Owensboro and Owensboro Catholic started of the Fort Walton Beach Bash with a bang, with both nabbing 15 runs each in its respective victories.
Owensboro vs. Campbellsville
The hits came in bunches for the Red Devils on Sunday, grabbing a 15-2 win over Campbellsville in their first game of the Fort Walton Beach Bash.
Owensboro opened up the scoring for the game with a run in the top of the first, with the Eagles knotting things up at 1-1 in the bottom of the second. With both teams battling to gain momentum, it was the Red Devils who took over.
Following back-to-back singles to start the third, eighth grader Elijah Hampton was able to bring in two runs thanks to a fielder’s choice. Freshman Blake Kimbrell grounded out the following at-bat to make it a 3-1 game, before junior Connor Hallmark made it 4-1 going into the bottom of the third.
Campbellsville was able to cut its deficit to 4-2 in the bottom of the third, but Owensboro quickly expanded their lead in the top of the fourth. The Red Devils got two runs thanks to a passed ball and a wild pitch, before eighth grader Evan Hampton hit a two-run homer to make it an 8-2 game.
Owensboro didn’t take their foot off the gas either, rattling off seven more runs in the top of the fifth to help them close out a 15-2 win over the Eagles to open the tournament.
Kimbrell led the Red Devils with three RBIs on the day, while Elijah Hampton, Evan Hampton, Hallmark, freshman Brady Benjamin all scored two each and freshman Cayden Ray and senior Kindrick Williams got one each.
The Red Devils now have day off before returning to action, as they are set to take on Henry County at 6 p.m. on Tuesday.
Owensboro Catholic vs. Corbin
A monster first inning set the tone for Owensboro Catholic’s matchup with Corbin, opening up the Fort Walton Beach Bash with a 15-4 win.
The Aces wasted no time getting going, as an RBI groundout from senior Sam McFarland made it 1-0 after a hit by pitch and walk to start the inning. Back-to-back doubles from seniors Braden Mundy and Alex Castlen followed, expanding their lead to 3-0.
Following an error by the Redhounds, junior Grant Parson singled to bring in a run and then senior John Frey grounded out to plate another. An RBI single from junior Jamison Wall and then a two-run double from senior Everett Munsey capped off the 8-run inning going into the second.
Owensboro Catholic proceeded to pile on the runs, grabbing one in the second and two in the third to make it an 11-0 lead. Corbin did get a run in the bottom of the fourth and three in the bottom of the fifth, but a four-run top of the fifth helped the Aces retain its lead and grab a 15-4 win to open up the tournament.
Munsey led the way with three RBIs for Owensboro Catholic, Castlen and freshman Parker Heistand both had a pair each and seven players had one for the Aces. Munsey also gave Owensboro Catholic a strong start, allowing one hit through three innings while striking out two.
The Aces have a quick turnaround, as they will look to improve to 9-1 overall when they take on Spencer County at noon in their second game of the Fort Walton Beach Bash on Monday.
