A year after reaching the semis of the State Tournament, Owensboro Catholic bowed out in the semis of the 3rd Region Tournament – dropping a heartbreaker to Breckinridge County. The Aces led for the majority of the game until the Fighting Tigers tied it in the bottom of the sixth on a balk, before walking it off on a walk in the ninth inning.
“I told them that the team that we started with at the beginning of the year, and I screamed to get more early in the year, in the last 15 years till now, when they finally got it,” Owensboro Catholic head coach Jody Hamilton said. “They understand what it’s like to come out here, play together, play as a school, and play as a faith. I think it meant more to me to see their effort.”
Brady Atwell demolished a two run homer in the top of the first to give the Aces an early lead. Breckinridge County cut the lead in the bottom of the inning on a fielders choice. In the top of the fourth, Barrett Evans scored on an error to push the lead to 3-1. The Fighting Tigers cut it to 3-2 in the bottom of the inning on a fielders choice.
Once the game entered extra innings, the Aces had an opportunity to retake the lead in the top of the eighth when they had two on with two out, but Jaxson White grounded out to end the threat.
Luke Quinn started on the mound for the Aces, allowing two earned runs over five innings, while Lane Hundley pitched 3 1/3 innings in relief.
Owensboro Catholic is losing four seniors to graduation – Parker Heistand, Chris Burns, Atwell, and Quinn.
“I enjoyed all four seniors, and they all had outstanding careers,” Hamilton said. “They had a fun time last year, too. We will see how it goes next year.”
Red Devils have no answer for Meade County
With the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the first, Owensboro’s Ty Ashley fully extended for a flyball, but it just missed his glove, bounced over his head, and rolled to the wall. Once the ball was thrown in, three runs had scored. From there, Owensboro was never able to fully recover, losing 11-0 to Meade County to bow out in the semis of the 3rd Region Tournament.
The Red Devils’ best scoring opportunity came in the bottom of the fourth when they loaded the bases on three walks, but Trevor DeLacey struck out to end the threat. Offense was scarce for Owensboro, with Evan Hampton and Brady Benjamin having the team’s only hits, while Hampton, Ashley, Benjamin, and Will Rickard all walked.
