Two big innings for the Kirkwood Cobras told the story for the Todd County Central Rebels Thursday evening. Kirkwood hung a double-digit number on the scoreboard in the third and almost did again in the 5th on the way to a 23-1 win on the Rebels home field.
The Cobras came out swinging the bats as soon as they got off the bus. Two hit batters with two outs opened the door for a bit first inning as Kirkwood took a 3-0 lead just one-half inning into the game.
The Rebels got one of the runs back in the bottom of the second on an RBI double from Peyton Ortiz, cutting the lead to 3-1.
Then the roof caved in on the Rebels. Kirkwood opened the top of the third with a home run to center and that ignited the big inning. Ten of the first eleven batters in the inning reached base safely for the Cobras. By the time the inning was over, Kirkwood had plated 10 runs and the game was out of hand at 13-1.
A walk and an error allowed Kirkwood to add a run in the top of the fourth to make it 14-1, and then it went from bad to worse in the top of the 5th.
Kirkwood took full advantage of six walks, two hit batters and a Rebel error as the Cobras tallied nine more runs in the top of the 5th to make it 23-1.
In addition to Peyton Ortiz’s RBI single, the Rebels got one hit each from Devin Schutt and Aaron Mansfield.
Kirkwood outhit the Rebels 13-3 and took advantage of 13 walks from four Rebel pitchers.
The Rebels head off to Cumberland County Saturday to take on the Panthers in the 4th Region All A Classic.
