Kennedale Wildcats are rolling towards a district title
Kennedale put some space between them and the rest of the field in District 7-4A by defeating Benbrook 6-0 Tuesday and Mineral Wells 7-0 Friday. {{more: READ MORE …}}
Kennedale moves to 6-1 while Benbrook drops to 4-2 and Mineral Wells falls to 3-3. Kennedale travels to play Castleberry 5-2 Tuesday in another important district contest.a three year drought …
You have to go back to 2013 to find Kennedale?s last district title. The Cats have had couple of second place finishes during that period with one 4th place.
This group of Cats seem to have what it takes to get back the trophy. This team is on fire right now with bats flying and pitching coming into focus at the same time.
These last two wins have come with superior pitching and some smart play by the Cats.
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| Reed Saenz hitting against Mineral
Wells. The Cats have had 18 hits in the last two games. Photo Staci Otts |
Tuesday, April 4 (H) Kennedale vs Benbrook 6-0 (W)
- Bryce Hackett got the win allowing just one hit, getting 9 strikeouts in 87 pitches and 53 strikes over 7 innings of play. He recorded no errors.
- Kennedale scored first in the second inning with two outs when the Cats got two walks (Ethan Wood and Cole Carruthers) and Austin Crabtree single to left field and scored Wood.
- No one scored again until the 4th when the Cats crossed the plate 4 times. During the inning Brayden Sewell got a single, a walk (Aaron Herrera), a flyout (Jared Taylor) that advanced 2 runners, a double (Reed Saenz) that scored two; a second double (Ethan Wood) which scored 1; a second single (Cole Carruthers) and then a third double (Austin Crabtree) scoring the final run of the inning.
- Kennedale would score one more time to add some icing to the win when Zac Sisemore (courtesy for Byrce Hackett) scored on a wild pitch after Hackett had reached on a single. Sisemore was put into scoring position after Benbrook walked two more Wildcats. Hackett ended the game ended for Benbrook with three up and three down getting a popout to JD Padgett, a popout to Cole Carruthers and a ground out B Sewell to R Saenz.
- For the game, Ethan Wood went 2 for 2 with a double, 2 walks and 1 RBI. Austin Crabtree was 2/2 with a double and 2 RBIs. Also getting hits were Brayden Sewell, Reed Saenz, Bryce Hackett and Cole Carruthers.
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| JD Padgett sliding in home vs Mineral
Wells. The Cats have outscored their last two opponents 13-0 Photo Staci Otts |
Friday, April 7 (H) Kennedale vs Mineral Wells 7-0 (W)
- Jared Taylor and Brayden Sewell tagged teamed the Mineral Wells Rams to pitch a shutout at Jet Teague Ballpark last Friday. It capped a good week for the Cats as they continue to set the pace in District 7-4A.
- Mineral Wells, who had surprised the Cats earlier with a 6-4 win during spring break, has now fallen three games behind Kennedale at 3-3. With this win, the Cats increases it grip on on the top spot at 6-1.
- For the game, Kennedale got 7 runs on 10 hits with one error. Mineral Wells had no runs on 3 hits and 4 errors. The Cats score once in the first but broke open the game in the 3rd with 6 runs.
- Jared Taylor for Kennedale pitched 6 innnings (78 pitches), facing 17 batters, allowing 2 hits, no runs, walking 1 and getting 7 strikeouts. Brayden Sewell pitched the last inning (15 pitches) facing 4 batters, allowing 1 hit, no runs and getting 2 strikeouts.
Getting multiple hits for Kennedale were Cole Carruther going 3/3 with 1 RBI and JD Padgett going 4/2. Jared Taylor helped his own cause by hitting a double and getting 3 RBIs. Also hitting doubles for Kennedale was Ethan Wood and Brandon Jones. Reed Saenz was 3/1 getting 2 RBIs. Austin Crabtree also recorded a single.
The Cats play the Castleberry Lions tonight at Castleberry at 7:30 pm. The Lions are currently tied with Benbrook in 2nd place with 5-2 records.
