LIONS BRING HAWKS TO EARTH

BENTON -- Despite threatening skies late Thursday afternoon, thunderstorms missed the Class 2A sectional between Kelly's Lions and the Senath-Hornersville Hornets at Kelly High School.

Although it didn't rain, things still got sloppy on the field as the two state-ranked teams combined for eight errors, five hit batters and a couple of baserunning blunders.

In the end, despite getting outhit 10-7 by the Hawks, Senath left town with a 7-5 victory. The Lions, ranked ninth in the latest 2A coaches poll, improved to 20-7 and will host Mansfield on Saturday in a 2A quarterfinal.

"If you play bad and win that's a good sign," said Senath coach Randy Smith, who watched his team commit four errors in the field. "We shot ourselves in the foot a bunch of times today ... we were lucky to win."

Kelly, ranked seventh in the coaches poll, finished the season with a school-record 20-5 mark. Last year, the Hawks finished third in Class 2A.

"It was just one of those situations where we didn't get the job done and we had a lot of opportunities to get the job done," said Kelly coach Mike Scott. "Senath took advantage of some of the mistakes we made and you have to give credit to them for that."

Of the Lions' seven runs, only two were earned off Kelly starter Denver Stuckey (6-2). Playing in his final game for the Hawks, Stuckey was unable to overcome four Kelly errors and his own lack of control.

The Kelly senior walked four and hit four Senath batters, including two in the first inning when the Hornets took a 3-0 lead. Senath used two infield hits and a fielding error in the first inning to take the early advantage.

"They scored three runs in the first inning without getting the ball out of the infield," Scott said. "That's tough luck."

Playing as the visiting team, Kelly took advantage of a Senath error in the top of the second inning to plate two unearned runs. Jim Hulshof opened the inning with a shot between the legs of the Lions' shortstop and the Hawks followed with four more hits in the inning.

With two outs and the bases loaded, John Livingston and Ben Klipfel both ripped RBI singles to cut the score to 3-2. Michael Riley tried to score on Klipfel's hit to center field, but was gunned down on a close play at the plate.

Kelly added three more runs in the third inning, helped by two Senath errors, to take a 5-3 lead. Stuckey and Jason Glastetter opened the inning with singles and both scored on Hulshof's double to right field. Hulshof eventually scored on a Riley groundout to give the Hawks a three-run lead.

"We were a little tight early on, but like we've done all year we battled back," Scott said. "We hit the ball well, especially early, and that got us back in the lead and gave us a chance to secure things there."

But Senath took control after that, using an error and another hit batter by Stuckey in the bottom of the inning to knot the score 5-5 with two unearned runs. The Lions added another run in the fourth inning after Stuckey plugged his final batter and then walked in his second run with the bases loaded.

Another unearned run in the sixth inning gave Senath a 7-5 lead that was held up by starting pitcher Jonathan Binkard. Binkard went the distance, allowing only two hits after the third inning. He also helped himself with three hits.

"Binkard's my man," Smith said. "He's the guy I like out there because he throws strikes and he won't beat himself."

Stuckey was 3-for-4 at the plate with a triple and Hulshof added two hits.