CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Kirkwood High baseball collided with the Northeast High Eagles for the first-ever matchup between the two programs on Monday, April 8. While Northeast High battled throughout the matchup, the Cobras pitching rotation dominated and led Kirkwood to a 5-1 district win.
Matthew Dirks began the game on the mound for Kirkwood High and went to work. Dirks only allowed one hit in 5.2 innings pitched, striking out seven. Kaiden Turner then came in the game to slam the door shut. In his relief appearance, he allowed 0 hits and struck out three in 1.1 innings worked. Kirkwood head coach Rick Yauger was proud of his pitchers’ and their performances.
“I would like a shutout, but it’s hard to criticize that performance,” Yauger jokingly said. “They did fantastic, and they did what you want them to do, get on the mound and give us a chance to win the ball game.”
Meanwhile, Northeast High head coach Charles Ratliff thought fatigue was a factor in his team’s loss to Kirkwood high.
“We had a really good weekend, but we didn’t come out ready to play,” Ratliff told Clarksville Now. “You can’t come out like that against a good opponent, especially when it’s a district game.”