Falcons hoping to emerge from crowd
Rodriguez has squad aiming for top spot, but plenty of in-town competition in SPC tourney
Kinkaid head softball coach Beth Rodriguez hopes history repeats itself at this week’s Southwest Preparatory Conference Spring Championships.
A year ago, four teams from the South Zone reached the semifinals at the SPC softball tourney, with Episcopal claiming the title. It could happen again, although Rodriguez would prefer the Falcons to be the one hoisting the trophy.
“I could see the South finishing 1-4, but Fort Worth Country Day is coming on strong. They really dominated the North,” Rodriguez said. “It’s going to tough. Every round will be a challenge.”
St. John’s clinched the No. 1 seed from the South Zone, followed by Episcopal, Houston Christian and Kinkaid.
“We went 0-for-3 against the top three teams from the South,” Rodriguez said. “St. John’s has the best pitching, but Episcopal and Houston Christian are really good, too. Hopefully, we’ll get another shot at them.”
The softball competition gets under way with firstround games on Thursday, April 28. The quarterfinals and semifinals are scheduled for Friday, April 29, culminating with the championship and trophy games on Saturday, April 30. Action will take place at the SPC’s three Fort Worth schools – All Saints, Country Day and Trinity Valley.
To contend for the title, Kinkaid is counting on more heroics from senior captain Kelli Montgomery. A University of Houston signee, Montgomery is a standout pitcher/third baseman who is hitting close to .650 on the season.
“Kelli is playing with a lot of confidence, especially at the plate,” Rodriguez said.
Senior utility player Sarah Lasater is the Falcons’ most versatile performer. Laster, another co-captain, has starred at third base and in center field while producing offensively in the lead-off spot.
Kinkaid also has benefited from the emergence of several rising freshmen, most notably catcher Morgan Parker and pitcher/ second baseman Olivia Stuart Ison. Tracksters aim high Kinkaid will try to snap a severaldecade drought by winning the SPC girls track and field title this week at Dallas St. Mark’s.
The Falcons have no real weaknesses, according to head coach Cheryl Mitchell.
“We’ve got a girl who can score in every single event,” Mitchell said.
But will it be enough for Kinkaid to knock off the other favorites? Defending champ Dallas Greenhill, St. John’s and Dallas Hockaday are equally loaded, setting up which should be a dramatic finish.
One of the keys to success could be Kinkaid’s relays, all of which are capable of ranking in the top three.
The 4x100-meter relay features seniors Taylor J. Cowan, Jenny Miller and Gracey Wallace and sophomore Kennedy Gamble. Wallace, Gamble and sophomores Caleigh Doran and Kate Erickson make up the 4x400 relay, while Erikson, sophomore Ali Ammons and up-and-coming freshmen Laine Jacobe and Ellie Lucke will join forces on a young but exciting 4x800 relay.
Individually, Gamble should rack up plenty of medals. In addition to her relays, the Falcons’ fastest
sprinter figures to reach the podium in the 100 and 200.
One of Kinkaid’s most well-rounded athletes, Miller will compete in the 100, 200, high jump and long jump.
Ammons, the Falcons’ best distance runner, has rededicated herself to the sport and plans to be a factor in the 1,600 and 3,200.
Wallace (200, long jump), Cowan (100 hurdles, 300 hurdles), sophomore Nia Caldwell (discus, shot put), senior Lenox Butcher (pole vault) and freshman Madi Malouf (discus, long jump) will add to the Falcons’ point tally.
Others to watch are sophomore Allison Favaloro (100, 200), Lucke (800) and freshman Audrey Ho (pole vault).
Kinkaid’s boys have more modest aspirations, with head coach John Beckwith aiming for a top five showing.
A lack of depth, but certainly not quality, could drop the Falcons behind foes like Dallas St. Mark’s, St. John’s, last year’s winner Episcopal and Dallas Greenhill.
“If we can get a couple of our top guys healthy, we should be in the top five,” Beckwith said.
Sophomore Chance Allshouse (100, 200) and junior Kirby Cravens (200, 400) set the pace for Kinkaid and will power the Falcons’ 4x100 and 4x400 relays.
Senior Brendan Martin (400, 800, 4x400 relay) has switched up events but has done well.
Kinkaid also is dangerous in the longer distances, led by sophomores Andres Melendez and Socs Zavitsanos (1,600, 3,200, 4x800 relay). However, the Falcons will miss junior Oscar Melendez and sophomore D.Z. Zavitsanos, both out with injuries.
Beckwith noted that the Falcons need points from others like senior Levi Wilkins (300 hurdles, 4x100 relay), junior William Alcorn (discus) and sophomore Noah Chan (pole vault) to move up in the SPC’s final standings.
Teams in hunt
Kinkaid is the reigning SPC baseball champion, but it won’t be easy for the Falcons to repeat.
While Kinkaid wrapped up the South Zone’s No. 1 seed, the Falcons could get pushed by rivals Episcopal, Houston Christian, Austin St. Andrew’s, St. John’s and John Cooper. The top North Zone teams are Dallas St. Mark’s and co-hosts Fort Worth Trinity Valley and Fort Worth Country Day.
In boys tennis, North Zone winner Dallas Greenhill has the home court advantage. San Antonio St. Mary’s Hall was the surprise in the South Zone, but Kinkaid should make some noise along with Houston Christian and St. John’s.
North Zone top seed Dallas Hockday will host the girls tennis event, but South Zone champ St. John’s and Kinkaid could be in the title picture along with Episcopal School of Dallas.
Finally, the girls lacrosse tourney will be at Episcopal School of Dallas. Defending champ St. John’s and ESD are considered the favorites, but Kinkaid, a No. 2 seed, has other ideas.