Kennett clinches Ches-Mont American with win over Oxford
OXFORD—There was a lot on the line Friday afternoon at Oxford. Kennett had a chance to clinch the Ches-Mont American division with a win, but the Hornets could reinsert itself in the race by knocking off the visitors. The Blue Demons (12-6) wrapped timely hits around several Hornet miscues to overcome an early deficit and edge the Hornets (11-8) by a score of 8-6.
With the win, Kennett not only picks up the divisional title, they solidify their hold on the final spot in the District 1, Class 6A playoffs.
“It feels great to be the American champions this season,” said Kennett coach Lauren Gottstein. “Oxford is a tough team and this one was back and forth the whole way. It’s great to see us come away with the win the way we did over a tough team.”
The Hornets struck first, pushing across three runs in the home half of the first on a three-run blast from Maddie Frank.
After cutting the Hornets lead to 3-1 on a solo blast from Hannah Slicer in the second, the Demons tied it in the fourth. Slicer got things going, reaching on a dropped third strike. Ainsley Albert (2 for 4, 1 R) and Katie LaCosta followed, and reached on fielder’s choices, moving up to second and third on an error, with Albert scoring on a sac fly to center from Brooke Underwood.
With a pair of runners on, Jordan Barish came through with a single up the middle, good enough to score LaCosta, though the Hornets ended the inning by throwing Amelia Ehrgood out at the plate.
“This season has just been great,” said Albert, a three-year starter for the Blue Demons. “We really struggled last season, and we have such a young team, so it feels really great to win the division again this season.”
Though Oxford re-took the lead in the following inning when Gianna Coyle (4 for 5, 2B, 3B, 3R) tripled and scored on a wild pitch, Kennett took advantage of three Oxford errors and a wild pitch to put the game away with five runs over the final two innings, highlighted by the second of two doubles from Amber Kahrs.
Kahrs started the game in the circle, but came out after two innings, giving way to the Blue Demons ace, Genevieve Ebaugh, who picked up the win going the final five innings. Ebaugh allowed two runs—just one earned—on five hits, striking out five and walking four.
“It’s been a long week for Gen,” said Gottstein. “She’s piled up a lot of innings this week, including nine against Shanahan, so we thought we’d let Amber get the start. But when it came to crunch time, we knew we wanted Gen in there.”
Kennett pounded out 12 hits on the afternoon, with six different Blue Demons notching mutli-hit games—Albert, Kahrs (2 for 4, 2 2B, RBI); Barish (2 for 5, 2 RBI, 1R); Ebaugh (2 for 3), Slicer (2 for 4, H, RBI);and Ehrgood (2 for 4, RBI, R).
“It’s crazy to think that we’ve won the division and are going to districts,” said Ebaugh. “We have come together strong. Now we just have to keep things going.”
The Hornets still have a shot at sneaking into the district playoffs, but it will take beating Downingtown West, currently ranked No.3 in the district.
“We are in every game we play,” said Oxford coach Josh Socash. “These girls battle and can hit with anyone. We have a tough one Monday, but if we can limit our mistakes and keep the bats hot, we can play with anyone.”
