Tribe rebounds, takes down Wave

Staff photo by Mike Buhler
Kennett's Trey Bazzell delivers a pitch during Thursday's Bootheel Conference baseball game at Malden. Bazzell had eight strikeouts in the Tribe's 12-4 victory.

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Mission accomplished.

The Tribe pounded out 14 hits and scored 12 runs in a 12-4 rout of the Malden Green Wave in the Bootheel Conference opener for both teams here Thursday.

Staff photo by Mike Buhler
Kennett's Lavonte Hickman runs the anchor leg in the 4x100-meter relay Thursday at Malden.

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Kennett (2-1, 1-0 Bootheel) also capitalized on five Green Wave errors, turning them into 10 unearned runs

"We got a couple of big hits today when we needed them," said New. "They gave us a few baserunners so we were able to take advantage of it today, unlike Tuesday."

The Tribe took the lead for good in the top of the third inning as Kennett turned a pair of errors and a big base hit by Bo Smith into three runs and a 5-2 lead.

In three games this season, Smith is batting .500 (4-for-8).

"Bo's really hit the ball well this year," New said. "He's kind of given us a little bit of offense down at the bottom of the order."

The Indians broke the game open in earnest in the top of the fourth inning, scoring six times while pounding out five hits. Smith added another hit, an RBI double that made the score 10-2.

"That's the kind of offense I hope were able to get as the year progresses," said New. "If were able to score runs like that we should be in pretty good shape."

Kennett got strong pitching Thursday from junior southpaw Trey Bazzell, who struck out eight and walked just two while allowing three runs and five hits in four innings of work to earn the win. Thomas Stillman tossed three innings of one-hit relief while striking out one and allowing no earned runs to earn the save.

"Both those two guys did an outstanding job today," New said. "This is their (second) outing of the year. (Assistant) coach (Ronnie) Lewallen and I are really please with their outings."

Smith and Clayton Gibbons each finished the day 3-for-4 to pace the Kennett offense, while Andrew Hooper was 2-for-4 and Blake Wilbanks was 2-for-2.

The Indians are off until Monday, when they come home to host Bootheel Conference foe Hayti in search of a 2-0 start in the league.

"It's good to get that first conference win and get off to a good start in the Bootheel," New said. "Hopefully we'll continue to play well and have a chance for the conference championship."

Notes: Gibbons leads the Tribe offensively on the season, batting .600 (6-for-10) after three games, as is Hooper, who is 3-for-5 for an identical .600 average. ... After years of playing at a field near the city's airport, Malden has moved to a new field adjacent to the high school. ... Kennett is set to make up Wednesday's rained-out game at Dexter on April 7, three days after it travels to Cape Girardeau to take on state-ranked Notre Dame. Both are key district and SEMO Conference games for the Tribe.

Campbell 5, Poplar Bluff 2
At Poplar Bluff, the Camels scored three times in the top of the ninth inning to spoil the Mules' home opener.

With the game tied 2-2 with two out in the top of the ninth, Taylor Wethington was hit by a pitch to open the rally. Walks to Joe Campbell and Kyle Matthews loaded the bases for Zack Jackson, who drove home Wethington to put the Camels ahead. Cale Weeks then singled home Campbell and Matthews to cap the rally.

Matthews picked up the win, tossing four innings of scoreless, two-hit relief while striking out three. Weeks earned the save by pitching a scoreless bottom of the ninth.

Weeks was 3-for-5 with two RBIs, while Jackson was 2-for-4 with two more RBIs.

Track
Kennett vs. Malden
At Malden, Greg Bowles cleared 6-foot-6 in the high jump, while Samantha Risner cleared 4-foot-8 in the same event.

No teams scores were kept at the meet, which was classed as a "practice" meet.

Kennett is scheduled to host its first meet of the season this afternoon at Metz Cherry Stadium.