PREP ROUNDUP: Kithler hammers 3-run homer, drives in 5 runs in Titans’ opening win

Published 3:49 pm Wednesday, February 20, 2019

Adler Kithler finished on the mound what he started at the plate — a dominating performance in Memorial’s season-opening baseball victory.

Kithler batted 4 for 6 including a three-run home run and drove in five runs Tuesday as the Titans routed Hamshire-Fannett 19-7. Kithler also held the Longhorns (0-1) without a hit for the final 1 2/3 innings.

Jaylen LaPoint and Tony Brooks each lined two hits in the win. LaPoint batted in two runs and Brooks drove in one.

Subscribe to our free email newsletter

Get the latest news sent to your inbox

Jeremiah Fielder, the Titans’ starting pitcher, went 1 for 3 but drove in three runs. Fielder also held the Longhorns to three earned runs on three hits and struck out four in 3 2/3 innings.

Josue Rodriguez earned the win after throwing 1 2/3 innings of one-hit ball and striking out one.

Miguel Martinez and Johan Nakao had the Titans’ other hits.

Memorial will play in the Bridge City Cardinal Classic starting at 11 a.m. Thursday with a game against the host Cardinals.

 

La Porte 4, PNG 1 (Monday)

In Port Neches on Monday, the Indians (0-1) tried to overcome a 3-0 hole over the Bulldogs (1-0) after the top of the first inning, but could not generate much offense at home.

PNG’s only run came off Carson Roccaforte’s sacrifice in the bottom of the first to score leadoff Blake Bost.

Dean Guidry and Hunter Hranicky each lined two hits, and Reid Porter accounted for the Indians’ other. La Porte also had five hits.

Khristian Curtis gave up three earned runs on four hits and struck out three in the first three innings to suffer the loss. Grant Rogers held La Porte to one run on one hit in the next two innings, and Austin Schaper and Roccaforte combined for two innings of no-hit ball.

PNG will compete in the Sulphur tournament Thursday and Friday.

 

Silsbee 4, Nederland 2 (Monday)

In Nederland, a three-run rally in the sixth inning helped the Tigers (1-0) overcome a 2-0 deficit in a season-opening win.

Landon Hiltz went 2 for 3 and drove home both of Nederland’s runs. Brock Holton and Wade Butler had the other two Bulldog hits.

Conner Kemp took the loss although he struck out 10 Tigers and gave up the three earned runs on two hits in 5 1/3 innings. Noah Gregory went one inning with the final run allowed on no hits, and Hiltz gave up two hits in the final two-thirds inning.

Nederland will compete in the Bridge City Cardinal Classic Thursday-Saturday.

 

SOFTBALL

Nederland 7, Bridge City 2

In Bridge City, the Bulldogs (5-3) outhit the Cardinals 16-7, and Lexi Eversole batted in three runs in the victory.

Eversole went 3 for 4 and scored two runs. Brittany Taylor, Hannah Grumbles, Destini Trahan, Sierra Wiltz and Chaelyn Esquivel each had two hits, with Allysa Collazo, Allison Sorensen and Kallye Taylor hammering the other hits.

Collazo, Sorensen, Morison and Taylor each drove in a run.

Ashley Gerrald led Bridge City with two hits. Abby Anderson (RBI), Natilee Reed, ALeah McClanahan, Kaylyn Dosch and Vivian Nguyen accounted for the Cardinals’ other hits.

Destini Trahan held Bridge City to two earned runs and struck out 10 in a complete-game win.

Nederland broke a 2-all tie with four runs in the fifth. Austyn Daniels gave up six earned runs on 11 hits in four innings, and Ball gave up the seventh run on five hits in the last two.

Bridge City will play in the Orangefield tournament Thursday-Saturday. Next for Nederland is the Clear Creek ISD tournament.

 

GIRLS SOCCER

On Tuesday, Vidor defeated Port Neches-Groves 2-0, and Dayton beat Memorial 1-0.

About I.C. Murrell

I.C. Murrell was promoted to editor of The News, effective Oct. 14, 2019. He previously served as sports editor since August 2015 and has won or shared eight first-place awards from state newspaper associations and corporations. He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, grew up mostly in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and graduated from the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

email author More by I.C.