Kennett baseball punishes Malden mistakes

SEMO News Service photo by Scott Matthews
Kennett's Andy Lack (left) makes the play at second base to force out Malden's Tyler Golden during the second inning of Monday's Bootheel Conference baseball game at Malden.

[Click to enlarge]

That was certainly true as the Kennett Indians turned eight Malden errors into nine unearned runs to take an 11-2 Bootheel Conference win here Monday.

"They gave us a little help and we were able to take advantage of it," Kennett coach Aaron New said. "I thought we had a couple of guys who had some good at-bats there. Our pitching was outstanding. Cameron Wallace did a great job for us today."

Wallace turned in his best outing of the spring Monday, allowing one earned run and five hits -- one hit over the last five innings -- while striking out three and walking three in a complete-game win.

With at least four games this week, Wallace's outing was even bigger for the Tribe.

"He did a great job," said New. "That's exactly what we needed from him. We didn't have to get deep into the 'pen. We've got quite a few games this week and we didn't even have to go to the 'pen. He did exactly what we needed from him today and that's probably his best outing of the year."

Kennett led just 3-2 entering the top of the fifth inning when the floodgates opened. Andy Lack reached on an error and Clayton Gibbons singled, setting the table for Trey Bazzell, who tripled to right to plate both and get the rally going.

"Trey really swung the bat well," New said. "He came up with a big hit there. It was a close game and he came up with a big hit there, kind of broke it open. He's kind of done that for us all year. Hopefully he'll keep swinging it the way he is right now."

Bazzell scored on Thomas Stillman's grounder to make it 6-2, then Alex Bohnert singled home Daniel Lockhert to make it 7-2. Two batters later, Adam Grantham's base hit plated both Stillman and Lockhert to make it 9-2. Lack and Bazzell added RBI hits later in the inning as the Indians sent 13 men to the plate in the frame.

Bazzell and Grantham each had big days at the plate, pounding out three hits apiece and driving in seven of Kennett's 11 runs. Gibbons and Bohnert each had a pair of hits as the Tribe (9-4, 3-1 Bootheel) ended the day with 13 safeties.

"Any win right now is a good one for us," said New. "I thought we played okay. We need to play a little bit better. It's hard to come back off of a tough loss last Friday, but the kids hung in there, battled and got a big win for us."

Kennett is back in action today when it heads north to take on Cape Central.

"We've just got to play our game," New said. "If we do our thing, we like our chances. Hopefully we'll go up there and play them a good ballgame at their place."

Notes: The Tribe is hitting .384 as a team this spring, led by Grantham's .629 average. He also leads the team with four home runs. ... Gibbons (.522), Bazzell (.500) and Logan Dollins (.452) are all batting over. 400 as well. ... Bazzell leads the team with a 2.67 earned-run average and has struck out 30 batters in 21 innings, while Wallace leads the team with four wins and two complete games.

Softball
Kennett 19, Hayti 0
At Hayti, the Lady Tribe ran its spring winning streak to 26 games as it rolled past another Bootheel Conference foe.

Kennett (9-0, 5-0) pounded out 11 hits, led by a three-hit, four-RBI game from Jody Vancil, while Jordan Wagster added a pair of hits and drove in two runs. Ciara Dewrock scored three runs and hit a solo homer while Ashle Gore scored twice.

Meanwhile, pitchers Laurel Jones and Chandler Essary combined for a no-hitter, striking out nine as Jones pitched the first three innings and Essary tossed the fourth.

"Anna McMahan made a great heads-up defensive play in the last inning to save the no-hit game ..." " Kennett coach Laurie Vaughan said. "It was great to get everyone that could play in the game some playing time and know that we can still be successful. Kennett softball is really strong right now and it is fun to be able to coach them and watch them be successful."

Tri-County Tournament
Southland puts undefeated record on line
At Clarkton, the Lady Rebels (12-0) will take on Holcomb in the semifinals of the Tri-County Tournament as they look to capture their first-ever league tourney title.

Southland has dominated this spring behind freshman Jordan Zolman, who is 10-0 and has racked 15 strikeouts in several games.

Zolman has also hit a team-high three home runs while Darcy McMinn, the defending Daily Dunklin Democrat Player of the Year, has added a pair of round-trippers.

"I've got a few new players that have come up and really helped out," Southland coach Johnny McMinn said, "and a couple of returning players that have adapted to new positions really well."

Girls Soccer
Jackson 2, Kennett 1
At Indian Park, senior Vickie Panousis scored the Lady Tribe's lone goal as Jackson spoiled Senior Day at Kennett.

The Lady Indians travel to Poplar Bluff this afternoon.