Seniors class has pushed K-Ball back to the top while checking off the boxes

Last Tuesday was Senior Night for Kennedale Baseball. It was also a chance to secure first place in District 7-4A. Check it off, the Cats won 2-1 over Springtown. {{more: continue …}}

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Friday night, the Cats had a chance to go undefeated in district play. It hadn?t happen since 2011. Check it off, Kennedale defeated Benbrook 3-2 to go 12-0.

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Playoffs start this week …?

Kennedale?s new season begins this week with the UIL 4A state baseball tournament set to kick off. The first round start on Thursday against the Glen Rose in a best of three series. Game 1 will be played on Thursday, May 3 at 7 p.m. at Kennedale.? Game 2 will be on Saturday May 5 at 12 noon at Glen Rose HS. If needed, Game 3 will also be played in Glen Rose, 45 minutes after Game 2.?

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This group of Wildcat seniors would like to have a long run in the playoffs. It will not be easy. You have to go back to 2013 to find the last solid run for the Cats when they made it to region play.

The top 25 teams in Class 4A represent one of the strongest fields in recent years. Kennedale is part of that group, coming in at #21 in one of the most recent polls. Climbing the ladder will take every bit of skill and luck this team can muster.

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Game updates ?

Friday, April 20 – Lake Worth (W) 11-1?

• The visiting Lake Worth Bullfrogs were not treated kindly by the district leading Kennedale Wildcats as the Cats out hit the Frogs 11-3, scoring 11 runs while keeping the visitors to a single score.

• Kennedale scored 3 in the first, 4 in the second and 1 each in the third through the sixth innings. The game was 10-run ruled after the 6th.?

• Bryce Hackett earned the win going 6 innings on the mound facing 21 batters, throwing 68 strikes in 99 pitches (.687), striking out 12 walking none while allowing just one run on 3 hits.

• Aaron Herrera set the pace at the plate going 2-2 with a double and a triple, driving in 3 RBIs while scoring 2 runs. Reed Saenz was 2-2 with 1 RBI while scoring twice. Austin Crabtree was 2-3 with a triple and also scored twice. Brandon Jones had 2 RBIs with a walk and a hit. Others earning a RBI were Bryce Hackett, Ethan Wood and Luke Michener. Blake Taylor and Tyler Aguilar each had a hit. JD Padgett walked and scored twice

Tuesday, April 24- Springtown (W) 2-1?

• It was Senior Night at Kennedale Jet Teague Baseball Park as the Cats slipped by the Springtown Pojos 2-1 to clinch the district title and to come within one game of a sweep of District 7-4A.

• It was a come from behind win as the Pojos scored a single run in the 1st and held that lead until the bottom of the 4th when the Cats scored a matching run. Kennedale added a run in the 5th while holding Springtown scoreless for 6 straight innings.?

• It was a pitchers’ game as Springtown had just 1 run on six hits while Kennedale had 2 runs on five hits.

• Jared Taylor did earn the win in the one run game, going 7 innings on the mound, facing 30 batters, throwing 66 strikes in 93 pitches (.710), getting 6 strike outs, walking 1 while allowing one run on 6 hits.

• Five separate Wildcats got hits for Kennedale including Cade Thompson, Reed Saenz, Aaron Herrera, Brandon Jones and Luke Michener. Michener earned an RBI while Thompson and Bryce Hackett scored runs for Kennedale. Five Cats walked in the game including Austin Crabtree (2), Thompson, Hackett, Ethan Wood and Jared Taylor.

Friday, April 27 @ Benbrook (W) 3-2?

• Kennedale clinched an undefeated district title for the first time in seven years as they defeated second place Benbrook 3-2.

• Kennedale fell behind in the first 1-0 but came back in the top of the second to go ahead 2-1 and never lost the lead. The Cats added insurance in the 3rd with one run while the Bobcats tried to make a run with 1 run in the 5th but that was it.

• For the game Kennedale had 3 runs on 8 hits while Benbrook got 2 runs off of 4 hits. Benbrook was hampered by strong pitching from Kennedale. Sixteen Bobcats were sent packing at the plate.

• Bryce Hackett earned the win with Aaron Herrera coming in relief for one inning. Hackett went 6 innings facing 28 batters, throwing 67 strikes in 110 pitches (.609), striking out 15, walking 4 while allowing 2 runs on 3 hits. Herrera going one inning faced 5, throwing 9 strikes in 12 throws (.750) striking out 1, allowing no run and one hit.

• For the Wildcats, JD Padgett and Brandon Jones had multiple base hits with Padgett going 1-2 with a triple and a walk and Jones hitting a double. Aaron Herrera kept up his hitting streak with a single and 1 RBI. Ethan Wood also earned a RBI with a walk and a hit while scoring one. Reed Saenz was 2-4 at the plate. Also getting a hit in the game were Austin Crabtree who scored a run and Bryce Hackett.

• Crabtree had 2 stolen bases with Saenz adding another.