Aces fall in eighth inning of All ‘A’ quarterfinals

April 28, 2019 | 12:16 am

Updated April 28, 2019 | 12:16 am

Owensboro Catholic came up just short in the All "A" Classic quarterfinals, falling to Kentucky Country Day in the eighth inning. | Photo by Ryan Richardson

A handful of errors cost Owensboro Catholic, who lost 5-4 to Kentucky County Day in the eighth inning on a walk-off single in the quarterfinals of the All “A” Classic baseball state tournament at Chautauqua Park on Saturday.

The Bearcats (13-2), playing as the home team, drew a walk to start the bottom of the eighth. The next batter singled but runners advanced to second and third when the ball got past right fielder Everett Munsey. Another walk loaded the bases with no outs.

Luke Scales, who took the mound for Catholic in the eighth inning, then struck out the next batter before allowing the game winner.

It was only the second time the Aces (15-7) had made the quarterfinals of the All “A” Classic since back-to-back titles in 2007-08, and the loss halts a nine-game win streak.

Both teams threatened several times in the late innings before Kentucky Country Day was finally able to plate the winning run.

With one out in the top of the eighth, Sam McFarland hit a blooper that dropped just inside the left foul line, and he stretched it into a double before Luke Evans drew a walk. Luke Scales grounded into a fielder’s choice that advanced to McFarland to third but he wasn’t able to score.

The Aces gave themselves a chance after they got out of a jam in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Bearcats had runners at the corners with two outs, and Catholic loaded the bases with an intentional walk. McFarland, taking over the pitching duties to start the fourth inning, forced a popup to end the inning and force an extra frame.

While the latter frames proved mostly scoreless, the Aces wasted no time getting on the board by scoring two runs in the first inning. Evans drew a walk with one out and Scales followed with a single. Evans scored on a single by Andrew Wiman, and Finley Munsey hit a long sacrifice fly that allowed Scales to cross the plate.

Kentucky Country Day tied it up in the second, reaching base on an error before three hits led to a pair of runs.

Catholic immediately answered in the third. Wiman singled and advanced to third on a double by Munsey, and Hunter Small grounded out to the shortstop but Wiman was able to score. They added another run in the fourth when Wiman was able to reach on an infield single with two outs, and Evans scored for a 4-2 lead.

Kentucky Country Day again tied the game with a pair of runs in the fifth, starting when  back-to-back singles put runners at the corners. McFarland’s pickoff attempt to first got by the first baseman and the ball rolled into the outfield, allowing one runner to score and the other to advance to third. Catholic was then unable to get the runner out at the plate on a fielder’s choice.

The Aces got two runners on in the sixth but their half of the inning when Evans was caught stealing home with two outs. Kentucky Country Day also threatened in the inning, but McFarland struck out a batter with bases loaded and two outs.

Wiman and Scales each went 3-for-5 and scored once, and Wiman had two RBIs. Evans and McFarland added a pair of hits each. McFarland struck out four and gave up two runs on five hits in 4.0 innings of work. Starting pitcher Mason Grant went 3.0 innings and gave up two runs on five hits.

OCHS 201-100-00—4-10-4
KCD 020-020-01—5-12-1
WP: Siefke. LP: Scales. 2B: McFarland, Munsey, Scales (OC).

April 28, 2019 | 12:16 am

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