Bombers advance to state championship with two wins

July 27, 2019 | 12:57 am

Updated July 27, 2019 | 12:57 am

File photo by Ryan Richardson

The Owensboro Post 9 Bombers staved off elimination twice Friday to advance to the state championship game for the second year in a row. In a rematch of last year’s championship, Owensboro will square off against Lyon County for the Kentucky American Legion state title in Eddyville.

Since Lyon County has not yet lost, Owensboro will have to win twice Saturday to claim the championship. The first game is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., with the if-necessary contest set for 8 p.m.

Since falling to Lyon County 10-0 on Thursday, the Bombers have used a hot offense to work their way through the losers’ bracket and earn another shot at the defending champs.

Owensboro started Friday with a dominant 19-8 triumph over Shelbyville in the afternoon. In game two, the Bombers took a big lead early and had to fend off a late rally for a 15-12 victory over Ashland.

FRIDAY GAME 1 RECAP
Against Shelbyville, Owensboro used steady scoring and 19 hits to slowly pull away. The scoring started with an Ethan Cartwright single to drive in Daylin Crabtree in the second inning. The Bombers went on to score four more runs with the help of a two-RBI double by Brennon Williams.

After Shelbyville responded with four runs, Owensboro added three more in the third. Ethan Gibson walked with the bases loaded, and a fielder’s choice groundout by Tucker Hagan allowed Jordan Tolle and Demetrio Ortiz to score.

A five-run fifth inning was capped off by a two-run homer by Cartwright, and it included a two-RBI single by Tommy Clark. Clark again drove in two runs with a hit in the seventh.

Offensive leaders were Ortiz (4-for-5, 5 runs), Williams (3 hits, 2 runs, 2 RBIs, 2 doubles), Clark (3 hits, 4 RBIs, 1 run), Crabtree (3 hits, 2 runs, 1 RBI), Griffin Haire (3 RBI, 2 runs, double) and Tolle (2 hits, 3 runs).

Crabtree pitched 4.0 innings in the win, allowing six earned runs on six hits. Clark finished out the game and allowed not hits.

FRIDAY GAME 2 RECAP
Ashland scored five runs in the top of the first, but Owensboro came by with 11 runs in the bottom half. After trailing by as many eight runs, Ashland eventually put the go-ahead run at the plate in the seventh inning.

Down three, Ashland loaded the bases with one. Owensboro pitcher Corey Gibson induced a flyout into foul territory and ended the game with a strikeout.

The Bombers first got on the board with a three-RBI double by Cartwright, who then scored on an error. A few batters later, back-to-back hits and an error put Owensboro on top 8-5. A wild pitch and consecutive bases-loaded walks drawn by Crabtree and Ethan Gibson pushed the lead to 11-5.

The Bombers also added two runs each in the second and fourth innings. Ashland crept closer with three runs in the fifth inning and one each in the final two frames.

Pitchers Cartwright, Haire and Corey Gibson combined in the victory, allowing six earned runs on nine hits.

Offensively, Cartwright finished with six RBIs off two hits. Other leaders at the plate were Hagan (3-for-4, 3 runs, 2 RBIs), Williams (2 hits, 2 RBIs). Clark only had one official at bat in five trips to the plate. He drew three walks and was hit by pitch, scoring three times.

July 27, 2019 | 12:57 am

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