CHAMPAIGN — Patrick Kennedy got through a no-stress first inning against Lincoln at Spalding Park, keeping the Railsplitters off the scoreboard to start Saturday’s Class 3A regional championship game.
Then Champaign Central batted around in the bottom half of the inning, spotting Kennedy six runs to make the rest of his complete-game effort even easier in a 10-0, run-shortened victory that gave the Maroons their fifth straight regional title and eighth in the last dozen years.
“That’s pretty rare in a regional championship to go that route,” Central coach John Staab said. “Really, a lot of quality at bats in the first inning.”
Carter Bleakney got the offensive onslaught going for Central in the bottom of the first inning. The senior outfielder sat on a slider, lining a double into the left-center field gap. Then the Maroons were off the races, with Tre Cole delivering the sixth run of the first inning out of the ninth spot in the lineup with an opposite field double.
“Up and down the order that first inning was huge,” Staab said. “That took the pressure off.”
Cole finished the game with a team-high three RBI. Bleakney, Kennedy, Ryan Pipkins, Ben McDaniel and Oliver Brandow all had two hits for the Maroons.
Pipkins finished 2 of 3 with a double, triple and two runs scored. Brandow had two singles, scored twice and drove in two runs.
It was more than enough support for Kennedy, who was dialed in with his command. The senior right-hander gave up just one hit, hit another batter and struck out nine in his complete-game shutout.
Lincoln had no answer for Kennedy’s split-fingered fastball.
“His splitter, to be honest has kind of been off and on, but (Saturday) it was really good,” Staab said. “When that’s good for him, that’s a good sign. My pitching coach deserves a lot of credit. Dom Erlinger taught him that last year. When (Kennedy’s) got that going, he’s tough to beat.”
Saturday’s win sends Central to the Lincoln Sectional. The Maroons (24-12-1) will play Mount Zion at 2 p.m. Wednesday after the Braves knocked off Rochester 14-4 in six innings Saturday to win their own regional title.
“Mount Zion’s had a great year,” Staab said. “We’ve got a couple days of practice to get better, and we’ll see what happens. You never know. The sectional is always tough.
“We were 11-11-1 about three weeks ago. It’s just kind of clicked. We made one change defensively, and it’s really worked out for us. Credit to the boys. They’ve stepped up the last three weeks, and we’re playing well at the right time.”
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