Staff photo by Mike Buhler Kennett's Taylor Wake makes contact with the ball during Wednesday's Bootheel Conference softball game at Indian Park against Caruthersville. [Click to enlarge]

In the midst of the season's homestretch, the Kennett Lady Indians softball team seems to be peaking at the right time.

The Lady Tribe continued its recent hot streak Wednesday at Indian Park, scoring 13 runs in the bottom of the first inning to roll to a 15-0 victory over the Caruthersville Lady Tigers and lock up the Bootheel Conference title.

Facing a Lady Tigers team that had several starters sidelined, Kennett (10-0, 5-0 Bootheel) dominated from wire-to-wire, plating 11 runs before even making an out.

"I talked to them about being patient at the plate, finding their pitches, taking the good cuts like they've been doing and not to lose focus on what we need to get done," Kennett coach Laurie Vaughan said. "We're coming down to the end there -- we don't want to get sloppy. This is the time where we need to be perfecting our skills and bringing it all together."

The Lady Tribe also capitalized on four walks, four errors and a hit batsman in the inning.

"They made some mistakes and we did the same thing that we always look to do -- capitalize on mistakes and put the ball on play," said Vaughan. "Also (we were) aggressive on the basepaths and looking to get those extra bases."

Ciara Dewrock had a strong game, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a pair of runs scored, while Ashlee Gore drove in a pair of runs and Kalee Gore scored three times on the day.

Haley Morrow pitched all three innings for the win, allowing just one hit while striking out three.

Kennett is at Holcomb this afternoon before a matchup of area powers Friday at Twin Rivers.

However, Vaughan is not looking past today's game.

"We're not taking any game lightly," Vaughan said. "I talked to the girls and said that with us not having lost yet, every team we play wants to be that team that beats us. We just need to focus on doing the things that we've been doing and playing our game."

Track
KHS teams win Riverbend Classic
At New Madrid, the Indians and Lady Indians both took home first place at the Riverbend Classic to cap an outstanding regular season.

On the boys side Kennett won with 177 points while host NMCC was second with 168 and Dexter third with 99.

"It felt good to finish the regular season with a victory," Kennett boys coach Jim Tidd said. "All the boys have work really hard to make the season we have had possible. Now the second season begins and we are going to focus on getting a few kids through to sectionals."

Individually Demetrius Childress won both the 110- and 300-hurdles while teammate Will Johnson was second in both events. Tyler Daugherty finished first in the 1600- and 3200-meters, while Greg Bowles placed first in the triple jump and high jump and third in the long jump. Blake Parr finished second in the shot put while Julio Hernandez finished second in the discus and Jack Walls won third in high jump, Josh Ford third in the 800-meters and Rockeem Williams took home third in the 100-meters.

The 4x800-relay team took first place while the 4x400- and 4x200-relay teams both took second.

On the girls side Kennett finished first with 152 points, well ahead of host NMCC with 104 and Charleston with 42.

"This was a perfect ending to a great regular season," Kennett girls coach Marc Sherrell said. "I am proud of what the girls have accomplished this year. They have went from being almost nonexistent a couple of years ago to winning every meet except two and finishing second in both of those this year."

Samantha Geary ran the meet of her life, winning the 800, 1600 and 3200 and also running on the 4x800-relay that brought home first.

Susan Shetley had another big day, taking first in the both the 100- and 300-hurdles and the triple jump, while also finishing second in the long jump.

Sharika Walls won the shot put while Jelesa Taylor finished second in the triple jump and high jump and third in the long jump. Tamika Calloway finished second in the shot and Merideth Combs finished second in the 1600 and 3200.

Tamere White finished second in the 300-hurdles and third in the 100-hurdles while Odejah Samuel finished second in the 800 and third in the 400 as the 4x100- and 4x400-relay teams finished third.

Baseball
Cooter 10, Scott Co. Central 5
At Sikeston, the visiting Wildcats rallied from an early 4-2 deficit with an eight-run outburst in fifth inning to subdue the Braves

Cooter (15-2) racked up 11 hits as Charles Copeland led they way with three hits, while Jonathan Boone and Logan Edwards each had two hits.

Jonathan Boone pitched 4 2/3 innings of relief to earn the win, allowing one run while striking out five batters.

Campbell 16, Bloomfield 8
At Campbell, the host Camels scored 10 runs in the first three innings, then tacked on six more in the fifth and sixth innings combined to stave off a Wildcats comeback.

Joe Campbell was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and an inside-the-park home run, while Kyle Matthews was 2-for-2 with a triple, solo home run and five runs scored, Eugene Powers was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and Zach Jackson was 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

Matthews pitched 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief for the victory, allowing just on hit while striking out three.