Kennedy, Schmidt power Malcolm Dienes to 10-0 win over Newman

METAIRIE – It was a solid freshman season for Gavin Kennedy for Archbishop Rummel.

Kennedy started much of the season before battling an injury. It is safe to say that Kennedy is healthy now.

Kennedy belted a pair of home runs and Brady Schmidt pitched a shutout as Rummel-based Malcolm Dienes blanked Newman 10-0 in a game shortened to four and a half innings by the mercy rule in Crescent City Sports Prep Summer League play Thursday evening at Raider Park.

The win was the sixth straight for the Rummel-based squad.

“He’s healthy and he hit those two balls very well,” Malcolm Dienes coach Frank Cazeaux said. “I liked the way we played defense. Brogan Blum did a hell of a job behind the plate for us.”

Kennedy was just looking to see a pitch or two he could barrel up.

“I was just going up there thinking gap to gap,” Kennedy said. “I waited to see a good pitch and let it fly. I have never hit two home runs in a game at any level. The last time I hit home run, I was like 11. It felt good.”

Malcolm Dienes (7-1-1) jumped on Newman in the bottom of the second for three runs. Brock Bullinger walked and Casey Avrard doubled to the gap in left-center field to score Bullinger and it was 1-0. Avrard advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a throwing error to make it 2-0.

Anthony Mouney walked, advanced on a stolen base, moved to third on a passed ball and scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-0. Brogan Blum walked, Ruben Ramirez singled and Gavin Nix drove in a run with a fielder’s choice grounder and Ramirez hustle home with a second run on the play on the attempt to turn a double play and it was 5-0 after two innings.

The lead grew to 6-0 in the third inning when Kennedy homered to right-center field.

In the fourth inning, Bullinger doubled home Nix and Rhett Centanni to make it 8-0. Kennedy followed with his second home run, almost identical to the first, a two-run to right-center field to make it 10-0.

Schmidt allowed just three hits, walked just one and struck out six for his third win. Schmidt was sharp, throwing 86 pitches, 56 for strikes.

“Brady is throwing the ball very well for us and so is Shane Hirstius,” Malcolm Dienes coach Frank Cazeaux said. “We came out and played with a little energy. That’s what happens when you do that.”

Alexander Groome started and took the loss for the Greenies (3-9), pitching one and a third innings, allowing four runs, just one earned, on one hit. Groome walked three and threw a pair of wild pitches. Clayton Stevens relieved Groome, going two-thirds of an inning, allowing a run on a hit. Henry Cook followed, going an inning and two-thirds, yielding five runs on seven hits. Everett Ott finished up for the final third of an inning.

Tucker Joseph, Saint Villere and Will Zurik each had a single for Newman, which dropped its fifth straight game.

“There’s always room for improvement,” Kennedy said. “This team, we’re going to go far. I feel like it is a good group of guys. We’re young but we’re scary.”

FINAL
Newman 000 00 — 0 3 1, 4 LOB
M. Dienes 051 4X — 10 9 0, 5 LOB
WP—Brady Schmidt (3-0)
LP—Alexander Groome (0-1)
Time of Game: 1:43
SB—Anthony Mouney
2B—Casey Avrard, Brock Bullinger
HR—Gavin Kennedy-2 (2)