1A State Semi-Final Game 1 Kennard v Hubbard

Kennard vs Hubbard

It’s hard to believe it has been 2 years since we last had a State Tournament, but here we are.  The morning was overcast, but the spirits high as today is a baseball day!  Justin Johnson would lead off the 2021 State Tournament for Hubbard.  The top of the first was quite as Kennard’s Dylan Cole would get Johnson to pop out to second and a ground out to second baseman Caleb Alfred.  He would walk Shelby Noppeney but then quickly pick him off at first for the third out.

Hubbard would start the bottom in much the same fashion as Jaden Kulms popped out to pitcher Shelby Noppeney. But Keyton Lumbreraz would smoke a ball down the 1B line for triple but score on a missed cut off throw. Its quickly 1-0 Kennard.  Noppeney would strikeout the next batter before a couple of walks and a wild pitch put runners on 2-3.  He ends the inning with a strikeout of Caleb Alfred.  

Kennard’s Dylan Cole looked in complete control in the top of the second with a groundout to second baseball and two strikeouts.   Hubbard pitcher Shelby Noppeney answers with two strikeouts and a ground out of second himself.  In the 3^rd, Cole picks up where he left off with a comebacker that is thrown to first baseman Ryan Pilkington. He strikeouts out the second batter and gets a groundout to shortstop Jaden Kulms to end Hubbard’s half of the 3^rd.  In the bottom of the 3^rd, Noppeney would again answer with a flyout to centerfielder Caleb Poston, a groundout to shortstop Justin Johnson and a strikeout to end the inning.  As we head to the 4^th, it was still 1-0, Kennard.

Kennard’s Cole would continue his outstanding performance with a strikeout of leadoff batter, Justin Johnson and a weak line out to first.  Shelby Noppeny would get his second walk of the game. He advanced to second on a pickoff attempt.  With two outs, Hubbard would start to figure out Cole as Sebastian Olvera scores Noppeney on an infield single.  Olvera was moved up to second by River Milne before a groundout to third baseman Keyton Lumbrarez ends the threat.  In the bottom half of the fourth, Noppeney would get the batters in order on a ground out back to the pitcher and 2 strikeouts.

As we headed to the fifth, the score was tied a 1-1.  Cole gets a strikeout of the leadoff batter before walking Joseph Green who was thrown out at second trying to steal. Another groundout to second, ends the top of the 5th.  The bottom of the 5^th would start well with a flyout to center before 2 errors put runners on first and second. But Noppeney would get out of the jamb with an infield fly and a strikeout to send us to the 6^th.

Hubbard’s Justin Johnson starts off the 6^th with a single but would cause a double play when he interfered on with the shortstop after a sac bunt attempt by Blaine Cornelius.  Noppeney would single to left and steal second.  But Cole would end any threat with a strikeout.  Things would come alive in the bottom of the 6^th as Dylan Cole would double to start the inning.  In a steal of 3^rd, the catcher hit the batter in the face with the ball and everyone would be safe. An intentional walk put runners on first and third before Caleb Alfred would single to score Cole and Jacob Catoe.  A strikeout and flyout would end the inning but the damage was done as it was 3-1 Kennard.

Hubbard would go down quietly in the 7^th.  Final -3-1 Kennard.

WP – Cole
Save – Kulms

LP –  Noppeney

Player of the Game: Caleb Alfred