Student Athlete of the Week: Kaige Kennedy

Senior Kaige Kennedy left his mark on Niwot High School baseball's season-opening win over Severance High School on March 6.

Along with finishing a home run shy of the cycle, the outfielder/pitcher drove in two runs and sealed the victory on the mound. The game also left its mark on him when he recorded the final out with a diving tag of a Severance baserunner, leaving Kennedy covered in chalk from the third baseline.

With Niwot entering this season with increased expectations, Kennedy was simply pleased to begin the spring 1-0.

"It's really nice to start the season with a W," Kennedy said. "I'm really looking forward to this season. Obviously, we have a couple of things to clean up on the field and everything, but I think this team's going to be really solid."

Kennedy, however, wasn't entirely pleased with his senior debut on the bump. In two innings pitched, he walked one, hit a batter, and threw two wild pitches. Despite working without his best stuff, Kennedy struck out three and prevented Severance from tying things up in the seventh inning.

"I just felt a little bit off," Kennedy said. "I didn't have the velo (velocity) I normally do. I didn't have as much control as I would have wanted, but that's all right. I just had to lock in, put balls in the zone, and try to get balls in play and get outs."

Niwot head coach Ken Rosales was proud of Kennedy's ability to dig deep against a talented Severance team.

"Kaige had a great day," Rosales said. "A little rusty on the hill, but for him to get that last out like that, he had a great day."

As Niwot's cleanup hitter, Kennedy enjoyed an exceptional opening day. The smooth-swinging lefty doubled in his first plate appearance, tripled in the third inning, and delivered an RBI single in the fourth.

"I was just (thinking), see the ball, stay smooth with my swing and try to put the barrel on it," Kennedy said. "It's what works best. I'm gonna keep doing that all season."

Kennedy is the son of former Colorado Rockies pitcher Joe Kennedy, who spent seven seasons in the big leagues before tragically passing in 2007 as a result of undiagnosed heart disease. Four years later, Kaige's mother, Jami, married Nick Bierbrodt, a former teammate of Joe's with the Tampa Bay Rays. Bierbrodt coached Kennedy throughout his childhood and is currently an assistant on Rosales' Niwot staff.

"I love having him here," Kennedy said of his stepfather. "He's so knowledgeable about the game. He's always giving me tips when I come back in the dugout. I came back in the dugout, and he said, 'You're a little low on your front side.' So I stood up a little bit and started putting the ball back in the zone."

After high school, Kennedy hopes to play college baseball. He's currently looking at programs in search of his next home.

"I'm still uncommitted, but I have a couple (schools) in mind that I was thinking about going to," Kennedy said. "I'm really looking forward to figuring out which school is going to be the best fit for me. You gotta bet on yourself and hold out until maybe a better school or better offer comes along."

Ultimately, Kennedy has his sights set on reaching the major leagues.

"I have higher aspirations for this sport," Kennedy said. "I'm trying to follow my dad's footsteps and play the MLB."

Jack Carlough will be on hiatus from the Left Hand Valley Courier while he pursues a new career opportunity covering the University of Colorado Buffs for Sports Illustrated.