Kennett run-rules Dexter's Lady Bearcats

KENNETT, Mo. -- It would have been difficult for the Kennett Lady Indians softball team to script a better ending to its home opener against the Dexter Lady Bearcats Tuesday afternoon.

The Lady Indians entered the bottom of the fourth inning leading by just one run at 4-3 after Dexter scored two runs in the top of the fourth.

The Lady Bearcats hitters never made it back to the batter's box for the top of the fifth.

Kennett calculated 14 runs on seven hits and six walks in the bottom of the fourth inning on its way to a 18-3 four-inning run-rule win against Dexter.

"We went out and capitalized," Kennett senior Jade Caldwell said of the fourth inning. "We decided a one-run win was not enough. We wanted to show the other teams in our conference what we could do."

The Lady Indians never trailed in the contest. Kennett took an early 1-0 advantage in the top of the first when the Lady Indians Clara Henderson scored following two Lady Bearcats errors. Dexter committed two of its five defensive errors in the first inning.

"We put some good swings on the ball and worked counts to our favor," Kennett coach Kevin McCaig said. "We got pitches we could drive. Good at-bats is what leads to big innings."

Dexter tied the contest at one in the top of the second when its No. 9 hitter Madison Christian connected for a two-out RBI-single.

Kennett jumped back ahead in the bottom of the second when it scored three runs on two hits to take a 4-1 lead. The Lady Indians Kelsey Washburn collected a two-RBI single in the frame and Maddie Wood picked up an RBI-double.

"I've been working a lot on staying back," Washburn said. "I tend to come forward and our philosophy this year it to drive middle. As the game went on I think I started to drive middle more and put it where it needed to be put."

The Lady Bearcats cut the margin to 4-3 in the top of the fourth when Dexter's Taylor Owens drove home a run on an RBI-single and an additional run crossed the plate following Kennett's only defensive error of the afternoon.

"For the most part we were doing OK," Dexter coach Leonard Morse said of his team's hitting. "We had a few too many strikeouts. One strikeout is more than you want, but we got production up and down our lineup. We've got the basis of a good team. We are just young, with only two seniors and one junior."

Six Kennett hitters picked up at least one RBI in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Caldwell led the way, recording all four of her RBIs in the bottom of the fourth on two two-RBI singles. Washburn collected two one-RBI singles in the fourth and also finished with four RBIs. Kennett's Kelsey Lawrence picked up three RBIs in the fourth on a RBI-walk and a two-RBI single.

Kennett's Jacky Lockert and Clara Henderson also had RBI-walks in the inning and Wood and a one-RBI single.

"The intensity was there for the first part of the game then all of a sudden it evaporated," Morse said of the bottom of the fourth inning. "It was like we had been out in the sun too long. We were giving them all they wanted until the bottom of the fourth, but the wheels came off in a big way. It just seemed like we lost effort."

The Lady Indians drew 10 walks in the four-inning contest.

"We worked on waiting on the ball today," Caldwell said. "We've been working on trying to wait, wait, wait, because timing is a big thing in fast pitch softball."

Kennett's Shayla Jansson earned a complete-game win on the mound, striking out seven in four innings pitched. Jansson allowed three runs on four hits and two walks.

"I thought Shayla pitched really well," McCaig said. "She had her whole arsenal working. The couple times she missed spots they got hits. That's just being young, without a great deal of high school experience yet. She's coming along just fine and working hard. Good things are coming for her."

Kendra Stevenson took the loss for the Lady Bearcats, surrendering 15 runs in 3 1/3 inning pitched before being relieved by Riley Rickman. Rickman allowed three runs in zero innings pitched.

Dexter is back in action Wednesday when it travels to Bernie.

Kennett improves to 4-2 with the victory. The Lady Indians are off until next Monday when it travels to Piggott, Ark., for an out-of-state showdown.

"We try to schedule as many Arkansas schools as possible because the spring is their prime season," McCaig said of playing Piggott. "They are getting ready to play for a district title so it gets us tougher competition on a daily basis. Anytime you go down there you know you are going to have to come ready to play."

Kennett 18, Dexter 3 (4 Innings)

DHS 010 2 - 3

KHS 130 11 - 18

WP -- Shayla Jansson. LP -- Kendra Stevenson. 2B -- Kelsey Washburn (K), Maddie Wood (K), Becky Anderson (D). Multiple Hits -- Kennett: Washburn 3-4, Jade Caldwell 2-3, Wood 2-3. Dexter -- None.