By Blaine Clamon
Special to The Monitor
PALMER–On Tuesday, Kemp Yellowjackets’ Varsity Baseball traveled to Palmer to take on their rival Bulldogs in their district opener.
Palmer struck first in the bottom of the second inning for a 3-0 lead when Wesley Greenlee came home on a bases-loaded walk and Ben Waddle’s 2-run RBI single scored Logan Zabojnik and Jeremy Robinson, all with two outs.
In the top of the third inning, Cameron Clamon got Kemp on the board as his RBI single scored Jack Giffin to make it 3-1. The Yellowjackets added their next run in the fourth when a wild pitch allowed Kane Johnson to zip home and they trailed 3-2.
The Bulldogs offense answered back with Waddle’s RBI single to score Zabojnik and Mike Medina’s RBI double in the bottom of the fourth inning to extend the lead to 5-2. Their final run of the night was scored by Greenlee on Robinson’s RBI single for the 6-2 lead.
Kemp came up empty with an opportunity in the top of the sixth inning when singles from Tyler Garrett and Ethan Irvin put them both on base with one out to go; Mason Claver’s flyout and Cameron Fiatte’s popout ended Kemp’s threat and Palmer would go on to win 6-2.
Dakota Price started for Kemp to go four innings and allowed four hits, three walks, and five runs while throwing three strikeouts. Junior Brooks pitched two relief innings and allowed two hits, no walks, one run, and threw four strikeouts.
Junior Brooks went 3-for-4 with two singles and a double, Tyler Garrett and Cameron Fiatte both went 2-for-3 with two singles apiece, and Cameron Clamon went 2-for-4 with an RBI single and a single.
Kemp falls to 1-6 overall and 0-1 in district play.