Kennett baseball opens season with 7-0 win over Brookland

KENNETT – Baseball season is officially back, despite the fact that the weather hasn’t yet caught up. While fans huddled in blankets at Indian Park Friday night, the Kennett baseball team started its season on a high note with a 7-0 victory over Brookland High School.

Despite consecutive Final Four runs in the last two years, the Indians are still addressing unanswered questions as many young players fight to make a difference for the developing team.

“I thought Hayden (Gilmore) did a great job, then Tanner (Pierce) came in and was outstanding,” Kennett baseball coach Aaron New said. “We only walked one today, and only gave up two or three hits there. I was proud that our defense played clean and didn’t have any errors.”

Kennett sophomore Hayden Gilmore throws a pitch in the first inning of Kennett�s win over Brookland Friday, March 17, 2023. Photo by Christian Johnson, Delta Dunklin Democrat

“Offensively we did enough in the right spots,” New continued. “On a cool day, I’d say that was probably the best first day we could’ve had.”

Sophomore pitcher Hayden Gilmore was first on the mound for the Indians. Gilmore allowed two hits on 57 pitches with six strikeouts.

He was relieved by senior Tanner Pierce midway through the top of the fourth inning. Pierce threw 45 pitches and allowed just one hit with seven strikeouts.

“I think it went amazing,” Gilmore said. “The scoreboard and the stat sheet showed that. Me and (Pierce) were lighting up the strike zone and able to get quick outs, so I think we were very efficient.”

With nine total hits on the night, Kennett took an early and decisive lead in the second inning.

Junior Ashton Williams led off with a single, then stole second and third before a single by Gilmore brought him home. Jackson Morrison ran in and Pierce stole home before the end of the inning for a 4-0 advantage.

Kennett coach Aaron New high fives Ashton Williams after Williams stole third base in Friday�s game against Brookland, March 17, 2023. Photo by Christian Johnson, Delta Dunklin Democrat

“We’re feeling good,” Gilmore said. “That’s a big win for us to start the season off right. (Tanner Pierce) had a bomb there, I started off good on the mound and he came in and shut the door. It’s always good to start the season off like that before starting conference play next week with two big games.”

Kennett junior John Poole was walked at the start of the fourth inning and after a single by Pierce took him to second base, Poole ran in following another single by Brooks Nigut.

Poole hit another single in the bottom of the sixth, which Pierce followed up with a home run to take the Indians to a 7-0 lead. Pierce threw three strikeouts in a perfect seventh inning to finish the night.

“Tanner had a couple good hits, Hayden had a two-strike at bat he got a hit on, and I thought up and down the lineup we were pretty ok,” New said. “I like the way we got four runs, but then didn’t quit. We got another run in another inning and then Tanner hit a two-run homer. That’s a sign of a good offense when you can keep adding on.”

Kennett senior Tanner Pierce runs to first base after a single against Brookland Friday, March 17, 2023. Photo by Christian Johnson, Delta Dunklin Democrat

Kennett travels to Kelly today at 11 a.m., and hosts Van Buren Monday at 4 p.m.

It will be the next chance for Kennett to evaluate the roles which the team’s underclassmen will play in the Indians’ campaign for another run at the state tournament.

“There are still a lot of questions, but it’s going to take some time,” New said. “We’ll just have to keep messing with the lineup until we feel like we have guys in the right spot where they can succeed and get comfortable. But the guys we put in, some of the young guys with not as much experience, I thought they did a good job today.”