Luke Scales was seeing the ball well Monday night, and he smashed two triples and a double to drive in five runs in Owensboro Catholic’s 9-0 win over Monroe County in the All “A” Classic baseball sectional.
With the victory at home, the Aces (14-6) won their eighth in a row and advance to Saturday’s opening round of the All “A” state tournament, which will extend through Sunday’s championship with all games played at Chautauqua Park.
Catholic and Monroe County (7-8) were locked into a scoreless tie through two and a half innings before Scales blasted his first triple to the left field wall. Luke Evans scored from first after drawing a two-out walk.
That run proved to be enough, but the Aces went on to add seven more in the fourth inning and scored once more in the sixth.
The big fourth frame got started when Finley Munsey reached on an error and Hunter Small flied out to center. Catholic loaded the bases and scored a single run on three separate at bats, then Scales tripled to the right field fence to drive in three more.
Scales said getting fastballs and seeing them well in the zone was a key for him, but he credited the team with coming together.
“We got quality hits in good spots,” he said. “Everybody was just working together. It was a good team win.”
Scales drove in Evans once more in the sixth inning with a double that he lined to center field.
“Scales got us going,” said Aces’ head coach Derek Hibbs. “That’s what it took was that one guy to get us going. Once he did, the rest is history. He wore the ball out today.”
While the offense was rolling, Mason Grant was doing his best on the mound to keep a clean sheet for Catholic. He was dominant early, but even when he got into a couple of jams late Grant managed to work his way out.
“Mason was really effective early,” Hibbs said. “I thought he lost his legs a tad, but he found it back. I do think he tired a little bit there late in the fifth, but he battled and kept that zero on the board.”
Grant only gave up one hit through five innings, striking out five and walking four. Everett Munsey closed out the game and didn’t allow a runner while striking out three batters.
It’s a good start to an important week for Catholic. They host Owensboro today and Apollo Thursday for a pair of 9th District games before the All “A” tournament begins Saturday. The Aces were scheduled to play Madisonville-North Hopkins on Friday night, but that game might be rescheduled due to Catholic advancing to the weekend rounds.
The Aces will be searching for their first small-school state title since 2008, and they’ve only made it back to the final eight once since that championship. Hibbs said the importance may be a little lost on the players, but not him.
“I don’t think they realize it,” he said. “We rolled through this one a little bit, but it’s an honor for us to get to that final eight. It’s a good accomplishment.”
For now, though, they’ll focus on a big meeting with the Red Devils. The two are currently tied at 2-0 in the 9th District standings. Scales hopes to carry the momentum from Monday’s win.
“I think it’s going to give us big motivation going into Owensboro,” he said. “We’re going to see a good team, but I think our bats will help us.”
Hibbs said his players will have to stay focused if they want another victory.
“(Owensboro is) a very talented team,” he said. “You never really know what you have until you start coming up against some really good competition like that. We’re going to have to play really, really well if we’re going to win again tomorrow.”
MCHS 000-000-0—0-1-1
OCHS 001-701-x—9-6-0
WP: Grant. LP: Thompson. 2B: Murphy (MC), Scales (OC). 3B: Scales 2 (OC).
