Our Hernando High school baseball and softball seniors both were celebrated at their respective games. For our baseball team their eight seniors were recognized before their game against Horn Lake. The seniors consisted of David Gentry, Cole Gregg, Brannon Kirkpatrick, Cade Koczka, Garret Mcgee, Coen Mcknight, Cole Stanfill, Julian Tenorio, and Brayden Thompson.
Two of the seniors have committed to play college baseball, Cade Koczka committed to play at Northwest Community college and Julian Tenorio committed to Bethel University.
During the game all of the seniors got at least one at bat except Garret Mcgee who was pitching. The game started out hot for your tigers, in the top of the first inning Garret Mcgee struck out the first batter. The next at bat ended with Brannon Kirkpatrick throwing out the runner for the second out. Although Horn Lake got a hit in the inning, Garret McGee struck out the final batter in the top half of the inning, meaning that now it was time for the Tigers to do damage in the bottom of the first inning. Garret McGee finished the night allowing one hit and four strike outs in two innings of work. The Tigers started off hot, scoring 10 runs in the first inning. Most of these runs were due to the total of six walks the tigers were able to draw off from the Eagles. Both teams ended up empty in the second inning, but the Tigers were able to score two more runs in the third inning. In the fourth inning both teams scored one run each but ultimately the Tigers run ruled the eagles in the fourth inning with a final score of 13-1.
Head coach of the Tigers, Taylor Karr talked about how it has been coaching these stars these last couple years.
“It’s been really cool, just to see how they have grown. I remember coming in and them being sophomores, and you know they were just little babies, and now they’ve completely grown up and transformed into the young men they are. It’s been a blessing for me. I tell the kids all the time, you know, like, yes, I get to coach them, but in a sense, they get to coach me too. And to just personally get to know each one of them and what they’ve meant to me.”
Last Tuesday, the softball team recognized their seniors before they faced off against the number one team in Mississippi, Desoto Central. The softball team consists of four seniors, Bertlee Barrett, Molly Anderson, Callie Desmond, and Katelyn Kirkpatrick.
All four of the seniors committed to play at the next level. Bertlee Barret committed to Williams Baptist College, Molly Anderson committed to Northwest community college, Callie Desmond and Katelyn Kirkpatrick both committed to Itawamba community college.
Each of these seniors would be a big impact on the Tigers softball team that night. The Tigers held their own on defense to start the game holding the Jaguars to no runs in the top of the first inning. Jayla Sites started the scoring for the tigers, with two outs in the inning Jayla Sites hit a homerun to put the tigers up one to nothing. The Tigers continued their strength, showing out in defense allowing no runs in the top of the second or third inning. The Tigers added one more run in the bottom of the second on a passed ball allowing Molly Anderson to score. The Tigers allowed one run in the third inning, but didn’t allow anymore after that. The Tigers took down the Jaguars with a final score of two to nothing putting an end to a great night for our seniors.
Hernando star, Molly Anderson talked about how the game felt with the added pressure of senior night and playing against Desoto Central.
“I think everybody doubted us tonight, because we did lose to DC three to nothing the first time we played them. I think we had a lot of doubt, but I think we turned everything around, and we just played as a team. That’s why we came out with the win tonight, so I’m very happy for me and my team.”
Great job to all of our softball and baseball Hernando seniors. We wish you the best of luck for the rest of the season and the playoffs. We know that you will be great at the next level!
