Eagles win opener; seniors lead the way in 14-4 victory

Locke sets school record for wins with 35; Glynn drives in six

The Kennett High baseball team is moving on to the Class I quarterfinals following a 14-4 six-inning victory over visiting Oyster River Thursday. Played before the largest crowd perhaps ever at George T. Davidson Field, the seniors bid their friendly confines a fitting farewell. Seniors John Flanigan, Matt Fall, Rob Knox and Chris Donovan were on base all afternoon while fellow senior Sam Glynn had a career high six RBI including four on a grand slam in the fourth inning that broke the contest wide open. The there was the talented senior left-hander Jeff Locke, who struck out 13 on his way to win number seven on the season and become the career leader in wins at Kennett with 35 in the process. He had been tied with right-hander John Eastman, from the Class of 1982, who was on hand to cheer Locke and the Eagles on."It was a good win," Bob Burns, Eagles' head coach, said. "It was a scoreless game for three innings, and then we got the bats going. I think everyone swung well."Knox said it took the team a few innings to figure out the Bobcats. "I think part of it could have been the weather," the talented catcher said, pointing out it was 88 degrees at game time and it poured rain for the first two innings. "The last couple of games it's been hot and a little energy draining. Once we settled down everything was fine. A win is a win, and it doesn't have to be pretty."KHS took the lead for good in the fourth inning, exploding for six runs. Marcus Levin, who went 2-2 on the day with a pair of walks, started the inning with a sharp single to center. With one out, Fall laced a single of his own. Flanigan knocked in the first run with a two-out single down the right-field line. Knox followed with a single of his own, hitting a laser to left. Locke reached on an infield single, prompting the Oyster River coaching staff to make a pitching change. Glynn, the Eagles' cleanup hitter, lived up to the tag by belting the second pitch he saw over the center-field fence for a grand slam. It was his second home run in two games."Sam hit a bomb," Locke said. "He's zoned in on every pitch right now which is a great time for us. Hopefully he can stay hot like this for three more games. ... The great thing about this team is no one has an ego. We all go and try to do the best we can and whatever needs to be done. Today the bottom of the order was on base all day."Oyster River had no real answer for Locke, who fanned 13 including nine in the first three innings. Their best tactic was the bunt, and it led to four unearned runs in the fifth inning with two runs scoring on bunts along with an infield single and a bases-loaded walk.Kennett quickly got those runs back in the fifth, scoring six more runs. With one out, Donovan reached on an error; Fall had an infield hit; Tyler Paisley drove in a run on a fielder's choice with Fall getting tagged out at second. With two outs, Flanigan walked; Knox walked to load the bases; Locke had an RBI walk; Glynn had an RBI walk; Butters had an RBI single off the third base bag; and Levin drove in two with a single to center.In the top of the sixth, Locke struck out two and fielded a bunt and threw to Glynn for another out.The Eagles ended the game in the sixth on the 10-run mercy rule. Fall singled; Paisley singled; Flanigan grounded out, knocking in Fall; Knox walked; Locke walked; and Glynn knocked in his sixth run on a fielder's choice.Locke was pleased and humble to reach the 35-win milestone. "I finally knotted the big one," he said, smiling. "I knew it would take X amount of wins to tie or pass the mark coming into this season. I almost wish I could split the 35 wins with the catchers (Ben Day and Knox) I've had over the years. Rob is great, I wouldn't trade him for anyone."With the win the Eagles now advance to Memorial Field in Concord for a 1 p.m. game Saturday where they will play either No. 7 St. Thomas or No. 10 Hanover. Levin will toe the rubber for second-ranked Eagles."Marcus can be electrifying when he's on," Locke said. "I'm sure he'll be ready to go and so will the rest of the guys."