April 26 - After having consecutive seasons end one game short of a state tournament berth, Kettle Run is taking its move up in classification in stride this spring as it looks to take the next step as a program.
The Cougars (10-1 overall) are embarking on a four-game week that includes tonight’s game against Manassas Park, two 4A Conference 22 games on Wednesday and Friday against Freedom-South Riding and Fauquier, and a big non-conference test at traditional 6A power James River on Saturday.
They do so while carrying an eight-game winning streak, and a chip on their shoulder after having their past two seasons end with close losses in the regional semifinals.
Last year’s 2-0 loss in the 3A East Region Tournament to eventual state champion Lafayette ended Kettle Run’s season with a school-record 18 victories, and coach Ty Thorpe said his team has grown from that defeat and its 4-1 loss in 2014 to Poquoson, which would advance to the state final before losing to Loudoun Valley.
“The regional semifinal losses have been painful, but they have taught us how to deal with adversity,” said Thorpe, who is in his eighth season and is the only head coach in the program’s history. “What we need to do is to find a way to get that big hit when we need it to advance us in the playoffs.”
This year, the Cougars moved up from 3A to 4A, joined a new conference with South Riding’s Freedom and John Champe, Bealton’s Liberty, and Fauquier. They are 4-0 in conference play, and have scored 105 runs in 11 games and eclipsed 10 runs on six occasions.
Pacing that offense has been senior outfielder Brenton Doyle, a Virginia Military Institute commit who was the 3A Conference 27 Player of the Year and a first-team all-state selection last spring. He enters tonight’s game hitting .564 with three doubles, six triples and 14 RBI. Juniors Sam Ewald and Noah Goins have also swung hot bats, with Ewald hitting .415 with six doubles, two home runs and 16 RBI, and Goins hitting .400 with six doubles, a homer and 16 RBI.
The Cougars are hitting .346 as a team, and 37 of their 112 hits have gone for extra bases.
Thorpe hopes his lineup will remain hot through this week as the Cougars enter the second half of their conference schedule and eye a rematch on May 7 with Amherst, which handed Kettle Run its lone loss, 10-5, on March 30.
“This year’s success is due in large part to our offense,” Thorpe said. “We have been doing a great job as a team of hitting the ball hard and driving in runs. Our pitching and defense have been good, but our offense has been lights out.”
Photo of Brenton Doyle courtesy of Kettle Run baseball
