University Heights Academy got a scare from Trigg County, but advanced to take on No. 9-ranked Lyon County in tonight’s Region 2 Baseball Tournament championship with a 5-1 extra inning win over the Wildcats Tuesday in Eddyville.
The win sets up a rematch at 6 p.m. tonight between the Lyons and the Blazers, who also played for the All “A” Region 2 championship last month. In that game, Lyon County rallied from a 6-0 deficit in the seventh inning to win 9-8 in 12 innings.
For nearly half the game, the Wildcats’ starter Chase Hampton had UHA batters guessing.
UHA Scott Gentry said he knew the Wildcats were going to be a challenge but he was proud of his team for responding.
Nathan Simmons, who was running for catcher Slaton Carter, scored on a single by James Garnett to give Trigg a 1-0 lead in the second inning.
The run shocked UHA, which failed to score after loading the bases with no out in the top of the first inning and leaving two on in the second inning.
Gentry said his team had to change its approach to find success later in the game.
UHA (20-10) tied the game at 1 in the top of the fourth as Josh Pace scored on a double by Courtland Gibson.
The score remained tied until the eighth inning, although Trigg’s Aidon Butts nearly ended the game in the bottom of the seventh with a long fly out to left field that was hauled in by Jackson Flynn near the fence.
In the eighth, UHA played small ball and scored four runs. Jaiden Miles walked to lead off the inning and Pace beat out a bunt. Ryan Luckey’s bunt was misplayed and allowed Miles to score the go-ahead run. A balk scored Pace and then Courtland Gibson bunted to score Luckey for a 4-1 advantage.
Then it was Cadence Gibson’s turn as he singled to score Courtland Gibson for a 5-1 lead.
Gentry said he was proud of his team for responding to the pressure in the extra inning.
Bryson Turner picked up the pitching win in relief of Cadence Gibson. Turner went four innings and struck out four and didn’t allow a hit. Cadence Gibson allowed only one hit and struck out five.
Ty Gootee suffered the pitching loss for Trigg, which saw its season end at 13-12.
Courtland Gibson had a pair of hits to lead the Blazers, who will take on the Lyons tonight in a game that can be heard at 5:45 p.m. on 95.3 The Farm.
The Lyons dispatched Henderson County 13-0 in the nightcap.
Score by Innings:
University Heights Academy 000 100 04 – 5 5 5
Trigg County 010 000 00 – 1 1 4
WP – Turner
LP – Gootee
Leading Hitters: UHA – Co. Gibson (1B, 2B), Jones (1B), Finch (1B), Page (1B); Trigg – Garnett (1B).
Photo by Joe Wilson