Owensboro Catholic pulled off yet another late-game comeback as they scored 7 runs in the sixth inning to take the win right out from under Breckinridge County. The Aces’ big sixth inning saw Ben Hyland hit what went on to be the game-winning single. An error at third allowed 3 runners to score and take the lead.
The fateful inning began with the Aces trailing 4-2. A lead-off double to right field by Deuce Sims put things into motion. Tucker Evans was then walked to put runners on first and second. After a strikeout put one out on the board, a balk by the pitcher loaded the bases. Mason Moser came up big at the plate as he hit an RBI single to right field to bring in the tying run. Another strikeout on the following batter put two outs on the inning, but the Aces didn’t let that distract them. With runners on first and second, Houston Flynn hit a single and made it to first thanks to an error.
With the bases now loaded, Luke Quinn was up to bat. A change was made however, as Hyland stepped up to the plate as pinch hitter. To put it simply, Hyland told head coach Jody Hamilton he just wanted to hit, he said. Quinn had just 2 ABs at that point in the game, so Hyland asked Hamilton if he wanted a hitter in there. The rest is history.
“I did in about the fifth inning,” he said. “It’s a tough situation to be put in, but you just got to be ready on the bench for your name to be called. That’s how it happened tonight. You got to lock in and do your job. I was just trying to fight off his curveball. That’s where he can really throw first strikes. That’s what was probably going to get the best of me, so I was just trying to see that pitch the best I could. I just went out there and hit it.”
Hyland hit a pop fly out into left field that scored both Heistand and Moser, and an error allowed Flynn to cross home plate for a 7-4 scoreline. With OC now leading, they continued the inning sitting on two outs. After Brady Atwell was walked, Sims hit a big RBI double to score both Hyland and Atwell. A strikeout on the next batter brought the inning to a close.
Breckinridge looked as if they were about to mount a late game comeback as well as they singled before having one of their batters get hit by a pitch. Another single loaded the bases without any outs, but a pop fly right to the mound allowed OCHS to get a double play at first and ease the pressure. The very next batter grounded out, and the Aces took the win 9-4.
Despite having already pulled off a similar comeback just last week in the district tournament, Hamilton said that he feels the semifinal game is always the most difficult to win.
“I’ve always thought that the semifinal game is the hardest game to win, if you get past the first one of course,” he said. “In all the years I’ve coached, the semifinal is the one that seems like that, especially when you’re playing the home team.”
With the semifinals out of the way however, Hamilton and the Aces look towards today where a new regional champion will be crowned. Owensboro Catholic will take on Muhlenberg County for the 3rd Region title at 6 p.m. at Breckinridge County High School. OCHS does not need to worry about the Mustangs’ star pitcher Peyton Cary as he pitched today against Apollo. Even with that threat out of the way Hamilton said the game is sure to be a good one.
“It’ll be a good game tomorrow,” he said. “They’ve got a great coach and great coaching staff period. I knew from the very beginning that the district championship was one thing. To win it is great and I wanted it, but I knew whoever ran into Peyton Cary was going to have a tough time. He is the real deal.”
