In a game that was originally scheduled for April 25, Owensboro Catholic and Walton-Verona will finally meet for the All “A” Classic State Baseball Championship but it won’t be at the tournament’s host site at the All “A” officials moved to the game to Louisville Holy Cross.
First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. EST.
Catholic coach Derek Hibbs said they’re excited to get to the chance to play.
“We went and played Henderson the other night and I did a pregame interview and they asked about the All ‘A.,'” he said. “They talked about the game a little bit but they asked about the All ‘A’. Everybody has been talking about it. I think everybody has kind of heard what happened that Sunday at our park and everybody has asked about it and I think everybody has sat in anticipation for this.”
The Walton-Verona Bearcats come into the matchup with a record of 17-1 and winners of 15-straight games.
W-V beat Knott County Central and then Lexington Christian in eight innings to advance to today’s final.
The Bearcats will presumably start senior standout Travis Smith, a Kentucky commit, as Smith is 4-0 on the year with a 0.95 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 29.1 innings pitched.
Hibbs said Smith’s velocity they haven’t seen as often this season but given the guys he has on his squad, he said they’ll be confident in the matchup.
“We would be surprised if Smith didn’t start,” Hibbs said. “Preperation for the game has been facing him. He throws, he’s a big kid and he’s got good stuff. At the high school level it’s always tough because you face a guy with velocity and then you’ll come back and you’ll face a team that’ll throw a lefty and throw 65 MPH against you.”
Smith also leads Walton-Verona at the plate with his .433 average to go with four home runs, 28 RBIs and 24 runs.
Nick Allen (.414, 3 HR, 29 RBI, 22 R) and Evan Kerns (.411, HR, 17 RBI and 23) have also had big years at the plate.
The Aces are 15-2 this season and have won 11-straight games, including their last two since they made it to the All “A” championship.
On the year, Catholic has outscored opponents 148-41 giving the Aces the most runs scored and least runs allowed in the 3rd Region.
Sam McFarland leads the Aces at the plate with a .439 average to go with a home run, 9 RBIs and 19 runs.
Luke Scales (.438, HR, 17 RBIs, 16 R), Braden Mundy (.429, 3 HR, 16 RBIs, 18 R) and Hunter Small (.469, HR, 16 RBIs, 11 R) all are hitting over .400 this season but the rest of the Catholic lineup has done its job as well this season.
The two teams meet at 6:30 p.m. EST at Louisville Holy Cross as the Aces are going for their fourth All “A” Classic State Baseball Championship in program history.
“We’re ready for this one,” Hibbs said. “We’re fully stocked with all of our arms ready to go. We’re ready to play this game.”
