Bulldog Softball Steamrolls Winnetonka

The Kearney Varsity softball team traveled to Winnetonka on Monday to play the Griffins in their third conference game of the season. Kate Landewee pitched a perfect 5-inning game to shutout Winnetonka, 13-0.

The Bulldogs struck first in the top of the first inning and never looked back. Morgan Pennington hit a sacrifice fly, scoring one run, and Jocelyn Lincoln singled, scoring two runs.

Kennedi Casey Kennedi collected 3 hits on 4 at bats during the game, hit a double to drive in 3 runs, and collected 2 runs.

Kearney added two runs in the second inning when Brooke Paalhar singled following a 7-pitch at-bat. The team racked up six runs on five hits in the top of the third inning. Kennedi Casey doubled, scoring three runs, Pennington singled, scoring two runs, and Kate Stumpenhaus singled, scoring one run.

Kennedi Casey Kennedi collected 3 hits on 4 at bats during the game, hit a double to drive in 3 runs, and collected 2 runs.

Pennington and Casey each drove in three runs; Ryleigh Van Emmerik and Landewee each collected multiple hits as well. Macy Morrow and Ashlynn Blank went 1 for 1. Ellie Switzer had 1 RBI. Jocelyn Lincoln went 1 for 2 with 2 RBIs. Caroline Jury made 15 plays at the plate.

Kate Landewee struck out 13 batters on the day. She gave up three hits and zero runs over five innings with no walks.

The Bulldogs are on an 11-game winning streak. Their season record is 16-2 and 3-0 in conference play.

Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Bulldogs Overwhelm Class-6 Park Hill 38-17

Kearney scored first with a 1-yard, Grant Nolan touchdown run in the second quarter and never looked back. A mauling Bulldog defensive front and adept coverage from the secondary frustrated Park Hill’s high-power offense from start to finish.

“The biggest thing I keep thinking about this game is how much pride we take in that weight room. I think it showed if we're class 4 or class 6, it doesn't matter, the way our kids get after it in that weight room,” said Kearney Head Coach Logan Minnick. “They had some athletes over there. We won this game on the line of scrimmage, and we were pretty dominant.”

The Class-4 Bulldogs Dominated over Class-6 Park Hill - Photo by Kelly Gentry.

Park Hill got on the board with an Anna Anderson field goal at 4:49 in the second quarter. Kearney’s Jacob Dillon returned the favor with a 39-yard kick through the uprights with 1:21 to go in the half.

With less than ten seconds to go, it seemed Kearney would head to the halftime locker room with a 10-3 advantage until Bulldog quarterback Carter Temple threw a perfect 35-yard strike to the back of the end zone and into the outstretched hands of Grant Nolan.

Jacob Dillon’s point after kick gave the Bulldogs a 17-3 lead and they had the first possession of the second half. By 8:21 in the third quarter, Kearney was on the board again on a Corbin Emmons 45-yard dash to the end zone. Dillon followed up with the PAT as the Bulldogs took over the game at 24-3.

Kearney took advantage of the lead with a heavy running attack through the second half. The Bulldogs amassed 452 offensive yards: 114 passing and a devastating 338 on the ground. Junior Corbin Emmons (168 yards), and Senior Tristan Williams (106 yards) carried the rushing load.

“We were getting five or six yards before we would even get touched, both me and Corbin, so, (our O-line) was pretty good,” said senior running back Tristan Williams.

“We trust those guys back there with the rock,” said senior left tackle, Joe Schranz. “They run hard. I love to see it every single time.”

Park Hill quarterback Zane Thomas connected twice with wide receiver, Dante Dixon for two touchdown scores in the fourth quarter. The first for 30 yards and the second for 80 yards when Dixon broke free over the Bulldog secondary.

Bulldog quarterback Carter Temple ran 18 yards for a touchdown on a designed keeper play in the fourth quarter. Kearney led 31-17 with 4:38 remaining in the game when Temple handed the ball to Tristan Williams for a 1-yard touchdown and the 38-17 win over Park Hill.

“I’m just so proud of the way our kids came out,” said Minnick. “We said all week, to match them or to win this game, we're going to have to be the most physical team and I thought that showed up time and time again.”

The 4-0 Kearney Bulldogs host Class 6, North Kansas City on Friday, September 27. KPGZ 102.7FM will broadcast the game. The pregame show begins at 6:40 PM. Kickoff is at 7:00 PM.

Mike Davis contributed to this story.

Bulldog Softball Holds Back Smithville

For the first Suburban Blue Conference game of the Bulldog softball team’s season, Kearney faced off against the Smithville Warriors on Tuesday, September 17. Both teams were there to win the rivalry, but Kearney was able to take the win with a score of 5-2.

Alyssa Quick pitched a complete game against the Smithville Warriors, only allowing 6 hits and 2 earned runs.

The Warriors put up the first run of the game in the top of the second inning after Avery Davis hit a solo home run to right field. The Bulldogs kept cool in the rest of the 2nd inning and top of the 3rd with a solid defense and pitching.

In the bottom of the 3rd inning, Kearney put up 4 runs as Macy Morrow singled and scored, Brooke Paalhar doubled and scored, Morgan Pennington singled and scored. Alyssa Quick singled and Reese Narron came in to pinch run. Kate Stumpenhaus doubled and drove in Pennington and Narron for the 4th run.

Kearney scored once more in the bottom of the 4th as Morrow went home on a Pennington sacrifice fly. The Warriors scored one more run in the top of the 7th but a solid Bulldog defense prevented any more batters from making it home.

Alyssa Quick pitched a complete game against the Smithville Warriors, only allowing 6 hits and 2 earned runs.

Other highlights of the game:

Macy Morrow went 3-3

Kennedi Casey went 1-2

Brooke Paalhar went 2-3 with 1 RBI

Morgan Pennington went 1-3 with 1 RBI

Alyssa Quick went 2-3 with 1 RBI

Kate Stumpenhaus went 1-3 with 2 RBIs

Jocelyn Lincoln went 1-3

The Kearney Bulldogs softball record is now 14-2 and 1-0 in conference play.

Brian Watts contributed to this story.