Read more at Game
Changer
Photos in this article by PhotoStaci Otts
?It has been brutal,? Head Coach Paul Trantham said of the pre-district schedule. Kennedale emerged from early season play with a 5-9 record. But, last week, Kennedale started district play with a win over Diamond Hill by a score of 9-0, giving the Cats their second win in a row. {{more:[read more]}}
Junior Brayden Sewell pitched a shutout in opening district game vs Diamond Hill
The young Wildcats have faced strong teams early on that have challenged the traditionally strong Kennedale program. According to Trantham, this team is still discovering their strengthens and weaknesses. One of those areas has been pitching. At the beginning of the year, the Cats had open tryouts for pitchers, encouraging everyone to give it a try. The coaches have made their selections but again it has been a growing and learning experience for all.
Besides Diamond Hill, Kennedale owns wins over Graham 7-5, Bridgeport 2-0, Stephenville 3-2, Edgewood 2-1 and Springtown 6-3.
It doesn?t get any easier as district play kicks off. Often in other sports Kennedale can expect to dominate most district opponents where there is usually only one other team that can challenge for the district title – not so in District 7-4A baseball. With the exception of Diamond Hill-Jarvis and newcomer Midlothian Heritage, the four remaining teams are legitimate contenders.The defending district champ, Venus, took two of three last year from Kennedale, assigning Kennedale to 2nd place. This year Venus (6-3, 1-0) after losing some strong players from last year remains competitive as does Alvarado (7-6-1, 0-1). But the favorite is Godley who finished fourth last year with a young but talented team. Godley returns that team almost intact and has a 10-2, 1-0 record. Last week, Godley defeated the visiting Alvarado Indians 7-2 in their opening district game. In the other opening district game for last week, Venus defeated visiting Midlothian Heritage 6-3.Kennedale entertains the Godley Wildcats tonight with the varisty game set for 7:30 p.m. at Jet Teague Ballpark.
Game Update – Thu, Mar 24 vs Diamond Hills (W) 9-0
The Wildcats won their first district game 9-0 against Diamond Hill-Jarvis when Brayden Sewell (Jr) pitched a shutout, allowing no runs on two hits while striking out six in six innings of play at KHS.
Sophomore Bryce Hackett went 4 for 4 from the plate in 9-0 win over Diamond Hill
Bryce Hackett (So) went a perfect 4-4 at the plate for the Cats. Hackett scored 3 times, hit a double and had one RBI.
Six runs in the opening three innings allowed the Kennedale Wildcats to easily put away Diamond Hills.
first inning 4-0 …
An RBI double by Hackett, a two-run double by Ethan Wood (So), and an RBI single by Aaron Herrera (So) during the first inning supplied the early offense for the Wildcats after the Eagles went 3 and out. (ground out to 3B Wood/Jordan Pough ? fly out to 2B Cole Carruthers ? popup to Darren Hull). For the Cats, lead-off hitter, Carruthers (Jr) on a 2-2 count, doubled to LF to get things rolling in the first. After a steal of 3rd, he scored when Hackett hits his double to LF. Carruthers stole third. Cody Bossaller (Sr) gets hit by a pitch and then steals second. When Wood doubles to CF, Hackett and Bossaller both scored. A ground out by Luke Michener (So) moved Wood to third and the single by Herrera scored Wood to cap the scoring in the 1st at 4 -0.
second inning 4-0 …
Again Sewell got the Eagles out in 3 (lined out to 1B Pough ? groundout to 3B Wood/ Pough ? strikeout) but the Cats went 3 and out on two ground outs and a fly out.
Junior Cole Carruthers hit 2 doubles in the DHJ win
third inning 6-0 …
Another 3 and out by Diamond Hill (groundout to 1B Pough ? groundout to SS Hackett/Pough ? groundout 3B Wood/Pough). For the Cats, the first batter up, Hackett, got a line drive single to CF. Bossaller follows with a line drive single to LF. On a sacrifice by Wood, both runners advanced. Michener doubles to LF scoring both Kennedale runners. Two outs followed to end the inning.
fourth inning 6-0 …
Sewell retired the side again in 3 getting a ground out (back to him) and two strikeouts. But, the Wildcats have to sit after 4 when they get a walk surrounded by two groundouts and a fly out.
fifth inning 8-0 …
Sewell strikes out two and gets a groundout to SS Hackett/Pough to retire the Eagles in 3. Kennedale tacked on two more runs when Hackett hits a ground single to RF and Bossaller follows with a line drive double to to CF and Hackett scored. After Wood flied out to CF, Tyler Aguilar (So) singled to SS on a ground ball and Bossaller moved to 3rd. Herrera grounded out but Bossaller scored. The inning ended with a pick off of Aguilar at 3B.
Senior catcher Cody Bossaller had a good night at the plate with 3 runs, a double and a RBI
sixth inning 9-0 …
Diamond Hill got their first runners on base with a walk and a fly ball single to RF. The Eagles are retired with a fly out to Pough at 1B, a line out to Carruthers at 2nd and a failure by the runner at first to tag-up. For the Cats, A.J. Harrel (Sr) got hit by a pitch, stole 2nd on a strike and then scored when Carruthers hit a line drive double to LF. Even though Sewell and Hackett both singled, the Cats left based loaded.
seventh inning 9-0 ?
Diamond Hill got their 2nd hit of the game, a single to CF, but nothing else as Sewell struck out one and got two groundouts (3B Wood/Harrell and SS Hackett/Pough). Game over.
