MANSFIELD -- Strikeouts and solid pitching have played steady roles in Krum's games throughout the season. This time, however, Krum was on the opposite end.

Palmer starter Wayne Kemp took a no-hitter into the seventh inning as the Bobcats lost 5-2 in a one-game playoff Friday in the Class 2A Region II quarterfinals.

"Kemp threw an excellent ball game. He's tough," Krum head coach Ray Miller said. "He is as good as anybody we've faced all year."

Krum (22-9) catcher Jordan Watts broke up Kemp's no-hit bid in the seventh inning with a line drive single up the middle. The hit seemed to ignite the Krum dugout as cleanup hitter Randy Sargent followed with a two-run homer that just carried over the wall in left field.

Krum's rally, however, fell short as Kemp struck out the final two batters to end the game. He allowed two earned runs on two hits and had 10 strikeouts

"If that happens in the middle of the game, maybe we can manufacture something along the way," Miller said. "We competed to the last out, and that's all you can ask from the kids."

Krum starter Derek Howell allowed five runs, three earned, on three hits and four walks in five innings. Howell, who struck out 19 batters in his previous start last week against Blooming Grove, had nine strikeouts as he surpassed the century mark on the season, finishing with 105 total strikeouts in 69 innings pitched on the year. 

"I thought he competed fine," Miller said of Howell. "It's tough when your back is against the wall and you're not scoring any runs."

Colten Head replaced Howell on the mound to start the sixth inning.

Kemp made only his fifth start of the season for Palmer (23-10), as a lingering football injury hindered him for much of the season. The stocky right-hander won his previous four starts, including a shutout of Farmersville in the area round, before facing Krum.

Palmer broke open a scoreless game with a four-run fourth inning.

Howell gave up a one-out double in the fourth to Colby Cottongame, who drilled a fastball off the wall in left center. Howell walked Jarrett Stone on a full count then drilled Kemp in the arm on the next pitch to load the bases.

Howell continued to struggle with his control as he walked the next batter to give Palmer a 1-0 lead. Palmer's Frank Crist hit a sacrifice fly to center to score another run.

"They [Palmer] did some baseball things better than we did," Miller said. "They put some pressure on us in that [fourth] inning."

Howell appeared to stop the damage at only two runs in the fourth when he got David Hampel to hit a slow grounder to shortstop, but a throwing error allowed another run and prolonged the inning. Palmer added its fourth run of the inning on a double steal with runners at the corners. 

The loss capped an otherwise successful season for Krum, which captured a District 13-2A title and an area-round playoff win over Blooming Grove.

"I am very pleased with our kids, as far as coming in for my first year here," Miller said. "They've been very receptive to coaching, and we got a good nucleus coming back for next year."

Palmer had base runners in the each of the first two innings, but a pair of key defensive plays by the Bobcats retired them on the base paths. Howell picked off Palmer's Jarrett Stone at first base after Stone reached with a two-out single in the first. Watts threw out Palmer's T.J. Barnes trying to steal second base to end the second. 

Palmer scored again in the fifth inning with two outs on a wild pitch that allowed Jordan Greenlee to score from third.

BRAD McDONNELL can be reached at 940-566-6869. His e-mail address is bmcdonnell@dentonrc.com.

Palmer 5, Krum 2

Krum      000                000                2                --                2                2                2

Palmer    000                410                x                --                5                5                0

WP – Wayne Kemp. LP – Derek Howell. 2B – P: Colby Cottongame. HR – K: Randy Sargent. Records – Krum (22-9), Palmer (23-10).