High school baseball: Kaeden Kent slugs and pitches Lake Travis forward; Lago Vista honored
Playoff recap
Lake Travis continues to be the best baseball team in Central Texas after splitting a playoff series against San Antonio Johnson. Junior Cole Johnson was 4-for-10 in the series. He got it rolling with a three-run homer in the first game that sparked the Cavaliers to a 5-0 victory. After losing Game 2, the Cavs won the rubber match 8-0 to advance to a third-round best-of-three series against San Antonio Clark. ... Thorndale has quietly had an outstanding season, earning a 23-7 record that included a two-game sweep of Burton in a Class 2A area playoff series last week. The Bulldogs beat the Panthers 5-1 and 10-0 and have won seven of their last eight games. Coached by Kelly Kuhl, who has more than 300 career victories, Thorndale hopes to keep its season alive with a best-of-three series this week against La Grange. Thorndale was 6-0 against the other three playoff teams from District 27-2A. ... Blanco, coached by Bryan Wyatt, who has more than 700 career victories, swept a pair of Class 3A playoff games against Tidehaven 4-0 and 9-1 to set up one of the state's best showdowns this week. Blanco, 26-1 and riding a 12-game winning streak, will face Marion, a team that sports a 27-1 record. Marion lost its first game of the season in the opener of a best-of-three series last week against Columbus. The Bulldogs won the next two games 4-2 and 2-1 to advance. ... Smithson Valley defeated Westlake in an area playoff series that featured three one-run games. The Chaparrals won the opener 3-2, but Smithson Valley came back to take the next two 7-6 and 5-4. Westlake coach J.T. Blair said the team has a lot to be proud of after after finishing 27-8-1, 12-2 in district. The Chaps finished second in District 26-6A and were the only team to beat champion Lake Travis in league play.
Player of the week
Kaeden Kent, pitcher/shortstop, Lake Travis: The Cavalier senior was the winning pitcher in an 8-0 victory over San Antonio Johnson. Not only did Kent fire a two-hit shutout, but he went 2-for-4 and drove in a run. He already has been named the team's MVP for the season.
More: As son of an MLB stalwart, Lake Travis shortstop Kaeden Kent leads area's top 6A team
Team of the week
Lago Vista: Coached by Cody Walker, the Vikings received a scare by losing their opener to Yoakum 5-3 in a best-of-three Class 3A area series. They bounced back, though, by beating the Bulldogs 6-3 in the next two games to advance to this week's third-round series against Hallettsville. A 10-run third inning in the final game was the turning point.
Third-round playoff schedule
Class 6A
Lake Travis vs. San Antonio Clark (best-of-three series)
Game 1: Thursday, late
Game 2: 7 p.m. Friday at Dripping Springs
Game 3: 5 p.m. Saturday at Dripping Springs (if necessary)
Class 5A
Cedar Park vs. Johnson (one-game playoff)
7 p.m. Friday at Concordia University Texas
Georgetown vs. New Braunfels Canyon (best-of-three series)
Game 1: Thursday, late
Game 2: 7 p.m. Friday at Canyon
Game 3: 7 p.m. Saturday at Westlake (if necessary)
Class 3A
Lago Vista vs. Hallettsville (best-of-three series)
Game 1: 6 p.m. Friday at Fayetteville
Game 2: 1 p.m. Saturday at Hutto
Game 3: 30 minutes after Game 2 (if necessary)
Marion vs. Blanco (best-of-three series)
Game 1: Thursday, late
Game 2: 4 p.m. Friday at NEISD Sports Park
Game 3: TBD
Class 2A
Shiner vs. Thorndale (best-of-three series)
Game 1: Thursday, late
Game 2: 7 p.m. Friday at La Grange
Game 3: 2 p.m. Saturday at La Grange (if necessary)
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Lake Travis' Kaeden Kent pitches and slugs Cavaliers to playoff win
