Cerda leads Rockets to win over rival Memorial
AREA TEAMS INCLUDED: Kennedy, Memorial.
PLEASE FOLLOW THIS LINK TO THE SOUTHSIDE REPORTER WEBSITE:
Kennedy is taking some time off for good behavior this week.
Of course, that time off is scheduled and really is independent of the fact that the Rockets (2-10-1, 1-8) have been competing well in recent District 27-5A games. However, that doesn’t mean it’s any less welcome after Kennedy played four times last week.
“They need some time off to recuperate,” first-year Kennedy coach Kim Fernandez said. “That was a lot for the girls to take in. I’m giving them Monday (March 30) off to rejuvenate their bodies and get ready for Thursday.”
The Rockets were scheduled for a 7 p.m. 27-5A game Thursday, April 2 at Kerrville Tivy (4-9, 4-4).
“After three straight home games,” Fernandez said, “it will be nice to travel and get some things done on the way.”
Kennedy began its jam-packed week with a 10-0 loss to Seguin (6-6, 5-3) March 22. The Rockets returned to Edgewood Field No. 2 to defeat archrival Memorial (0-14, 0-9) 16-1 a day later. Kennedy also had a busy weekend, absorbing a tough 5-1 loss to Alamo Heights (5-11, 3-6) March 27 and a 10-0 loss to Floresville (11-4, 5-4) March 28.
“They’ve played pretty well up to a certain point,” Fernandez said of her team. “Then they kind of break down. They’ve been through a lot the last few years, with changing coaches. At this point, I’m really trying to build their confidence.”
The win over Memorial was the first in Kennedy’s district schedule. Sophomore Amy Cerda was the winning pitcher.
“Amy did really well. It was a commanding performance and she gave it her all,” Fernandez said. “The girls did really well, capitalizing on (Memorial’s) mistakes. That was one of the the things we really practiced, what to do when we got runners on base.”
Cerda has been the Rockets’ catalyst. In addition to shouldering all Kennedy’s starts, she also carries the team’s highest batting average. Cerda is in her second season as the team’s ace pitcher.
“Amy’s a very good asset to our team,” Fernandez said. “She has a lot of different pitches this year. We’re working on a screwball. She has good overall pitching skills and good knowledge of the game. And she also has a really good stick.”
Cerda provided two hits and junior second baseman Taylor Martinez drove in Kennedy’s run against Alamo Heights. The RBI triple, which followed base hits from Cerda and Chelsea Mendez, gave the Rockets a 1-0 advantage in the opening inning. The Mules took charge with three runs in the second.
Kennedy transferred its momentum from the Memorial win over to the Alamo Heights game.
“It really did give us confidence in ourselves,” Fernandez said. “We played Memorial very hard and very strong.”
Fernandez coached McCollum from 2007 to 2010. She’s also was a first-year volleyball coach for Kennedy this fall.
She appreciates her team’s close-knit atmosphere. The Rockets have 11 juniors, two seniors and two freshmen.
“They really have been playing together for a long time,” Fernandez said.
SAN ANTONIO SOUTH SIDE SPORTS 