Pitcher leads Kennedale to 3A baseball title

By Brent Shirley

bshirley@star-telegram.com

AUSTIN -- Things couldn't be much better for Kennedale's Hayden Elrod.

After hitting a walk-off single Wednesday in the Class 3A state semifinals, Elrod threw a complete game Thursday against Robinson to earn championship game MVP honors as Kennedale secured its first-ever baseball state title with a 5-1 win at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.

"Everything's good now," said the right-handed Elrod, smiling and holding his MVP award to his chest.

Elrod gave up one run in the bottom of the second inning; the Rockets had two hits in the inning and tied the game 1-1. But after Robinson's first two batters reached base in the third, Elrod hit cruise control.

"I didn't have to throw a lot of fastballs today," said Elrod, who didn't allow another base runner until the seventh. "I was throwing off speed and they were hitting grounders."

Kennedale (33-5-1) got out of the third with an Elrod strikeout and a double play. In the seventh, after giving up just his third hit of the game, Elrod (11-2) got another double play and a groundout to win the game.

Elrod set down 11 straight Rockets. He had two strikeouts and threw just 84 pitches.

"You can't pitch much better than that," Kennedale coach Jet Teague said.

Robinson finished 31-6. With Elrod in a zone on the mound -- retiring 13 of the last 14 batters he faced -- the Wildcats' offense was able to put up five runs on 10 hits.

"We were just looking fastball and waiting on his curve," said designated hitter Zach Holley, 3 for 4 with an RBI.

Kennedale took a 1-0 lead in the first when Jimmy Norris walked, stole second and scored on a double by Cameron Massengill. The Wildcats went up 2-1 in the third on an RBI single from Holley, and Kennedale scored another in the fourth

The Wildcats added their final two runs in the sixth. Nic Williams picked up his second RBI of the game with a single that scored Corey Taylor, who slid under a tag at home.

Kennedale made several highlight-reel plays on defense. Second baseman Justin Braswell recorded Kennedale's first out with a diving catch. A batter later, Kevin Marshall made an over-the-shoulder catch on the run near the warning track in center field.

"It all started with those great plays early," Teague said.

"The first one is always the most special," added Teague, who has coached at Kennedale for 20 years. "I will remember this one for the rest of my life."

Brent Shirley, 817-390-7760

Looking for comments?