After dropping the opener of the Kentucky ALB State Tournament, the Owensboro Bombers found themselves in unfamiliar territory – the elimination bracket. Needing to win four straight games to secure its sixth straight State Championship, the Bombers outscored their opponents 53-7, including back-to-back 5-1 and 14-3 wins over Madisonville to secure the title.
In the first game of the day, Nolan Johnson baffled the Madisonville hitters from the opening pitch, striking out four over five shutout innings. Scoreless entering the top of the third, Brett Poole scored on an Eli Hampton sacrifice fly to put the Bombers on the board. An inning later, Owensboro broke open the game thanks to a Jagger Pate sacrifice fly and a Poole two-run single. Myles Grant scurried home in the fifth on a Brady Benjamin groundout to push the lead to 5-0, before Madisonville scored their lone run in the seventh.
Brody Brubaker finished 1-3 with two RBIs, while Pate, Benjamin, and Hampton all drove in runs.
In the final game of the Championship, Hampton and Ryleigh Logan both homered and combined for three hits and seven RBIs, while Pate threw a complete game on the mound. The Rangers struck first in the opening inning with three runs thanks to a passed ball, ground out, and RBI single.
Trailing for the first time since the opening game of the tournament, the Bombers responded with a six-run first inning – highlighted by a Jake Murphy RBI double. Owensboro padded their lead with a run in the second, two in the third, one in the fourth, and four in the fifth.
Benjamin went 2-2 with two RBIs, while Murphy, Yates, and Hatfield all drove in runs.
