Kennett Indians start slow, lose to Logan-Rogersville in final four

OZARK, Mo.- The Kennett Indians baseball team traveled to Ozark, Missouri on Wednesday to try and repeat as the class four state champions, where they would first face Logan-Rogersville in the final four.

Last year, the Indians saw themselves make a huge comeback in the game prior to the championship.

This year, the early struggles were much of the same. Kennett started on defense, and had two errors in the first inning, both on ground balls.

The Indians ended the first inning down one run, with Reese Robinett on the mound. Robinett was also the only hitter to get a hit for Kennett in the first inning, as the struggles continued to the offensive side as well.

“I just think they came out with a little more energy than us. We for sure didn’t play our best game today,” said Reese Robinett.

After scoring another run in the second inning, the Logan-Rogersville Wildcats would score 3 in the third, making the score 5-0 on another costly error for the Indians.

Shortly after, Reese Robinett would be relieved if pitching duties by J.T. Williams. Robinett finished his day on the mound with 2.2 innings pitched, six hits allowed, five runs, two earned runs, and two strikeouts.

“They had been having some big innings,” said Kennett assistant coach Ronnie Lewallen. “They have been swinging it really well and we wanted to slow that down. I think Reece was a little bit tired from the playoff stretch, we kind of rode him a lot to get here. He still threw the ball over the plate, we just didn’t make plays today. It’s just one of those days but we’re gonna try to come out tomorrow and hook up and take care of business tomorrow.”

By the top of the third inning, the story is still the early struggles for the Indians, who are losing the hitting battle 7-1, and have three errors.

Kennett struggled the entire game, and gave up 11 runs on 12 hits. The Indians allowed the Wildcats to score 4 in the sixth inning, losing the game 11-1.

The Kennett Indians baseball team will no longer be playing for a second straight state championship, but instead a third place finish. They now have to get ready to play on Thursday afternoon, after losing a tough one like this.

“It’s still another game, I don’t think it’s going to be any harder,” said Lewallen. “It’s baseball, you have to hook up and go again the next day.”