Kennett softball downs Holcomb at home

KENNETT – An early collection of runs gave the Kennett softball team the cushion needed to down Holcomb 22-12 at home Monday, March 27, 2023.

The Indians racked up 12 runs in the first inning, all of which were kickstarted by a double to center field hit by Hadley Wilson which brought in Lauren Barton and Handley McAtee. Wilson, Emma Tinnin, Emma Bodkin, Meagan Spielman and Baylee Wilcut all crossed home plate by the end of the first inning – Barton, Tinnin and Bodkin would all score again before the end of the first.

“Offensively we felt pretty good,” Kennett coach Logan Dollins said. “When you score 22 runs it's a great thing, but defensively we have to be sharper. We haven't played very good defense, and we're letting teams back into ball games. Pitching-wise I think we've been excellent, but we have to clean it up on defense.”

Leading comfortably 12-0, the Indians gave up one run in the second inning while adding four more of their own.

Hadley Wilson started on the mound for Kennett and pitched for 2.1 innings. She threw 64 pitches and allowed six hits, five walks and seven runs before being relieved by Handley McAtee.

Kennett's Hadley Wilson throws a pitch during the Indians' game against Holcomb Monday, March 27, 2023. Christian Johnson, Delta Dunklin Democrat

McAtee pitched the last 3.2 innings and threw 71 pitches for five strikeouts, but allowed nine hits and five runs.

“Holcomb's a really tough bunch because they're so scrappy and they never go away,” Dollins said. “Hadley Wilson started for us and didn't have her best stuff today, but she hadn't been in the circle in a week or so. I thought she threw well, but then kind of let them back into it when we had a chance to shut the door.”

“But that's just a testament to their team,” he continued. “That's who they are, and it's always a great battle whenever they come here or we go there.”

Holcomb never folded and outscored Kennett in each of the next three innings – just not enough to overcome their first inning deficit.

Holcomb softball players cheer on teammates from the dugout in a game against Kennett Monday, March 27, 2023.Christian Johnson, Delta Dunklin Democrat

“After the first inning, we settled down a little bit and held them some,” Holcomb coach Matt Casper said. “But a team like that is going to hit the ball. Our young pitching is still working at it. We have to make plays behind them, and we didn't do that consistently enough to keep them off the scoreboard.”

Led primarily by Ava Gurley in the circle – who pitched for 4.2 innings and allowed 10 hits and 13 runs – Holcomb's offense went to work to chip away at Kennett's lead.

In total, Holcomb amassed 15 hits, 10 RBIs and 12 runs. Chloe Hendrix crossed home plate three times, while Kaetlyn Danley and Maleigh Lemings both added two runs. Ava Gurley, Ella Lemings, Libbey Callis, Jasmine White and Katelynn Sweaney each contributed one.

“I commend our girls for battling after that,” Casper said. “It would’ve been easy to fold up after that first inning, but I thought we hit the ball really well against two good pitchers here. Both Wilson and McAtee throw the ball well, so for us to put up 12 runs against them I think is good for our girls.”

While the Hornets outscored Kennett 6-5 in the third, 2-0 in the fourth and 3-0 in the fifth, the Indians added one more point at the bottom of the sixth to still win by ten points.

Tuesday, Kennett travels to Malden to play at 3:30 and they move move on to Portageville with the first pitch at 5:30 p.m.

Holcomb is off until next Monday when the Hornets host Twin Rivers at 4:30 p.m.