In the top of the first of the 9th District Championship against Owensboro with a chance to drive in some runs, Owensboro Catholic’s Jake Murphy was instead rung up on a called third strike. Walking back to the dugout, he told himself to flush it from memory and move on.
It didn’t take long for Murphy to find himself with another opportunity to adjust – this time, crushing a three-run double in the top of the sixth that bounced off the centerfield wall to break open the game. What was a 4-2 game, instantly became 7-2, a lead the Aces were able to hold onto to win their second straight 9th District Championship title.
“I was just fighting off pitches,” Murphy said. “Fastball, fight it off anywhere close, and then a pitch right down the middle. I put it in the gap to the opposite field. It felt great.”
The Aces struck first in the top of the first – scoring on an error and a Parker Heistand RBI single to make it 2-0. The Red Devils cut the lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the second after Blake Kimbrell scored on a Will Hume sacrifice fly. An inning later, Brady Benjamin grounded into a fielder’s choice to tie it.
In the top of the fourth, the Aces took the lead back after a Jaxson White RBI single and Barrett Evans RBI double. The score remaining tied until the top of the sixth when Murphy broke the game open. The Aces loaded the bases with no outs to start the sixth – leading to the Red Devils handing the ball to Trevor DeLacey. The senior recorded two quick outs and quickly went ahead in the count 0-2 against Murphy.
Murphy fouled off three pitches, worked the count full, and then on the eighth pitch of the at-bat broke open the game.
“He battled and then all of a sudden, boom,” Owensboro Catholic head coach Jody Hamilton said. “He smoked that ball.”
After an explosive early couple of innings, the tide switched in the bottom of the fourth when Lane Hundley took the mound for the Aces. The sophomore allowed one hit over four innings, striking out five.
“He did a great job,” Hamilton said. “Lane has been a guy all year, and of course this time. He was just really great.”
Despite the loss for Owensboro, the Red Devils also advanced to the 3rd Region Tournament and await their opponent.
“We battled. After the first inning we got back into it and tied it up,” Owensboro head coach Jake Fiorella said. “The backbreaker was the two-out, three-RBI double. TD just kept battling, and Murphy did his job. Someone had to win it, but it was just unfortunate, the way it worked out for us.”
Cougars fall short in pitcher’s duel
A fielder’s choice in the bottom of the first, which allowed Muhlenberg County’s Kayson Vincent to score, was the lone difference maker in McLean County’s 1-0 loss in the 10th District Championship. After the first inning blip in which he loaded the bases, Layden Bozarth only allowed four runners to reach the rest of the game – throwing a complete game and striking out 11.
Corbin Martin had the Cougars’ lone hit, while Hayden Hudson, Houston Whitaker, and Brooks Lynam all drew walks. McLean County’s best scoring opportunity came in the top of the fifth when they loaded the bases with two outs, but they were unable to capitalize.
Despite the loss, the Cougars boast a deep rotation and await the 3rd Region Tournament draw.
“Tonight was a well-played game by both teams,” McLean County head coach Darren Lynam said. “They were able to push a run across, and we were not. It happens sometimes. That’s baseball. Layden Bozarth did a fantastic job on the mound.”
