Battle—a word that has been intertwined with Owensboro’s culture through Head Coach Jacob Fiorella and staff’s constant encouragement. And it was battling that paid off on the biggest stage against Daviess County on Monday, when the Red Devils bounced back from an eight-run deficit to grab a 9-8 walk-off win and a spot in the 9th District Championship.
Sophomore Cayden Ray got off to a solid start to the day, quickly retiring the first two Daviess County hitters. But a subsequent walk and hit by pitch and wild pitch put runners in scoring position for the Panthers, only for Ray to work out of the jam with a groundout to third.
Owensboro then put themselves in position to take an early lead, getting a leadoff single from freshman Elijah Hampton and a one-out single from Ray to put runners on the corners. Senior Connor Hallmark was unable to get a bunt down shortly after though, as he was out as well as the runner at home trying to plate the first run of the game—sending things into the second with a 0-0 ballgame.
Ray found himself in a similar situation in the top of the second as well though, with a leadoff walk and one-put hit by pitch putting runners on first and second. Junior Carter Nichols had a chopper turn into an infield single to load the bases the following at-bat, with senior Decker Renfrow delivering an RBI single to center for a 1-0 Daviess County lead shortly after.
The Panthers rally would end there though, as a pop up to short by senior Cason Troutman turned into a tailor-made double play with a force out at second to send them into the bottom of the second with a 1-0. Daviess County picked up right where they left off too after a quick half inning on the bump for junior Lake Wilson, as he delivered a leadoff single and a hit by pitch put runners on first and second.
Senior Jackson Loucks sent one to center for an RBI single the following at-bat, while it was an opposite-field single from senior Xander Brubaker and an infield single from Nichols and that played a run each to give the Panthers a 4-0 lead over Owensboro going into the bottom of the third.
Elijah Hampton would give the Red Devils a two-out double in the half-inning, but a fly out quickly ended the inning. Daviess County got back-to-back singles to start the fourth as well, as Huskisson was hit for the third time and loaded the bases with no outs the following at-bat.
Owensboro was on the verge of getting an out with a ground ball to second, but freshman Evan Hampton dropped the toss and a run scored and left the bases loaded. Following a pop-out to second the Panthers got a sac fly from sophomore Brett Poole and it would be all they got in the inning, taking a 6-0 lead.
A two-out rally had Daviess County going again in the fifth too, as Huskisson was hit by a pitch for the fourth time to load the bases after a double from senior Cason Troutman and a walk. Loucks singled the following at-bat to plate two, but that would be all they would get as Owensboro got a fly out the ensuing at-bat and went into the bottom of the fifth trailing 8-0.
The Red Devils didn’t bow out though, as a pair of walks and a single loaded the bases with no outs to start the bottom of the fifth. Freshman Elijah Hampton proceeded to clear them the following at-bat getting a single and advancing to second on an error in left.
After a line out to center, Ray sent one up the middle to make it 8-4 with an infield single from Hallmark during the ensuing at-bat to put runners on the corners with one down—ending Wilson’s day on the bump. Sophomore Logan Mewes took over and surrendered an RBI single to sophomore Blake Kimbrell to make it 8-5, but the righty got a fielder’s choice and strikeout to end the fifth inning.
The single from Kimbrell led to Wilson having been responsible for five earned runs, giving up seven hits and two walks while striking out a pair. Owensboro didn’t stop there either though, getting an RBI single from sophomore Trevor DeLacey and a monstrous two-run homer to left by Eli Hampton to even things up at 8-8 going into the seventh.
This was a moment that had built up for the Red Devils all season long, for a team that Head Coach Jacob Fiorella has preached to learn to take the bumps and bruises and keep fighting. Elijah Hampton—who was 4-4 with four RBIs—and his teammates showed that they have bought in at Chautauqua Park on Monday night.
“As a team throughout the whole season we’ve just known not to quit,” Hampton said. “Don’t give up. Keep going. If we’re up eight or down eight, the game is not over until it’s over. So that’s pretty much our philosophy.”
The Panthers seemed poised to reclaim the lead in the top of the inning though, as back-to-back walks and a hit by pitch had the bases loaded once again. But sophomore Will Rickard came up big when it mattered most, getting a force out at home on a grounder with a double play by senior Connor Hallmark—who tagged the runner going to second before getting the out at first—to keep things tied going into the bottom of the seventh.
The Red Devils took that momentum to the plate as well, getting a leadoff single from Benjamin and a sac bunt to move him to second. A pinch runner then entered for Benjamin—Brady would re-enter—but sophomore Christian Miller was thrown behind and picked off at second before sophomore Will Hume could even see a pitch.
A strikeout then ended the inning, giving Daviess County some newfound energy going into the eighth tied at 8-8. But Rickard managed to earn a 1-2-3 inning on the bump, as it would be Owensboro who had the last laugh.
It was DeLacey who kicked things off with a leadoff single to left, but a long at-bat turned into a walk by Elijah Hampton to put runners on first and second with no outs. And despite struggles at the plate all game long, freshman Evan Hampton’s sac-bunt attempt was thrown past the first baseman—allowing a run to score and claim the 9-8 win for the Red Devils.
Evan had struggled all game long despite making solid contact, but turned an 0-4 day into a 0-5 one—one that solidified his team’s first trip to the 9th District Championship since 2019 and one that his brother Elijah was very proud of.
“He could’ve pouted, going 0-3—granted they were barrels and he was hitting the ball hard—but he could’ve pouted and just said I’m done,” Hampton said. “But he went up there and did his job. It was what we needed him to do and it was awesome. It was great to see.”
Elijah (4) and Evan (1) led the offense alongside Ray (1), Kimbrell (1) and DeLacey (1), all chipping in at least an RBI each on the day. Rickard was another player who came up big for the Red Devils, allowing no hits, runs or walks in two innings of relief.
Fiorella said that he was beyond proud of the team afterwards, noting that it’s been a long two years, but that his guys’ efforts have finally paid off.
“It’s the 9th District,” Fiorella said. “Testament to our guys. I just kept saying it’s not over. Just get some barrels and stack them up. Then, things happen. We did not catch a break, they had three infield singles, they had two funny bang-bang plays that were safe and our guys just kept battling… This is what we’ve been looking for… In the first, second and third you just saw it go down the wayside and they never lost faith.”
Owensboro now awaits the result of the Eagles and Owensboro Catholic on Tuesday, preparing to compete for a 9th District Championship at Wednesday at 6 p.m. But Fiorella said that he wants to make sure his guys celebrate this win, as they’ve done the work to give themselves a chance at hardware in the 9th District and 3rd Region with a big win.
“I want them to enjoy this,” Fiorella said. “This district is so tough and this is not something that’s guaranteed. So you know what, enjoy tonight. We’re out of school tomorrow, enjoy it until we have practice. And then we gotta get back to work. Apollo is great, Owensboro Catholic is great. They’re both going to put up a test. I’m just really, really proud of guys for just pushing.”
Daviess County on the other hand finishes the season with an overall record of 13-14, as Head Coach Austin Clay tipped his cap to the Red Devils for a hard-fought game.
“Seemed like everything was bouncing our way early and then didn’t late,” Clay said. “I think their pitchers did a good job towards the end of the game of just commanding the strike zone and even when they didn’t they just competed… Hat off to them. They did a good job.”
The Panthers have seven seniors set for graduation, a core part of the program that Clay and company will miss—something Clay spoke to as the night came to a close.
“They were freshmen when I got hired,” Clay said. “We had the COVID year and then I’ve seen a lot of them grow up. They went from playing freshmen ball as eighth graders maybe, to the next year a lot of them were starting varsity as sophomores. I’ve just seen the growth physically, emotionally and mentally. It’s been fun to watch and I’ll miss them.”
