Delta's long wait ends vs. Kelly

~ The Bobcats recorded their first win over the Hawks in at least nine seasons.

Delta coach Laura Brown had never beaten the Kelly Hawks in her nine seasons at the helm.

Stellar pitching and clutch hitting finally landed her the elusive victory.

Delta knocked off Kelly 2-0 Monday night in Delta.

"One of the happier wins I've ever had," Brown said. "We always think, 'Let's just play with them.' I felt it, they didn't want to just play with them; they wanted to beat them. I think that today maybe they knew they had it in them."

Delta's pitcher, Kendra Burnett, strikes out the batter during their game against Kelly High School. (Tim Brumitt)

Kendra Burnett was dominant in the circle for the Bobcats (7-4).

Burnett escaped first-inning trouble after she walked two batters.

After that, Kelly (10-4) managed little.

Burnett settled down in the second and third innings, striking out two batters in each inning.

"Just a lot of concentration and faith in my team [was the key]," Burnett said.

Taylor Keys of Delta rounds third base on a third-inning double by Taylor Smith. Keys scored on the play.

In the bottom of the third, Delta struck.

With one out and nobody on base, sophomore Tori Burton lined a base hit to right field. Taylor Keys later roped a two-out single to center field to put runners at first and second. Taylor Smith then blasted a high fastball to left field for a double that scored the game's only runs.

"I saw Tori Burton get a base hit," Smith said. "Then I was like, 'If she can do it, I need to step up and be a senior and do my part.' Then I saw that there were two outs, with two people left on base, and I knew I couldn't leave them stranded."

"That was pretty awesome," Brown added. "Tori coming out with a little base hit set the tone. Taylor Smith always has confidence, doesn't matter what happens, doesn't matter what anybody else on the team does. She always is going to go up there and have a good at-bat, regardless of who's in the circle. So I'm not really surprised, I'm tickled to death, but not surprised at all."

Kelly threatened in the next inning, but Burnett refused to give in.

With runners on second and third and two outs, Burnett fanned Carissa Klipfel to preserve the lead.

"I was very nervous" Burnett said. "I was shaking. But I knew I had to get her."

Burnett finished the game with nine strikeouts, allowing two hits and three walks.

"It seemed like she wasn't focused in that first inning," Brown said of Burnett. "After that, she really found her spot. I think every pitcher gets aggravated when they don't get every call they think they should have. But we talk about this all the time, get past it, get over it, keep pitching."

Kelly's ace Danielle Dock also hurled a gem.

Dock's only miss-step came in the third inning. She struck out nine batters and allowed five hits and no walks.

"I always say you need to lose a game or two to see where you're at," Kelly coach Rhonda Ratledge said. "This was definitely the game that we needed to lose for the girls to settle back down and know they have some work to do. Hopefully this is the game that will wake them back up."

For the Bobcats, it's a win that could go a long way.

"I think it's huge," Brown said. "We have a good group of seniors that have a lot to contribute to the team. Earlier I told them, I think this is the team to make it out of districts. They just have to believe that. I think they're getting there, all they need is confidence."

Kelly 000 000 0 -- 0 2 1

Delta 002 000 X -- 2 5 0

WP -- Kendra Burnett. LP -- Danielle Dock. 2B -- Taylor Smith (D). Multiple Hits -- Delta, Courtney Burton 2-3. Records -- Delta, 7-4; Kelly 10-4.