TYLER–The Kerens Lady ‘Cats clinched the Area championship by blanking Rivercrest over two games May 6-7 and move on to the Regional quarterfinals, facing Hawkins in another best-of-three series set for May 12-14.
Versus Rivercrest, in the first game May 6, Kerens scored in every inning for an 11-0 run-rule victory. The Lady ‘Cats scored three runs in the first inning, two runs in the second inning, four runs in the third inning and added two more runs in the fourth inning.
McKenzie Bancroft led Kerens with four RBIs and two hits, including a double. Kenadee Lynch, Abbigail Holt, Rylee Spivey (who had a single and triple) and Leah Greene (with a single and double) also drove in runs for Kerens. On the mound, Spivey allowed two hits and struck out eight Rivercrest batters.
Kerens added another run-rule shutout May 7 to clinch the Area championship, this time beating Rivercrest 14-0. The Lady ‘Cats scored two runs in the first inning, added six runs in the second, tacked on four runs in the third and two more in the fourth.
Spivey gave up one hit and struck out six Rivercrest batters, driving in one run from the batter’s box. Bancroft drove in five runs, hitting two triples and a double. Greene had four RBIs with a single and double. Madison Brumit had two doubles and a single, chalking up two RBIs. Olivia Holt also had an RBI, hitting a single and double.