Meadow Heights rides Kennedy to upset of Crusaders

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Cody Kennedy didn't get a chance to play in last year's Class 2 District 3 baseball tournament because of a broken foot.

The Meadow Heights senior left-hander made up for his 2009 misfortune in a big way Tuesday.

Kennedy pitched a two-hitter and struck out 15 as the Panthers pulled off the district's only first-round upset.

Sixth-seeded Meadow Heights knocked off third-seeded and defending tournament champion Saxony Lutheran 6-2 at the Perryville City Park, advancing to today's 2 p.m. semifinal against second-seeded Charleston.

Also Tuesday, top-seeded Scott City downed No. 8 Kelly 4-0 behind Skylar Cobb's perfect game, Charleston rallied past No. 7 Woodland 10-9 and No. 4 East Prairie beat No. 5 St. Vincent 3-0.

Meadow Heights pitcher Cody Kennedy delivers to a Saxony Lutheran batter during the second inning Tuesday in Perryville, Mo.

Kennedy said he was hurt three days before last year's district tournament "during the big windstorm in May. I was doing cleanup on some branches and broke a bone in my foot.

"It was very disappointing. This definitely made up for it."

What made Kennedy's performance even more impressive is that he said he is just getting over a bout with mononucleosis and was not even supposed to be playing.

"I told the doctor our season was over," Kennedy said with a laugh.

Kennedy, who will play at Meramec Community College in St. Louis next year, allowed a third-inning single to Clay Roth and a seventh-inning single to Spencer Sander.

Meadow Heights' Trever Hotop, right, is congratulated by teammate Brent Garland after scoring a run against Saxony Lutheran during the first inning Tuesday in Perryville, Mo. (KRISTIN EBERTS)

Both Saxony runs were unearned. Kennedy walked five and hit a batter.

"He didn't have his best stuff, but he's such a smart pitcher," Meadow Heights coach Tim Smith said.

Added Kennedy: "I would say it wasn't my best, but I was very satisfied."

The Panthers (10-5) scored an unearned run in the top of the first inning and the Crusaders (11-10) never were able to grab the lead.

Kennedy's sacrifice fly in the third inning put the Panthers up 2-1. They scored twice in both the fourth and fifth innings to go ahead 6-1.

Smith believes the Panthers might have notched their first district baseball victory in school history although he wasn't certain.

Either way, the Panthers were elated.

"I've been here four years and every year we lose in the first round," Kennedy said. "This is exciting."

Losing pitcher Matt Stueve also was solid. The junior allowed five hits and one earned run as both teams committed five errors.

"We didn't do anything to deserve to win," Saxony coach Paul Sander said. "But we're a young team. We only lose one starter."

Seth Garland led the Panthers with two hits.

Meadow Hts 101 220 0 -- 6 5 5

Saxony 010 001 0 -- 2 2 5

WP -- Cody Kennedy. LP -- Matt Stueve. Multiple hits -- Meadow Heights: Seth Garland 2-4. Records -- Meadow Heights 10-5, Saxony Lutheran 11-10.

Charleston 10, Woodland 9

Woodland threatened the upset before Charleston scored five runs with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning to erase a 7-5 deficit.

The Blue Jays (16-7) held on as the Cardinals (9-13) scored runs in the sixth and seventh before falling just short.

"We live to play another day," Charleston coach Michael Minner said.

Minner did not go with either of his top pitchers as he juggled his staff following rainouts Saturday and Monday.

Marshall Stallings gave Charleston 4 1/3 solid innings although he was hurt by poor defense. Ace James Naile got the win by working the final 2 2/3 innings.

"Marshall had thrown 3 2/3 innings of varsity baseball this year. He gave us 4 1/3 tremendous innings. If we make some plays, he might have thrown a complete game," Minner said.

Neil Johnson, who came on after Charleston scored five first-inning runs with one out, was dominant before wearing down.

The only three hits Johnson allowed in 4 1/3 innings came in the fifth. He also walked three and hit a batter in the frame. Ethan Browning's three-run double put Charleston ahead to stay.

Johnson struck out 10 but walked seven and hit a pair.

Johnson had a three-run homer to cap a six-run second inning as Woodland went up 7-5. David Gray also homered for the Cardinals. Danny McKinney homered for Charleston.

"Being a power pitcher, I think Neil kind of ran out of gas," Woodland coach Jason Crane said.

Woodland 160 001 1 -- 9 8 3

Charleston 500 050 x -- 10 7 5

WP -- James Naile. LP -- Neil Johnson. HR -- Johnson (W), David Gray (W), Danny McKinney (C). 3B- Naile (C). 2B- C.J. McAllister (W), Ethan Browning (C). Multiple hits -- Woodland: Andrew Minson 2-4. Charleston: Naile 2-4, Marshall Stallings 2-3. Records -- Woodland 9-13, Charleston 16-7.

East Prairie 3, St. Vincent 0

Connor Scott beat Corey Sauer in a pitcher's duel, although Sauer deserved a better fate.

Sauer allowed just two hits and no earned runs but was tagged with the loss as East Prairie (13-9) did all its damage in the first inning. Sauer struck out seven and walked three.

"He pitched a great game. He has pitched really well the whole season," St. Vincent coach Jose Robles said.

The Indians (7-11) had only four hits off Scott, who struck out five and walked one.

St. Vincent 000 000 0 -- 0 4 2

East Prairie 300 000 x -- 3 2 2

WP -- Connor Scott. LP -- Corey Sauer. 2B -- Kyle Rollet (SV). Records -- St. Vincent 7-11, East Prairie 13-9.