Kendall 17U sweeps to claim division title

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Kendall’s Gavin Braun dives safely back to third base on a close play  during this evening’s title clinching doubleheader sweep of the visiting Greece Gladiators.

Putting a lock on the division title, Kendall 17U swept to a doubleheader victory over the visiting Greece Gladiators by scores of 13-0 and 8-6 this evening to close out the Monroe County Baseball Region season with a 13-2 record.

In the opener, Kendall scored what proved to be the game winner in the first inning on an RBI double by Jimmie Swift which followed a single by winning pitcher Lou Conte.

Still leading by a narrow 1-0 margin, the Kendall defense came up with the play of the game in the top of the third inning as Gavin Braun made a sparkling diving catch in right field for the final out getting Kendall out of a bases loaded jam.

Kendall upped the lead to 2-0 in the home half of the third on an RBI single by Vinnie D’Agostino and then broke the contest wide open by exploding for 11 runs in the fourth frame. Jacob Abrams had a two-run double, James Fox and Jonas Rhodes two-run singles and Conte and Swift RBI singles in the big inning.

Conte and Swift both finished with 3 hits and D’Agostino 2.

On the mound, Conte allowed 2 hits and struck out 3.

In the second game, Kendall used 4 run scoring bursts in both the first and second innings to key the win.

D’Agostino and Braun both had RBI singles in the first. Swift then had a two-run double, Nic Cole an RBI double and D’Agostino an RBI single in the second.

Cole, Swift and D’Agostino each finished with 2 hits.

Lou Conte delivers a pitch during the first game of the doubleheader.