Emiley Kennedy's No-Hitter Leads Lake Creek Into Regional Semis

MAGNOLIA — Emiley Kennedy hasn’t kept track of her no-hitters this year.

She thinks she’s thrown three of them after accomplishing the feat to lead third-ranked Lake Creek to a five-inning, 16-0 victory over Magnolia West in a Class 5A Region III softball quarterfinal Friday at Magnolia High School.

Kennedy allowed four walks but was otherwise flawless in sending the Lions to the regional semifinals to face either No. 7 Santa Fe or No. 10 Crosby. She struck out seven and got some help from her defense, including a heads-up play from senior right fielder Bre Hagerty, who threw out Magnolia West’s Lakyn Hacker at first base on what appeared to be a single.

“I didn’t even know it was a no-hitter until the last inning, and I threw that last strikeout and was like, ‘Wow!’” Kennedy said. “I know that I can throw it through the zone and (the defense) will have my back no matter what.”

The Lions (37-0) didn’t need a stellar performance on the mound as they scored in every inning and put up big frames in the second and fifth. Sophomore Kalee Rochinski and junior Ava Brown both had two-hit games with a home run and a double to lead the charge as Lake Creek collected 14 hits.

SEE MORE: Emiley Kennedy's growth as a pitcher is fueling Lake Creek's special season.

The Lions broke the game open with a five-run second inning against Magnolia West starting pitcher Toni Tamborello. Leading 1-0, Shelby Winn notched an RBI single, followed by an RBI fielder’s choice grounder by Payton Bauer to make it 3-0. Leadoff hitter Maddie McKee tripled to right-center to plate Winn and Bauer, and Madelyn Lopez capped the inning with a run-scoring single to right to make it 6-0.

Rochinski doubled and scored on an error in the third and smashed a two-run home run to center as part of a three-run fourth.

Brown notched the big hit in the fifth, sending a pitch over the right-center field wall for a three-run home run as part of a six-run frame.

Lopez had a team-high three hits, including a double, and knocked in three runs.

“I did not think it was going to be five innings,” Michelle Rochinski said. “We came out and adjusted to Tamborello, who is a great pitcher. We did our job. We adjusted and hit the ball well.”

Michelle Rochinski was impressed by the poise her team showed in the program’s first regional quarterfinal, especially in what can only be described as a playoff environment at Magnolia High School.

Fans filled the fences down both foul lines several people deep and wrapped around the foul poles by several feet. Many people struggled to find a spot to watch the game, and a line of students climbed to the top of the bleachers of the football stadium and watched the action from above. Fans on both sides took part in a fair bit of heckling to add to the atmosphere.

“We know we can play softball,” Kalee Rochinski said. “We know we can hit the ball and play defense. We have the pitching. We have the baserunning. We have everything. Being able to play as a team and knowing that we have each other’s backs … is where that relaxation comes from.”

District 19-5A champion Magnolia West (28-5) reached the third round for the first time since 2017, the last time the Mustangs made the playoffs. Magnolia West head coach Jeremy Collins said he was proud of the way his team played this season to win a district title despite not being one of the preseason favorites.

“That’s a good team. There was nothing we could do to stop it,” Collins said. “We have some young players that are going to use this experience to help us move forward. This moment may have been a little bit big this year. Next year, when we get here again, we’ll be able to capitalize on it.”