Zenisek homer helps Xavier split with Kennedy

CEDAR RAPIDS - The large abrasion on his chin told you Eric Zenisek came out on the wrong end of a battle with the outfield fence last night at Cedar Rapids Kennedy.

But the Cedar Rapids Xavier right fielder ended up showing that darned fence, hitting a ball over it to provide the pivotal play in his team's double-header split.

"It's one of the biggest games we've had all year," Zenisek said after Xavier's 6-5 second-game win in this matchup of Mississippi Valley Conference division leaders. "Kennedy's in our (substate). This gives us a lot of confidence."

The Class 4A 10th-ranked Saints had to feel beaten down after losing handily to No. 5 Kennedy in the finals of the season-opening Metro Tournament and 18-1 in a four-inning opener last night. The Cougars were in perfect position for the sweep until "Big Z" struck.

Xavier's eighth-place hitter drilled a two-run home run to left-center off losing pitcher Griffin Michael with two outs in the sixth inning to give his club a stunning 3-2 lead. The Saints (19-6, 13-5 Valley Division) added three more runs before the inning ended, which turned out to be huge.

Kennedy (22-6, 15-3 Mississippi Division) scored twice in the bottom of the sixth and got a solo home run in the seventh from Austin Christensen, his 13th of the season. Reliever Mac Mattke stranded the tying run on first by getting Matt Maiers to fly out to left to end it.

"A great comeback," said Xavier Coach Dave Schemmel. "Eric's hit was big. A big hit. You could just kind of see the air go out of them a little bit after that."

Zenisek, by the way, got his abrasion by smacking face first into the fence chasing a foul fly ball off the bat of Kennedy leadoff hitter Terrell Sykes in Game 1.

Give a lot of credit to Xavier starting pitcher Dane Mehring, who gave his club a chance by pitching into the sixth inning of Game 2. The crafty lefty wasn't overpowering, but changed speeds enough, getting 13 outs through the air.

Kennedy still pounded out 29 hits in the twin-bill, including 18 in the opener. The Cougars' Devon Jacobus continued his recent offensive tear with three home runs, two in the first game.

"I've never hit two home runs in a double-header," Jacobus said. "Nothing's changed. I'm just staying with my approach that I've always had. Just working it out."

Kennedy Coach Bret Hoyer wasn't particularly pleased with the split, as you'd imagine, especially on a night when the school's 2010 4A state championship team was honored between games. Each player was introduced and given a nifty looking ring to commemorate the achievement.

"Five runs needs to be enough with Griffin pitching," Hoyer said. "If five runs isn't enough to win with Griffin pitching, then we're going to struggle.

"We left way too many plays on the field tonight. That's frustrating. We haven't been able to get over the hump, yet. We've been winning some games, but we've been getting away with (some things)."