James Kenan’s Shane Braswell with a bunt attempt to get on first base. (Robert Taylor|mountolivetribune.com)
WARSAW — In a gritty, back-and-forth contest, the James Kenan Tigers secured a 5-4 victory over the visiting Pender Patriots. The game remained tight through all seven innings, with both teams displaying strong hitting, aggressive baserunning, and determined pitching. Despite a few miscues in the field, James Kenan capitalized on key opportunities to outlast their opponent and improve their record.
The game opened with solid defense from both squads, setting the tone for a competitive night. Through the early innings, neither team managed to break the game wide open, as Cal Avent kept Pender batters off balance with strong command on the mound.
By the fourth inning, the score was deadlocked at 2-2. David Zelaya had already made an impact defensively, helping turn a crucial double play after a sharply hit ball to the infield. This stopped Pender’s attempt to take an early lead and shifted momentum back to the Tigers.
At the plate, Jeremiah Hall led off the bottom of the inning with a single, followed by Tyquise Wilson, who reached first after a throwing error. With two runners on, Khamyri Soule stepped up and connected for a solid hit to bring home the tying run, keeping James Kenan in the fight.
The game took a turn in the fifth inning, as both teams ramped up their offensive efforts. Pender jumped ahead 3-2 after an aggressive baserunning sequence, capitalizing on a throwing error to steal home.
Needing a response, James Kenan’s offense delivered. TJ Oates got things started with a leadoff single, followed by a well-placed bunt from Wilson, putting runners at first and second. Zelaya then stepped up and ripped a clutch two-run double into the outfield, giving James Kenan a 4-3 lead.
The next batter, Hall, followed with a sharp hit, driving in another run to make it 5-3 before Pender managed to escape the inning.
Pender refused to go away, cutting the lead to 5-4 in the top of the sixth after an error allowed a runner to score. However, Avent responded with a big strikeout, keeping the Tigers in control.
In the bottom of the inning, James Kenan looked to extend the lead, with Soule drawing a walk and Wilson reaching base for the third time. But Pender’s pitcher held firm, recording back-to-back outs to strand the runners and send the game to the final inning.
With a one-run lead, Avent took the mound in the seventh, needing just three outs to secure the win. Pender managed to get a runner on base, but Zelaya made another defensive stop at shortstop, flipping the ball to Hall for a force-out at second.
Down to their final batter, the Patriots put the ball in play, but Avent fielded the grounder cleanly, tossing it to first for the final out—securing the 5-4 victory for James Kenan.
Avent was dominant on the mound, throwing all seven innings while allowing only four runs (none earned), striking out nine, and issuing just two walks. His composure in the final innings proved crucial in locking down the win.
Offensively, Zelaya was the standout hitter, delivering the game-winning two-run double. Hall, Oates, Wilson, and Soule also contributed key at-bats, helping the Tigers manufacture runs when they needed them most.
After the game, James Kenan’s head coach Lee Sutton praised his team’s ability to fight through adversity:
“I am proud of the way my team fought tonight. We played a really sloppy game that last year we would have lost, but this year we have grown enough to win the sloppy ones. We have a lot to improve on, but I have confidence this group will put the work in. Shoutout to Cal Avent on the mound for us—he has taken a huge step from last year, and we will need him to be a big part of the staff this year.”
