Semoball

Kennett baseball team hammers its way past Dexter 13-1

Photo by Dustin Ward, staff
Kennett No. 9 hitter Seth Tice prepares to bunt Wednesday.

KENNETT, Mo. - The Kennett Indians varsity baseball team enjoyed success at the plate and on the mound in its home opener against the Dexter Bearcats Wednesday afternoon.

Kennett senior right-handed hurler Zane Wallace limited the Dexter offense to just one run and one hit in five innings of work.

The Kennett offense took care of the rest by driving home multiple runs in every inning it batted.

The end result was a 13-1 five-inning victory for Kennett against Dexter.

"We put together really good at-bats today,” Kennett coach Aaron New said. “We had a couple two-strike approach hits. I was really happy with our offense.”

Kennett scored two runs in the first inning, two runs in the second inning, seven runs in the third inning and two runs in the fourth inning for its 13-run total. Dexter tallied its only run in the top of the fourth inning.

The Dexter pitching staff allowed just five hits but still struggled to keep the Indians off the bases. The Bearcats walked six, hit five and had to pitch around two defensive miscues.

“We struggled in most facets of the game today,” Dexter coach Brian Becker said. “We didn’t throw the ball very well. We allowed 13 free bases on walks, hit batsman and errors. You cannot do that against a team like Kennett because they are too good to allow that many free baserunners.”

Wallace, who finished with seven strikeouts, retired the first 10 hitters he faced before Dexter’s Trenton Willis spoiled a no-hit bid with a one-out single to right field in the top of the fourth inning.

The Bearcats loaded the bases later in the fourth frame after Spencer Owens drew a one-out walk and Clay Mullins collected a two-out walk. Dexter plated its only run when its next hitter, Landon Henson, drew a bases-loaded walk to cut the deficit to 11-1. Wallace escaped additional damage when he got the next hitter, Caleb Hoggard, to ground out to shortstop with the bases loaded.

"Today was probably as sharp as I’ve seen him,” New said of Wallace. “He struggled a little bit in the first inning against Jonesboro last week and again today in the fourth inning. But other than those two innings he’s been as sharp this year as I’ve ever seen him.”

Wallace retired all three hitters he faced in the fifth inning to secure a complete-game victory.

“Our timing is not very good right now and their pitcher did a great job of keeping us off balance,” Becker said. “I thought our swings looked decent, but we just weren’t on time. That’s a credit to their pitcher.”

Kennett No. 5 hitter Andrew Spence enjoyed a big day at the plate. Spence finished 3 for 4 with a pair of singles and a double.

“Big day,” New said of Spence, who had three RBIs. “I’m happy for Andrew. He’s really made some adjustments. He’s one of the guys that came through with a two-strike hit. He did exactly what we asked him to do. He executed really well offensively.”

Five other Kennett hitters also collected RBIs.

Kennett leadoff hitter Luke Lockhert had a 2 RBI double in the second inning and was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the third frame.

Kennett No. 3 hitter Patrick Maddox delivered a 2 RBI single in the third inning and drove home a runner from third base when he grounded out in the fourth inning.

Kennett No. 2 hitter Ty Ellis was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the third inning. Kennett No. 7 hitter Brenton Tidd drew a bases-loaded walk in the third inning. Kennett cleanup hitter Jackson Henfling added a sacrifice fly in the fourth frame.

Spencer Owens was the pitcher of record of Dexter. He pitched the first 2 2/3 innings. He allowed nine runs.

Dexter (0-1) plays a doubleheader Saturday at Oran. The Bearcats take on Oran at 10 a.m. and Valle Catholic at 2 p.m. Oran is ranked No. 1 in the latest Class 1 state poll and Valle Catholic is ranked No. 6 in the latest Class 2 state poll.

“They will be a handful,” Becker said. “They are a handful for anyone, and especially will be for us. We’ve just got to get back to the grindstone and find ways to get better.”

Kennett (1-1) continues a stretch of three games in three days Thursday. The Indians visit Poplar Bluff Thursday at 4 p.m. before hosting North County Friday night at 6 p.m.

“We’ve been able to get Zane out there twice with a couple days between games,” New said. “Now we are excited to see how deep our pitching is and who else is throwing the ball well.”

Kennett 13, Dexter 1

DHS 000 10 - 1 1 3

KHS 227 2X - 13 5 0

WP - Zane Wallace. LP - Spencer Owens. 2B - Luke Lockhert (K), Andrew Spence (K). Multiple hits - Kennett: Andrew Spence 3-4.

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: