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Kennett takes down Oran 14-2 in regular season finale
ORAN -- With a chance to get one last game in before districts this weekend, the Oran Eagles didn't get any favors from visiting Kennett on Thursday.
Scoring a combined 11 runs in the final three innings, the Indians won 14-2 in six innings via the mercy rule.
"We have talent, we just have to believe in ourselves," Oran head coach Joe Bickings said. "The kids have to understand that and I think they will. More importantly we just have to come out and play the game right. That's all I ask from them. I think we'll be alright."
Though it's common to hear, the score wasn't indicative of the quality of either team.
Looking to get everyone some extra experience before the postseason, the Eagles worked in several pitchers and most of their bench in the later innings.
This led to some fielding troubles late with Kennett breaking the game open in the top of the fourth. Leading 3-1, the Indians put up five runs in the fourth and another two in the fifth to take a 10-1 advantage.
Oran scored another run in the bottom of the fifth, but another four-run outburst by Kennett in the sixth put the mercy rule in effect.
"I liked the way we came and took care of our business," Kennett head coach Aaron New said. "Oran has a good team and has had a good program for many years. To come up here and play well against a good team is good for us."
Kennett out-hit Oran 11-4 with Nathan Spence leading the way with a 3 for 4 effort that included two RBI.
Landon Vaughan, Patrick Maddox and Britt Harris had two hits each, including a double and a two-run home run by Vaughan. Vaughan finished the afternoon with five RBI.
The Indians' offense was aided by five Oran errors.
Leading the Eagles was Hunter Schlosser with a 2 for 3 performance where he drove in one of Oran's only runs. Preston Hahn and Jacob Priggel each singled.
Kennett's Edward Wilson went all six innings on the mound to pick up the win. He allowed one earned run on four hits and four walks while striking out six.
"We threw a guy that throws some innings for us," New said of Wilson. "He hadn't been out there in awhile and probably isn't going to pitch in the first round of districts. But he's one of our regular guys and did a pretty nice job for us."
Oran's loss leaves them at 13-6 to end the regular season while Kennett improves to 10-16.
Seeded second and once again serving as host to the Class 1, District 2 tournament, Oran will open up against seventh-seeded Richland Saturday at 1 p.m.
A win there would set up a rematch of last year's district title game in the semifinals Monday if third-seeded Advance can get past sixth-seeded Oak Ridge.
Bell City comes in as the favorite this year, claiming the top seed and a first round bye.
"First we have to go through Richland and if we win that we'll have either Advance or Leopold," Bickings said. "Advance played us in the championship game last year here and I think it was a 1-0 game. We have to get past Richland first, but if we do play them it will be a battle."
Though they come into the Class 4, District 1 tournament as the fifth-seed in a six-team field, New is confident his team is peaking at the right time. They'll open up against fourth-seeded Fredericktown on noon Saturday at Doniphan High School.
"We feel better than we have all year long," New said. "We finally got some consistency. All year long we've been inconsistent. We'll pitch well, but not hit. Then we'll hit well and not pitch. Finally here in the last couple weeks we're starting to get some consistency and that's a good sign."
Kennett 030 524 - 14 11 1
Oran 001 010 - 2 4 5
WP -- Edward Wilson. LP -- Thomas Trankler. Multiple hitters: (K) Landon Vaughan 2-4, Patrick Maddox 2-5, Nathan Spence 3-4, Britt Harris 2-3; (O) Hunter Schlosser 2-3. 2B -- (K) Vaughan, Maddox, Spence, Harris. HR -- (K) Vaughan.