It’s been a wild ride for Kentwood baseball this season, and unfortunately for Conqueror skipper Mark Zender, that journey came to a close as his side fell 7-3 to Auburn Riverside on May 6.
“It was an interesting season. We were good enough to beat anybody. The whole league was that way. We split with everybody except these guys. We didn’t play well these last two games, I’m not sure why,” Zender said.
“The kids are disappointed because they know there were five games in hand, that we should have won and didn’t. That was the difference,” he added.
Heading into the final two game series of the season, Kentwood and Auburn Riverside were deadlocked at 6-6 at fourth and fifth in the NPSL. For the 2025 4A West Central District Tournament takes five teams, waiting in the wings was Mount Rainier, which was a game back in the standings behind the Ravens and Conks.
Auburn Riverside won game one 2-1 on May 5 and put themselves in the driver’s seat to secure a playoff spot. Mount Rainier also beat Kentridge, which at the time had the second-best record in the league. This meant Kentwood had to win and they’d be in the playoffs, or Mount Rainer had to lose.
Auburn Riverside struck first in the bottom half of the first inning and it took until the fourth inning. At that point, Kentwood was down 4-0, and 11 miles away, Mount Rainier was leading 5-0. Something had to happen and fast, and the catalyst came from the bottom of the lineup.
Maizjay Mickey hit an RBI ground out, followed by a Zach McGuire single that brought up Zach Hernandez and the top of the order. Hernandez tried to save the Conks’ season as he smacked a double off the right-centerfield wall to score McGuire and cut the Ravens’ lead to one, 4-3.
“It sparked a little belief because we were within one and had the tying run on third and didn’t get it in. But Riverside deserves credit because they came right back and scored. We just couldn’t play defense well tonight,” Zender said.
Auburn Riverside responded with a two-run fourth and stole all the momentum that Kentwood had found. In the final three innings, Kentwood had just one batter reach base as 10 of the next 11 batters were retired in order. Hernandez hit a one out single in the seventh to break the streak.
“Zach is a tremendous player. He’s been a four-year starter. What he did tonight is when he is at his best. Defensively I think he is one of the best centerfielders I’ve seen in a long time. Offensively he didn’t break our stolen base record and was one shy last season. He’s on base all the time, he’s just a really good baseball player. I think ultimately, he has a Division One future ahead of him,” Zender said.
Isaac Hall came in to pitch in the bottom of the fifth inning for Jack Coleman with no outs. Hall allowed the lone runner he inherited to score, but minimized the damage as he pitched two innings without allowing a run.
Hall has an interesting story as he didn’t play baseball as a freshman or sophomore due to his academics. But this season he was eligible for the first time in his career. His teachers now say he is a really good student, according to Zender.
“He started making all the right choices and is a little rough around the edges because he didn’t have coaching his first two years in the program. He has a live arm and tonight showed what he can do,” Zender said.
Kentwood is a mainstay in district tournaments and since 2015, and has missed the district tournament just twice — this season and 2019.
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