Apollo, Owensboro and Owensboro Catholic all started the week off with narrow wins, grabbing respective one-run victories to kick off the week.
Apollo vs McLean County
The Eagles were able to muster up just enough offense on the road to kick off the week, defeating McLean County 2-1 in a pitcher’s duel.
Apollo got off to a strong start on Monday, getting a leadoff double and a one-out walk to eventually earn an RBI groundout from junior Will Strode and make it 1-0 in the top of the first. From there the game hit a stalemate, with neither team being able to find a hole in the other’s defense.
It wasn’t until the bottom of the sixth that McLean County got their first run of the day, but the Eagles had gotten one thanks to a double and an error in the top half of the inning to stay out in front 2-1. Eighth grader Ross Milburn then came in for Apollo and shut the door in the seventh, allowing just one hit and picking up the save in the 2-1 victory.
Sophomore Carter Kimmel picked up the win in his six-inning start, allowing just one earned run on one hit and three walks while striking out three. It was Strode who led the way at the plate, tallying the lone RBI of the night.
Apollo advances to 16-6 overall with their fourth straight win, as they’ll look to carry this momentum into a road district matchup with Owensboro at 6 p.m. on Tuesday.
Owensboro vs Hancock County
Some solid pitching and late offense helped Owensboro snap a three-game losing streak to start the week, beating Hancock County at home 3-2 on Monday.
An error by the Red Devils during the first at-bat and a one-out double allowed Hancock County to grab a run in the top of the first, but Owensboro took advantage of a leadoff walk and a one-out error themselves to even things up at 1-1 in the bottom half of the inning.
The Hornet reclaimed the lead at 2-1 thanks to back-to-back doubles in the top of the third, but in the bottom of the fifth it was an RBI single from freshman Evan Hampton and later scoring on a passed ball that allowed the Red Devils to swing the momentum back their direction with a 3-2 lead going into the sixth.
Hancock County didn’t stand a chance either, as junior relief pitcher Kaleb Ashley and senior relief pitcher Connor Hallmark allowed no runs or hits in the final three innings to secure the 3-2 win.
Ashley got the win, while sophomore Trevor DeLacey got the most work in his four-inning start—allowing one unearned run on three hits and one strikeout. Hampton and sophomore Cayden Ray led the way at the plate, giving Owensboro an RBI each.
The Red Devils improve to 9-10 overall with the win, looking to grab a district win in their next home game against Apollo at 6 p.m. on Tuesday.
Owensboro Catholic vs Evansville Mater Dei
The Aces pulled off the inevitable on Monday, trailing 7-3 heading into the bottom of the seventh, but pulling off an 8-7 comeback win over Evansville Mater Dei at home thanks to a walk-off base knock from sophomore Christopher Burns.
Owensboro Catholic was in the driver’s seat after the bottom of the fifth, having taken a 3-2 lead thanks to an RBI single from sophomore Parker Heistand. However, Evansville grabbed five runs in the top of the sixth, quickly flipping momentum with a 7-3 lead.
But back-to-back singles and a walk put the Aces in business in the bottom of the seventh, as senior Jamison Wall came up with the bases loaded and no outs. He went on to single up the middle and score one, with freshman Mason Moser getting hit by a pitch the next at-bat to make it a 7-5 game.
A sacrifice fly the following at-bat made it 7-6, with junior Deuce Sims lining one to right shortly after to knot things up at 7-7. Burns then delivered the final blow, grounding one into left field and claiming the 8-7 Owensboro Catholic win.
Burns was joined by Wall, Heistand, Moser, Sims, junior Ben Hyland, freshman Barrett Evans on the day, as they all grabbed an RBI each. Hyland didn’t have his best stuff in the start though, allowing five earned runs on nine hits and two walks, while it was senior Thomas Eyre who earned the win in his inning of relief allowing no hits or runs on just one walk.
The Aces improve to 15-6 overall with the win, hoping to extend their winning streak to five games and remain undefeated in district play when they take on Daviess County at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
