Tribe closes in on league crown

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. -- The Kennett Indians scored eight runs in the top of the second inning and moved one step closer to their first outright Bootheel Conference title since 2006 with a 16-2 pounding of the Portageville Bulldogs here Thursday.

In other area baseball games, it was Cooter 8, Gideon 0; Cooter 18, Clarkton 0; and Campbell 15, Risco 0.

In golf, Kennett tied for 10th at the 22-team Saxony Lutheran Invitational.

The Tribe (6-6, 5-0 Bootheel) can win the regular-season league title with a win at South Pemiscot this afternoon.

"It was a good win for us today," Kennett coach Aaron New said afterwards. "It sets ourselves up for a chance to win the Bootheel Conference regular season."

The Tribe got big days offensively from Adam Grantham (3-for-4 with a double), Gage Blue (3-for-3), Logan Dollins (2-for-3 with a double) and Clayton Gibbons (2-for-3 with a double and a triple).

"I was happy with the way we swung the bats today," said New. "I (think) our approach is getting better."

Kennett also got a strong pitching performance from Cameron Wallace, who struck out nine while allowing three hits as he pitched all five innings of the mercy-ruled contest.

"Cameron threw the ball well today," New said. "He kind of carried on what our pitching staff has been doing lately.

Kennett travels to Steele to take on South Pem today at 4 p.m.

Senath-H'ville 6, Caruthersville 5
At Senath, the Lions bounced back from Tuesday's loss to Kennett with a Bootheel Conference win over the Tigers.

Matt Fouts, Exon Moncada and Ben Salas had two hits each, while Heath Horvath doubled.

Zach King tossed 1 2/3 innings in relief of starter Fouts for the win.

The Lions host Gideon this afternoon.

Cooter 8, Gideon 0
Cooter 18, Clarkton 0
At Gideon, Jonathan Boone tossed his second perfect game of the month against the host Bulldogs, striking out 17 in the win.

Cooter pounded out eight hits in the contest.

Against Clarkton, Logan Edwards, Parker Watkins, Zack Watkins and Jordan Anderson teamed up for a one-hitter over the Reindeer.

The Wildcats (10-1) had 12 hits against Clarkton.

Cooter travels to Neelyville on this afternoon. Aaron McCaig will get the start against the 6-0 Tigers.

Campbell 15, Risco 0
At Risco, the visiting Camels blasted five homers -- in the first inning, exploding for 11 runs on their way to routing the Tigers.

Joe Campbell homered twice in the first inning while the trio of Cody Huber, Tyler Deen and Dillion Rice also homered in the inning as the Camels (9-1) sent 15 men to the plate.

Deen went yard again in the fourth inning.

In all, the Camels had 15 hits on the day. Joe Campbell had a 3-for-5 day with four RBIs, while Cody Huber went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, Kyle Matthews went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs, Tyler Deen went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and Billy Meadows went 2-for-2.

Golf
Kennett at Saxony Invitational
At Cape Girardeau, the Tribe tied for 10th place with Potosi with a score of 360, 48 strokes behind champion Poplar Bluff.

Sean Callewaert paced Kennett with an 85, while Ryan Richardson shot 87, Tyler Niemeier carded a 93, Justin Lynn 95 and Randy Crawford rounded out the team scoring with a 98.

Wednesday at Doniphan, the Indians edged the host Dons 167-169.

Richardson led the way with a 38, while Crawford shot 41, Callewaert and Jarrod Broadway carded 44s, Niemeier shot 46 and Lynn brought home a 48.