The Eagles grabbed a win to kick off their spring break tournament, while Owensboro, Daviess County and Owensboro Catholic fell short in their respective matchups on Monday.
Apollo vs Carlisle County
Apollo was able to overcome three errors on Monday, as 13 hits led to a 13-5 win over Carlisle County to kick off the Mustang Invitational.
The Eagles got ahead early on, as a one-out single from senior Josh Mayes led to a two-run shot to left field by junior Will Strode to make it a 2-0 game. Apollo got six insurance runs in the top of the third as well, quickly loading the bases to start the inning and taking advantage of an array of hits and miscues by Carlisle County.
After getting two more runs the following inning, Carlisle County was able to bounce back and grab five runs—four of them being unearned. The Eagles were able to work out of the jam though, as Carlisle County went scoreless the rest of the way while Apollo grabbed three more runs to complete the 13-5 win.
Sophomore Grayson Smith got the win in his 3 ⅔ innings start, allowing five runs—one earned—on three hits and four walks while striking out five. Junior Easton Blandfor handled the other 3 ⅓ innings in relief, allowing no runs or hits, while walking one and striking out two.
Strode led the way at the plate with his 2-3 day with a team-leading four RBIs, while senior Xavier Wells chipped in three and Blandford, Mayes and Smith all chipped in one each. Apollo advances to 8-2 overall with the win, getting right back to action against McCracken County and Ballard at 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Tuesday.
Owensboro vs Lakewood
Four errors and five walks given up came back to bite Owensboro on Monday, as they gave up a pair of unearned runs in an 8-6 loss to Lakewood to open up their spring break slate.
The Red Devils got on the board first, as it took three pitches for freshman Elijah Hampton led off the game with a home run to right and an RBI single from sophomore Cayden Ray two batters later followed to give them a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Lakewood bounced right back with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning, scoring on a fielder’s choice and a steal of home to even things up at 2-2.
Lakewood kept their foot on the gas in the bottom of the third as well, as three walks, three singles and an error led to a four-run inning and a 6-2 lead entering the fourth. Owensboro responded swiftly with four runs over the next three innings, but Lakewood grabbed one more in the bottom of the sixth and allowed no hits in the top of the seventh to close out an 8-6 win.
Sophomore Trevor Delacey struggled in the start, allowing four earned runs—six total—on five hits and five walks while striking out one. Junior Kaleb Ashley and sophomore Will Rickard combined for the last 3 ⅓ innings, allowing five hits and two earned runs while striking out three.
Freshman Evan Hampton led the way at the plate with a pair of hits and RBIs, while Elijah, Ray, sophomore Brady Benjamin and eighth grader Ty Ashley chipped in one RBI each. Owensboro falls to 4-3 overall with the loss, as they will look to bounce back against Victory Christian Academy on Tuesday.
Daviess County vs Lafayette
Daviess County couldn’t slow down Lafayette’s offense on Monday, giving up 14 hits and four errors in a 16-6 loss to move to 1-1 in the Fort Walton Beach Bash.
The Panthers found themselves in some hot water early, giving up back-to-back singles before surrendering an RBI single and a three-run homer to trail 4-0. Daviess County was able to respond quickly in the top of the second though, as a sophomore Noah Ranburger’s one-out double and a walk led to a three-run home run from senior Xander Brubaker and a 4-3 game heading into the bottom of the second.
Lafayette didn’t skip a beat though, scoring nine runs over the next three innings while Daviess County scored three en route to the 16-6 loss. As a pitching staff the Panthers allowed 14 earned runs, while surrendering 14 hits, six walks and getting just three strikeouts.
The Panthers fall to 5-3 overall with the loss, as they’ll look to bounce back on Tuesday when they take on Sayre and Washington County at noon and 3 p.m.
Owensboro Catholic vs Frederick Douglass
The Aces were unable to string together runs on Monday, struggling offensively in a 5-1 loss to Frederick Douglass in the first game of the Panama City Beach Bash.
After two scoreless innings to start the game, it was Frederick Douglass that got on the board by drawing a walk with the bases loaded and getting a two-run single the following at-bat to lead 3-0 in the bottom of the third. Owensboro Catholic was able to get a run in the top of the fifth thanks to a pair of singles and a fielder’s choice, but they weren’t able to get a hit the rest of the way and ultimately fell 5-1.
Senior Grant Parsons only allowed four hits in his five-inning start, giving up five runs—four earned—while walking three and striking out five. Seventh grader Jaxson White allowed one hit and struck out one in his lone inning of relief, while sophomore Brady Atwell grabbed the lone RBI of the day.
The Aces fall to 4-4 overall with the loss, as they will look to turn things around against McIntosh and Bethlehem Christian Academy at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Tuesday.
