Stepping onto the mound in a 3-3 game in the bottom of the ninth, Owensboro Catholic’s Gentry Atwell’s first pitch sailed to the backstop, allowing the winning run to scamper to third base. Five pitches later, he blew a pitch past Daviess County’s Gavin Howard to escape the jam.
It took the senior just 12 pitches to strikeout the side in the 10th, and when he returned to the mound for the 11th, he did so with a seven-run lead. Pitching around a bases-loaded jam, he recorded two more strikeouts before getting Ethan Vinson to fly out to end the 11-inning marathon 10-3.
“Honestly, closing has been my thing. I just went out there, attacked him, and had fun,” Atwell said. “…I just wanted to throw strikes. That was kind of my plan. Nothing changes when the runners are on first and second compared to second and third. So, my plan was to dial in with my off-speed, did it, came back to the dugout, and my team handed me some insurance runs.”
Tied 3-3 entering the top of the 11th, Karson White provided the Aces the spark they needed – crushing a leadoff single in a 1-2 count. A Jude Evans walk and a fielding error loaded the bases for Mason Moser, who handed the Aces a lead on a Panthers defensive miscue. Mason Russelburg worked a bases-loaded walk, before RBI doubles by Jake Murphy and Jaxson White, and the Panthers third error of the inning pushed the lead to 10-3.
“I think we didn’t quit and that’s what made me proud of them,” Owensboro Catholic Head Coach Jody Hamilton said. “I knew it was going to be a close game. All of their games have been close, even though they have quite a few losses, but I knew the game would be close. I was hoping we could hold them down, and our pitching came through for us.”
The Answers took the lead in the top of the second on a fielder’s choice, but the Panthers quickly tied the game in the bottom of the inning thanks to Rylan Clemmons RBI single. Twice more the Aces went ahead, and Daviess County responded in the same inning. Vinson tied the game in the sixth on an RBI single, and Caden Embry drove in a run in the ninth.
“I think we have a really good group, and they don’t ever feel down,” Daviess County Head Coach Austin Clay said. “We have had a lot of games where we hadn’t necessarily gotten the bats going. We have a lot of guys who are getting their first crack at varsity action this season. There have been times when they could have folded and gone to the house, and they really haven’t done that yet. There is really no quit in them.”
Neither team will have to wait long for the rematch, as the Aces host the Panthers tomorrow night.
