No. 6 Trip Phipps attempting to get opponents out with a slick pass from pitcher. (Robert Taylor|mountolivetribune.com)
KENANSVILLE — The James Kenan Tigers overcame early struggles and a mid-game rally by Kinston to claim a decisive 17-7 victory. Behind aggressive baserunning and a late-game offensive explosion, the Tigers pulled away to secure the win.
James Kenan wasted no time setting the tone in the first inning. Cal Avent sparked the offense with a hit to first base before stealing two bases. Hunter Whitman followed with a well-placed hit, allowing Avent to advance. Daniel Grady then stepped up and delivered, bringing in the first run of the game.
Logan Pope kept the momentum going with another hit, and Jeremiah Hall capitalized with a walk. Shane Braswell connected on a deep shot, but it was caught, limiting the scoring opportunity. However, with smart baserunning, the Tigers pushed across additional runs, taking an early 4-0 lead.
Pitcher Brody Batchelor started strong, striking out three consecutive batters in the second inning. However, Kinston found an opening in the third. After a pitching change brought in Avent, the Vikings took advantage of walks and a defensive miscue to load the bases.
A well-placed hit allowed one run to score, and a missed opportunity on a passed ball brought in another. James Kenan’s defense recovered, with Pope making a clutch catch in the outfield to prevent further damage, but Kinston had cut the lead to 4-2.
By the fourth inning, the Tigers looked to reestablish their dominance. Batchelor continued his strong play on the mound, striking out another batter while keeping Kinston’s offense in check. On the offensive end, Smith reached second base after a sharp hit and aggressive baserunning. Isaiah Kornegay followed by drawing a walk, putting runners in scoring position.
James Kenan capitalized when Hunter Grady was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. A well-timed hit by Avent helped bring in a crucial run, extending the Tigers’ lead to 6-2.
Kinston showed fight in the fifth and sixth innings, taking advantage of walks and errors to load the bases. The Vikings brought in several runs, inching closer on the scoreboard at 7-6. James Kenan made another pitching adjustment, bringing in Tyquise Wilson to slow down the momentum.
With the bases loaded and one out, Wilson delivered a key strikeout to halt Kinston’s rally. The next batter connected for a deep shot, but Paxton Smith made an impressive catch to end the inning.
Entering the bottom of the sixth with a one-run lead, James Kenan turned up the pressure. Pope led off with a single before stealing second. Hall followed with another base hit, and Avent delivered a clutch two-run double to give the Tigers breathing room at 9-6.
Whitman kept the rally going with another hit, bringing in a runner. As the bases loaded once more, Josh Mitchell capitalized on a defensive error by Kinston’s first baseman, allowing two more runs to cross home plate. The Tigers continued to pile on runs, and by the end of the inning, they had extended their lead to 17-7.
With a 10-run lead, James Kenan needed just three outs to secure the victory. Wilson remained composed on the mound, striking out the first batter. Kinston’s next hitter connected, but McGee was quick on defense, making the out at first. The final batter hit a routine ground ball, and a clean play at first base sealed the game.
James Kenan head coach Lee Sutton acknowledged his team’s slow start but was pleased with how they finished.
“We had some struggles throwing strikes early on, but the team responded well late in the game,” Sutton said. “We need to clean up a few things, but overall, I’m proud of how we battled and took control when it mattered most.”
The Tigers’ combination of strong baserunning, timely hitting, and improved pitching down the stretch helped them secure a much-needed win. With this victory, James Kenan moves forward with momentum, looking to build on their performance in the next game.
