In a true pitcher’s duel in the first round of the 9th District Tournament on Tuesday, Apollo junior Noah Cook and junior Will Strode combined for a complete-game 1-0 shoutout—doing so while overcoming a strong pitching performance from Aces senior Grant Parson to advance to the 9th District Championship.
It was the Eagles who were able to get on the board first in the ballgame, as Strode homered to left field to lead off the bottom of the first and take a 1-0 lead over. The game then hit a stalemate offensively, as Parson and Cook took over the game on the mound.
Grant got the start for Owensboro Catholic, giving up just the one home run and three other hits on the night, while walking and striking out 10 in six innings pitched. And while Parson kept the Aces within reach, Cook matched him by allowing just four hits also—walking two and striking out seven to send Apollo into the seventh with a 1-0 lead.
Owensboro Catholic went on to get just one more hit as well, as Strode came through once in again by earning the save with a strong seventh on the mound and sending the Eagles to the 9th District Championship with a 1-0 win.
The Aces close the season with an overall record of 18-14 with the win, while Apollo has clinched a spot in the 3rd Region Tournament and now has a quick turnaround with some 9th District hardware on the line against Owensboro at 6 p.m. on Wednesday.
