Kennett falters early in state quarterfinal loss to John Burroughs

KENNETT — After back to back Final Four runs, securing both first and third place finishes, the Kennett Indians will not be taking a trip out west this year.

Kennett fell 0-4 to John Burroughs in the MSHSAA Class 4 State Quarterfinal 1 on Thursday, May 25.

Despite the result, Kennett’s recent grads made history the school won’t soon forget along the way.

“That is the first time our seniors have lost here in three years,” Kennett coach Aaron New said. “I know this is the one they’ll think about for the rest of their lives, but 34 in a row is pretty impressive. It’s been quite a run, and they’ve been a great senior class.”

The Indians finished the season with a 22-9 record.

“It’s just been an incredible year,” New said. “We gave ourselves a chance to be another Final Four team, but that’s just the way baseball works sometimes.”

Kennett's Tanner Pierce throws a pitch during the MSHSAA Class 4 State Quarterfinal 1 against John Burroughs on Thursday, May 25, 2023.Christian Johnson, Delta Dunklin Democrat

Senior Tanner Pierce took the mound first for Kennett. In 2.1 innings, he threw 60 pitches and allowed eight hits, four walks and four earned runs while striking out one batter.

“It just happens in baseball,” New said. “He made some good pitches, they hit them, and it got him a little out of sync. He’s been our ace all year long, and I wouldn’t want to give the ball to anyone else.”

John Burroughs’ offense went to work early, and in the first inning Griffin Barnett singled home Max Steinbach. In the second, Jack Enger and Tucker Desloge scored. In the third, Desloge managed a double to bring in Will Chapman for the Bombers’ final run.

Just after, Peyton Branum stepped onto the mound for Kennett in the bottom of the third inning, and he went on to allow just one hit and one walk with no earned runs.

“[Branum] does what he does,” New with a laugh. “He did a great job of keeping us in the game, and I hope he does the same thing in every game next year.”

Kennett did not go quietly, and they allowed next to nothing in the waning innings of the ballgame. The Indians also committed zero errors in holding their 25-win streak foes scoreless in the second half of the game.

Kennett's Trey Gardner runs to first base after a hit in the MSHSAA Class 4 State Quarterfinal 1 against John Burroughs on Thursday, May 25, 2023.Christian Johnson, Delta Dunklin Democrat

Offensively, Kennett had a chance to make waves in the top of the fourth. Trey Gardner, Caleb Duncan and Peyton Branum were all walked. With bases loaded and two outs, Ashton Williams connected for a hit but was thrown out at first.

In the top of the sixth, Trey Gardner hammered a ball to right field for a double. He made it to third base on a ground out, but eventually Caleb Duncan’s fly ball to right field was caught to strand him at third.

“We had a couple opportunities,” New said. “Against a team of that caliber, if you don’t cash them in and take advantage, those chances don’t come around often. We just didn’t get the hit when we needed it today.”

For John Burroughs, Bowen Brantingham pitched a complete game. The senior allowed just one hit, four walks and struck out seven batters.

“Their guy just did a really great job,” New said of Brantingham. “He has a nice arm, and offensively, for the last few weeks we haven’t been great. We’ve done just enough to win, and today it just wasn’t enough.”