Staff photo by Mike Buhler Kennett's Shane Branum delivers a pitch during Wednesday's Bootheel Conference Tournament semifinal contest against Portageville at Indian Field in Hayti. [Click to enlarge]

HAYTI, Mo. -- As one of just two seniors on the pitching staff, Shane Branum has emerged as a team leader this season for the Kennett Indians.

Wednesday was no exception, as Branum pitched the Tribe past the Portageville Bulldogs 9-1 in the semifinals of the Bootheel Conference Tournament here at Indian Field.

"I knew it was a big game," Branum said. "I just wanted to go out and get my team in a position to come out with a win."

Staff photo by Mike Buhler Kennett's Nathan Henfling swings at a pitch during Wednesday's Bootheel Conference Tournament semifinal. [Click to enlarge]

Branum did just that, allowing just one unearned run in six innings of work and facing just two batters over the minimum through the first five innings.

"Shane's done that all year long," Kennett coach Aaron New said. "He threw another outstanding ballgame today. That's what we'll need from him the rest of the year."

While Branum was dominating on the mound, the Tribe (9-5) was getting it done at the plate and on the bases, racing out to an 8-0 lead after three innings.

"We probably played our best ballgame of the year today," New said Wednesday night. "Hopefully we can play well again (Thursday in the championship)."

Kennett took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Cameron Wallace scored on a passed ball, but did not take command of the game open until the bottom of the second.

With one out and the bases loaded, Billy Fender hit a grounder that could have been an inning-ending double play, but it was bobbled, allowing Gage Blue to score and for Fender to be safe at first. Wallace then laced a base hit to rightfield to drive in Payte Harris and Blake Meek and make it a 4-0 game.

"We are starting to swing the bats a whole lot better," Branum said. "Now is a good time to start coming alive. If we can continue to progress from here, we should end up with a really good season."

The Tribe tacked on four more runs in the bottom of the third inning to break the game open. Blue's base hit scored Patrick Ratliff to open the rally, then Payte Harris's grounder was misplayed, allowing both Nathan Henfling and Austin Jackson to come in and make it 7-0.

Blue scored on Fender's groundball to cap the rally.

"The guys have really made some adjustments and are swinging the bats a whole lot better," New said.

Wallace and Blue each had a pair of hits to lead the way for Kennett, while Fender and Wallace each drove in a pair of runs,

Branum struck out five and walked two in six innings of work on the mound for the win, giving up just five hits. Corey Henfling tossed the seventh inning to close out the game.

The Indians take on top-seeded South Pemiscot here today at 4 p.m. for the championship.

"I feel really good," said Branum. "Hopefully we can come out with a victory."

Notes: South Pemiscot reached the championship game with a 6-1 victory over Senath-Hornersville in Wednesday's other semifinal. ... This is the third year in a row that Kennett and South Pemiscot will face each other in the conference tournament. Kennett defeated South Pemiscot 10-0 in the championship game in 2006, while South Pem routed the Tribe in the semifinals last spring at Caruthersville.