Cedar Rapids Kennedy softball advances to state for first time since 1999

CEDAR RAPIDS — Kaylin Kinney figured the Cedar Rapids Kennedy bats had been silent long enough.

After three hitless frames for the Cougars' offense, the freshman sparked a two-run fourth inning with a leadoff double as fourth-ranked Kennedy held down Davenport West, 3-1, and won a Class 5A softball regional final Tuesday night at Kennedy.

'I was just trying to do whatever I could to help out the team,' Kinney said. 'It was right there, it was a clean swing and I was happy with a double.'

Kinney's jolt of offense led to a Megan Weber walk and a bunt single by Jenna Schwartzhoff. With the bases loaded and one out, Kaylin's older sister Sydney Kinney — a Coe signee — tapped back to Davenport West pitcher Erica Ralfs, whose attempt at a forceout at home plate sailed over her catcher's head and scored Kennedy courtesy runner Kai Johnson for the first run. One batter later, a sacrifice fly to right field by designated player Abby Spore scored Schwartzhoff for a 2-0 Cougars' lead.

'We stress, 'stay within ourselves,'' first-year Kennedy Coach Maddison LeClere said. 'Stay within yourself, do what you can do and good things will happen.'

Good things happened in the circle as well for Kaylin Kinney. The Nebraska recruit pitched out of jams in both the first and third innings, stranded five runners and gave her offense time to collect themselves against Ralfs. Kinney (12-3) surrendered three hits and a fifth-inning run, struck out seven and walked four.

'We know she's good and she has been a performer for us since she came into this program,' LeClere said. 'She's a great leader, and this team follows her like no other and it's crazy to see a freshman do that. It's unbelievable.'

Three of Kinney's free passes were intentional in order to minimize any possible damage from West slugger Lexy Monty, who entered the game as the state leader in home runs (19) and third with 66 RBIs.

Clinging to a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth, Kennedy senior Ashley Hamilton led off with a double and scored on an Ashley Winterowd single. Davenport West (32-9) — which entered the regional final winners of 14 straight games — loaded the bases in the seventh, but Kinney induced a groundball forceout at third base that ended the threat and delivered the Cougars to the state tournament for the first time since 1999.

'It feels amazing,' said Hamilton, a University of Iowa signee. 'This has been a journey for the past four years. We've been cut short the past three, so it feels good to get some redemption and go to Fort Dodge next week.'

The Cougars were eliminated by West at home in a regional semifinal two years ago, then Prairie bested them in the final last season.

This time, Kennedy (35-7) took that monumental leap into the 5A state bracket, where it will be the No. 4 seed and open with a state quarterfinal against fifth-seeded Johnston (36-5) Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. at Fort Dodge.

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