BRISTOL, Va. – Moments after Thursday’s baseball game at DeVault Stadium, Jordan Kendall offered to sign a baseball for a Little League player.
That’s a pretty noble act considering it was the same ball retrieved by a fan after Kendall’s first home run on the professional level.
The Bristol White Sox used the heroics of Kendall to edge the Bluefield Orioles by an 8-7 margin.
“This was my best game,” Kendall said. “I recently switched bats, and everything has just clicked.”
Kendall, who entered the game hitting .300, drove in three runs Thursday with two singles and his historic homer. He also supplied a remarkable running catch just in front of the right field wall.
“I try to use my speed, get on base and make things happen,” Kendall said.
The 6-foot, 188-pound Kendall had to wait to make his impact in Bristol. He was drafted in the 11th round of the amateur draft last year after starring at Contra Costa Junior College, but missed the entire season due to a broken hand.
“I got real anxious waiting to play last year,” Kendall said.
A native of Oakland, Kendall actually stopped playing baseball at age 12 to concentrate on football. He earned a full-scholarship offer to play defensive back at the University of Missouri.
“I just didn’t feel like playing the game anymore,” Kendall said. “I focused on basketball and football, then my dad asked me to try baseball.
“I’m happy with the way I’m playing now.”
The White Sox (6-3) continue to play well as a team. Highlights of the latest Bristol victory included 10 hits and a solid effort from starting pitcher Po-Yu Lin. Working with intelligence and diversity, Lin allowed just three hits over six innings.
Brandon Short, a smooth centerfielder from Mechanicsville, Md., padded his .370 batting average for Bristol with two hits while stealing three bases.
Bluefield countered with 10 hits behind powerful first baseman Elvin Polanco (three hits, three RBIs) and 6-foot-2 right fielder Ronnie Welty, who pulled a two-run homer.
Bristol held off a Bluefield rally in the ninth inning thanks in part to a highlight-reel play from second baseman Andrew Garcia.
To the amazement of the Orioles, Garcia stabbed a hard grounder up the middle and rolled the ball behind his back to force out the runner at second base.
The hero on this night was the generous Kendall, who admitted that he has wondered where he would be with more baseball experience.
“Yeah, I’ve thought about it. I probably would have gotten drafted even higher, but this is exciting,” Kendall said.
The homestand with Bluefield continues until Saturday, then Bristol hosts Pulaski Sunday.
Bluefield000 200 401-7 10 2
Bristol 012 020 21x-10 10 2
Sexton, Faiola (5), Orman (6), Kantakevich (7) and Bernardo. Lin, Gouvea (7), Buriff (7), Asselin (9) and Dubler. W-Buriff (2-0). L-Orman (0-1). S-Asselin (3). HR-Kendall (B) 5th none on; Welty (Blue) 5th, one on.
agregory@bristolnews.com | (276) 645-2544
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