Semoball

C4D1: Kennett Indians on track for a state championship repeat after an 11-3 win over Notre Dame

Kennett baseball team with their district championship plaque.
Justin Churchill, Delta Dunklin Democrat

KENNETT, Mo.- It is a good time to be an Indian fan this time of year. The Kennett softball team is in the final four of the state tournament, and the baseball team is on track to repeat the success of a state championship.

After an 11-3 district championship win over the Notre Dame Bulldogs, the Kennett Indians did not celebrate as much as most teams do, maybe because this seems all too familiar to them after a state championship last season.

"Jobs not done mentality," said Kennett head coach Aaron new.

"This team isn't as vocal as last year's team, they are quieter and more reserved and that's kind of how we are."

The Kennett Indians started the game off slow, as the Bulldogs scored three in the first inning. Notre Dame scored three off of a three-run home run by Noah Gadberry.

Tanner Duncan started the game on the mound for Kennett and unfortunately lasted just one inning.

"You know I just struggled to find my strike zone," said Tanner Duncan. "I came out feeling good, and it was just one of those days, you know? Stuff like that happens. Reese came in and did an excellent job of picking me up, that's just how the ball rolls."

Reese Robinett relieved Duncan and finished the game on a high note. Robinett pitched six innings, allowed one hit, no runs, two walks, and struck out six batters.

"I thought he pitched outstanding," praised New. "He's getting better and better every game, he is doing what he is supposed to, and hopefully, he will be throwing his best here at the end of the season."

While the first inning was not great for the Indians on defense, offensively they made up for it, scoring four runs in the first.

"It's a great feeling, because, we might be down, but we are never out," stressed Duncan. "They had a good inning in the first, and we just came back and matched it, and one-upped them."

The Indians finished with 10 hits to the Bulldogs' two.

"It felt good to get back on top there," said New. "We haven't been in that situation a lot this year there where we were behind, you know at the end of last year we were behind in a couple of games, so that experience from that helped, the offense did a good job getting us back in the game and the pitching took care of the rest."

Brooks Nigut went 3-4 on the day with three runs scored. While Reese Robinett, 33 hits on the year, and Tanner Duncan, 29 hits on the year, the two leaders in hits on the team, went hitless in the game.

"I can't think the last time Reese and Tanner went a combined [zero hits] in a game, that just shows you the balance that we have as a team throughout our lineup," said New. "Brooks Nigut has started to get his stuff going, it was good to see Trey Gardner get a hit, Matt Gardner hit a huge home run, so if we are getting up and down the lineup, our offense is pretty potent."

"I think this is the first tie I ever went hitless, reached base three times, had two runs batted in, and still scored twice," stressed Duncan. "We don't have to just rely on me and Reese to do the offensive job, and keep the game going. When we are hitting up and down the lineup, it's good because we know that we can struggle and still be in the game.

Matt Gardner has been killing the ball. It's great having him at the bottom of the lineup because he's been hitting hard all year. We have people that can hit."

NTRD- 300 00 0 - 3 2 3

KNNT- 412 031 X - 11 10 0

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