By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports Editor

KENNETT - The Kennett Indians played host to the Bearcats on Wednesday afternoon; the 'Cats put their 1-0 record on the line in their first District contest of the season, but ultimately fell short with a 4-3 Indian victory.

Jordan Miller took to the mound for the 'Cats, lasting 3 and 1/3 innings, with five K's, two walks, and one earned run. Head coach Brian Becker was pleased with his team's effort against the Tribe.

"I thought our pitchers did a good job. Jordan Miller went out there and got off to a very good start. He threw strikes, but got in a little bit of trouble in the fourth, so I put [Brad] Potts in. Brad was able to get a few strikeouts to get us out of the inning," Becker said. "The next inning, he struggled a little bit, so [Alex] Cliff came in the last inning. He got the first two outs, walked a guy, and then their number two hitter, Smith, hit a ball just down the third base line and a kid scored from first base - that sealed the deal for them there."

Potts, in one and 2/3 innings of work, struck out three, walked two, and gave up two earned runs. Cliff, who picked up the loss, walked one and gave up one earned run.

The Bearcats did an excellent job of keeping Adam Grantham in check at the plate; the senior has already signed to play for the NCAA Division I Arkansas State University Red Wolves next season.

"Grantham is a good ball player; we held him in check for the most part," Becker noted. "The only hit he had on us was against a drawn-in infield; they had a runner on third late in the game, and we had to draw our infield in with less than two outs. He snuck one up the middle for a base hit and an RBI."

The Bearcat offense was limited in the contest, with no players coming up with multiple hits at the plate. Becker credited the Tribe's pitching staff for the low production.

"Offensively, we're just not swinging the bat well right now. You have to credit a lot of that to Kennett's pitching; Lockhart started, threw the first three innings, and then Grantham came in for the final four," he said. "We were able to scratch a few runs off Grantham, but he's a great pitcher. D.J. [Dowdy] was able to come through with a base hit there in the second, and Overall put down a squeeze bunt to tie the game in the sixth, but we just never could push that final run across in the last two innings."

The Bearcats stand at 1-1 on the season heading into another District 1 matchup with Doniphan on Friday. Becker indicated junior Logan Northern would be on the mound for the Bearcats. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.