The Owensboro Catholic baseball team started rolling early and cruised to a four-inning win at home Friday after racking up 11 runs in the first frame against Trinity.
The Aces (3-1) used small ball to sink the Raiders (0-2), as only two of their 14 total hits went for extra bases. Luke Scales (2-for-3, 3 runs, 4 RBIs) and Finley Munsey (1-for-1, 2 runs) each recorded a double.
Scales also picked up the win, giving up three hits and striking out six over four innings on the mound. Trinity’s two runs came in the top of the second inning, with Mason Mattingly and Elijah Boarman both crossing the plate.
“It was a great team win,” Scales said. “My fastball was working, and I got my curveball in there a little bit. I couldn’t really throw strikes at the beginning, but I found my spot. My defense helped me out a lot.”
While the Catholic defense was strong, Trinity had five errors on the day that resulted in 11 unearned runs. Starting pitcher Matt Mills took the loss, giving up 11 runs (eight unearned) on eight hits and striking out one for his only out.
Catholic head coach Derek Hibbs said after playing a late road game Thursday night, he was glad his team had a strong showing offensively.
“We swung it well right off the bat,” he said. “A couple guys at the top of the order, once they get on base the other guys in the lineup have some good confidence to roll with it, and that’s what we showed today. We don’t have a lot of power in our lineup, but we have the ability up and down our lineup to create runs.”
The first four batters of Sam McFarland, Luke Evans, Scales and Andrew Wiman combined to go 8-for-11 with nine runs scored and 10 RBIs.
It’s been a solid start for the Aces, who’ve only given up eight runs through four games. Hibbs said that’s partly due to the reliability of Scales and a talented pitching rotation.
“Our whole staff has been really good these first four games,” Hibbs said. “Luke always attacks the zone. That’s why I like him throwing in games like this where we know we have a guy out there that’s going to just be aggressive and go right at them. That’s what we expect.”
On a team loaded with underclassmen, Hibbs said expectations coming in had to be somewhat tempered.
“Even though we are young, you approach every season with the expectation to win,” he said. “With a young team you have to have a little bit of patience with the emotionally and mentally with them. We’re starting six or seven freshmen every single game but they’re talented. I’ll always take the talent over the experience if we’ve got it.”
Scales was feeling confident after a strong day both on the mound and at the plate, and he’s looking forward to a successful year.
“We’re feeling good,” he said. “We think a lot of people doubted us at the beginning of the year, but I think we’re doing way better than everybody expected.”
THS 020-0—2-3-5
OCHS (11)50-1—17-14-0
WP: Scales. LP: Mills. 2B: Scales, Munsey (OC).
