Indians edge Bearcats at home

KENNETT, Mo. - Wednesday here was a beautiful day for high school baseball.

It was a better afternoon for the KHS Indians (34-1 at home, 2-2 this season), who welcomed the Dexter High School varsity baseball program (1-1) to Indian Park and squeaked past the Bearcats 4-3.

The contest was a rough start for Indians senior pitcher Ashton Williams, who struck two batters early on.

But Williams relaxed and found the sweet spot that enabled the team to muster a nice win on a glorious afternoon.

Dexter Bearcats pitcher Beau Carrier loads up Wednesday against the Kennett Indians at Indian Park. Photo by Steve Hankins

“I kinda got out of rhythm at first,” Williams said postgame. “Once I found out what I was doing wrong, I slowed down and got myself together.

“That's when it all started coming together,” he added. “I'm just trying to keep it as simple as possible.”

That philosophy worked for Williams, who in addition to pitching a fine game, knocked a ball senseless for a home run that accounted for two RBIs.

“If I can barrel the ball, it'll do what it needs to do,” Williams said. “The past couple of years I've concentrated some on my swing.

“I swing harder than I used to,” he added. “Just trying to keep it simple.”

Williams signed a letter of intent to play baseball for the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and intends to major in electrical engineering. He noted KHS varsity baseball head coach Aaron New preaches fundamentals and the team is accustomed to working those basics at every practice.

Kennett High School Indians relief pitcher senior Peyton Branum is brushed back from the plate Wednesday at Indian Park.Photo by Steve Hankins

“It's nonstop fundamentals,” Williams said. “Practicing the game.”

Right fielder Jackson Morrison has a positive outlook for a winning season for the Indians, was on top of his game and said he thought the team as a unit played very well.

“It felt good to come back and get a game like this,” Morrison said. “We stand a strong chance of winning our district.

“The past two days have been tough,” he added. “We've been on the road, and it feels good to come back home and get a win.”

The right fielder was quick inside the lines Wednesday.

“Today in the field there wasn't much happening,” Morrison said. “But every game can't be the game where you're being 'the guy' making all the great plays. Backing up and just doing your job is how you get in the game.”

With Dexter Bearcats runners on first and third, Kennett relief pitcher Peyton Branum weighs his options Wednesday at Indian Park. The Indians slid past the Bearcats by one run, 4-3.Photo by Steve Hankins

Offensively, Morrison managed a couple of timely stolen bases.

“In the third inning I drew a walk,” he said. “Then I stole second and third.

“I got knocked into home for a score,” he added. “It brought us back to a close game. Then (Ashton) Williams knocked a ball to take the lead. It was a really good, really close game.”

The Kennett varsity baseball Indians are on the road again and play against O'Fallon, Ill., High School at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.