon Hooper (DC), Dallas Parker (DC), Eli Walker (DC). 2B - Andrew Spence (K). Multiple hits - Dyer County: Cam Barlow 2-3, Holcomb 2-4, Hopper 2-3.