Owensboro Catholic were crowned 3rd Region Champions after they once again came back from trailing to win 3-2 against Muhlenberg. Owensboro Catholic’s Barrett Evans was named the 3rd Region Tournament MVP. Owensboro Catholic’s Brady Atwell and Apollo’s Noah Cook, Carter Kimmel and Grayson Smith all were named to the Alll-3rd Region Team. Both AHS and OCHS also had multiple players named to the All-Tournament Team. Those players included:
- Deuce Sims- Owensboro Catholic
- Garrett Lanham- Apollo
- Barrett Evans- Owensboro Catholic
- Ross Milburn- Apollo
- Luke Quinn- Owensboro Catholic
- Mason Moser- Owensboro Catholic
The low scoring game saw both teams lock in defense. It was key for both the Aces and Mustangs offenses to capitalize off of mistakes in order to score runs. The opening inning saw Houston Flynn and Jaxson both get on base thanks to walks, but they both were picked on their way to second before Atwell hit one right to the pitcher and was out at first. It was a quick one for the Aces defense as they had a fly out, line out and a ground out to move into the second.
Christopher Burn was the sole player to reach base in the second inning as a fly out and two strikeouts ended their AB. OCHS was quick to shut down Muhlenberg also for a quick inning. The third inning where Muhlenberg took advantage of a mistake by the Aces. They walked one batter before getting two straight outs, but a line drive single set up runners on first and second. A fly ball out to right field allowed both runners to score, and it was an unfortunate sequence that brought it about. OC head coach Jody Hamilton said that the sun got the best of the outfield as the ball was lost in the sunshine. The team was very solid on defense, but this mishap allowed the Mustangs to score their only runs of the game, he said.
“It was very good defensively, but we lost the ball in the sun,” he said. “I thought he had it because he made an adjustment, but he lost it. It ended up giving them the 2 runs that they got. If he makes that play, then they don’t get any runs.”
The missed catch allowed one runner to score and the other to cross home as the ball was traveling to the catcher. The next inning saw the Aces tie the game. Deuce Sims was walked to put him on first, but the team quickly got two outs to mount the pressure. Barrett Evans stepped up and doubled on a deep fly ball out to right field. This gave Burns enough time to make it home and beat the throw to the plate and score. With Evans on second, Parker Heistand tied the game up with an RBI single down the middle to run in Evans. A fielder’s choice ended the inning, and OC went back to playing tight defense.
Owensboro Catholic made quick work of Muhlenberg in the bottom of the fourth getting three outs on four batters. It was three up and three down for both teams in the fifth inning as Quinn continued to lead the defense on the mound. The sixth inning saw Muhlenberg in a dangerous position as Quinn hit one batter and a double put runners on second and third with no outs. Quinn kept his composure and the mound and helped the defense throw out a runner on first after a dropped third strike, get a ground out and a fly out all in quick succession to curb Muhlenberg’s hopes of taking the lead. Hamilton praised Quinn’s work on the mound and said the pitcher being fresh for the whole game helped out a lot. The defense stayed sharp due to the lack of strikeouts, but this is nothing new, he said.
“Luke was fresh the entire game,” he said. “He hit his spots and he never walked anyone, but he hit one guy. That was the one inning they had runners on second and third, but he did a good job to pitch himself out of a jam. We played well on defense as well. We have to make plays because we don’t have strikeout pitchers. Sometimes the thing about not having it is that it keeps you alert and ready to move all the time.”
The game winning run in the final inning was close as the Aces were on two outs after a fielder’s choice and a fly out put the pressure on. With Mason Moser on first and Tucker Evans at second, Houston Flynn did what he has throughout the tournament for the Aces and had a big line drive to right field to run in Tucker Evans. The Aces held out and shut down Muhlenberg to take the regional title at 3-2.
The Aces will move on to the State Tournament on June 7 for the first time in two years. With three tournaments under OC’s bet so far this season, Hamilton acknowledged that each one gets bigger than the last. He’s also happy that the team gets to experience another trip to state together.
“It’s always exciting anytime you get to go to the state tournament,” he said. “It’s exciting and it’s an adventure for the boys. It makes me happy that they get to share it. We’re going to show up and see how it goes. Every tournament gets bigger as it goes on, so this is going to be a big part. Hopefully we can last a little longer.”
