Madisonville High School on Thursday, May 23, 2024 –
On Thursday the Shelbyville Dragons and the Kerens Bobcats varsity baseball teams met at Madisonville High school to compete in the Region III Quarterfinals of Texas UIL Baseball Playoffs. The game was close throughout.
The game was scoreless until the top of the seventh inning when Bobcats senior Ryan Priddy doubled to leftfield with one out. Priddy advanced to third base on a passed ball and later scored on another.
The bottom half of the final inning saw junior DJ Barnes single on an infield hit which careened off the pitching rubber. Bobcat’s reliver Kannon Ritchie was able to strikeout the next three batters he faced to end the game with the KHS Bobcats holding a narrow 1-0 run advantage.
Shelbyville’s best chance to score had came in the bottom of the fourth inning when senior Wyatt Frick doubled to rightfield and he came home on a double by Gus Duvon but was tagged out due to a pinpoint throw by the Bobcat’s outfielder.
Junior Bobcats pitcher Krayton Ritchie struck out five, gave up three hits and walked two in six innings. Junior reliever Kannon Ritchie gave up one hit and struck out the final three batters.
Freshman Dragons pitcher Dallas Murry went 6 1/3 innings and struck out four, walked one and gave up five hits. Senior Dylan Parker walked one and struck out two batters in 2/3 innings of pitching.
Kerens is 26-5 overall. They have won 21 games consecutively ad have outscored their last 21 opponents 201-3.
Shelbyville is 23-6. They have won 17 of their last 21 opponents and outscored them 174-71 runs.
Game 2 will take place at Madisonville High School on Saturday, May 25, 2024 at 4 p.m. and Game 3 will follow at 6 p.m. if needed.
