With a roster loaded with talent, it was only fitting that it was eighth grader Karson White who stepped up when Owensboro Catholic needed a spark. Trailing Trinity (Whitesville) 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth of the 3rd Region All “A” Tournament Championship and searching for a pitch below the hands – White drove it into centerfield for a two-run double – opening the floodgates.
A fielding error, three RBI singles, a bases-loaded walk, and a passed ball later secured the Aces a 10-3 win and their spot in All “A” semistate.
“Tip your cap to them. We hit a lot of hardballs right at them, and they made the plays and just kept making them,” Owensboro Catholic Head Coach Jody Hamilton said. “When Landon’s ball dropped there to tie the game, I think that kind of relaxed us and made us realize we could get a hit.”
The Aces struck first in the bottom of the third when Alex Hood singled home Barrett Evans, before being thrown out trying to advance to second. Trinity answered back in the top of the fourth thanks to Cale Boarman’s RBI triple and RJ Cecil driving him in on a fielder’s choice.
Kayin Howard took the ball for the Raiders to start the game, and despite walking four batters, he held the Aces to only two runs over three innings. Making his first start on the mound, Howard began to tire in the fourth and was pulled after issuing a leadoff walk to Jaxson White. Stealing second, White scored to tie the game on a Landon Marks single.
Trinity retook the lead in the top of the sixth when Boarman grounded into a double play that scored Brennan Merritt. Isaac Hernandez replaced Howard on the mound and allowed five earned runs over 2 1/3 innings.
“We started pretty solid, and I thought Kayin threw exceptionally well,” Trinity (Whitesville) Head Coach Matt Wright said. “We were trying to mix pitches a little bit, and we were really shaving our outfielders, and that worked for a good part of the game. As the game went on, what really got to us was that they started taking the ball to opposite field a little more.
After Karson White’s sixth-inning two-run double, a Raiders fielding error allowed another run to score, before Tucker Evans, Mason Moser, and Barrett Evans all recorded RBI singles. Barrett Evans and Jake Murphy both went on to score after a bases loaded walk and a passed ball to push the lead to 10-3.
“We just started to settle in in that later inning,” Karson White said. “One by one, we passed the sticks and got it rolling.”
Having an entire week off after last night, the Aces went deep into their pitching staff, utilizing Jaxson White, Gentry Atwell, Lane Hundley, Lucas Patton, and Mason Russelburg. The five combined for two earned runs, allowing three hits, walking two, and striking out seven.
Seven different Aces recorded hits, while Tucker Evans, Barrett Evans, Hood, Karson White, Moser Marks, and Russelburg all drove in runs.
Both teams are off till Monday, when the Raiders travel to Warren Central, while the Aces return to action against University (Carmel), IN.
