Opposite attracts for Kennedy in Metro title win

CEDAR RAPIDS - This win literally came out of right field.

Cedar Rapids Kennedy's baseball team clutched up for three runs in the seventh inning to come from behind and capture the Bob Vrbicek Metro Tournament championship last night at Veterans Memorial Stadium, 6-5, over Cedar Rapids Xavier.

Those runs were produced with four straight two-out hits. Three of the four came from right-handed batters and to the opposite field.

“This is going to give us good confidence,” said Kennedy's Devon Jacobus. “We're not going to be afraid when we're down. We know that we can come back.”

It was Jacobus' slicing drive into the right-field corner that scored Terrell Sykes with the winning run. Sykes tied the game with a two-strike, two-run bloop double toward the line that plopped in front of Xavier right fielder Eric Zenisek, who was playing deep.

Austin Christensen and Griffin Michael began the unexpected uprising with back-to-back singles against Xavier reliever Kevin Hosch. Just guess where they were hit.

“Their whole (outfield) was playing back,” Sykes said. “Usually in those situations, you wouldn't do that so you could keep the guy at second from scoring. The pitch to me was outside, I put my hands out and tried to hit it. It wasn't the best hit. But that happens, I guess.”

It happens when you keep fighting, Kennedy Coach Bret Hoyer said, even though it looks like you've got nothing going. Kennedy (3-0) fell behind, 3-0, but tied it in the third thanks in part to a misplayed pop-fly double (down the right-field line, naturally) and an ensuing throwing error past home plate.

“Just keep playing it one pitch at a time,” Hoyer said. “Just take the right approach every single pitch, every single at-bat and control what you can control. That's your at-bat. I thought our kids did a real nice job of that.”

Xavier (2-1) took a 5-3 lead in the fourth on a two-run single by Alex Ries. The Saints, who had 11 hits but stranded nine, had a runner thrown out at home later in the fourth and didn't score in the sixth despite having the bases loaded and one out.

Those lost opportunities were crucial, Xavier Coach Dave Schemmel said.

“I don't look at that last inning as where we lost,” Schemmel said. “You have to come through with (big) hits. We easily could have scored another three or four runs.”

Michael got the win in relief, retiring all four hitters he faced.