After more than a 24-hour delay and a total change of venue, Owensboro Catholic wasted no time proving they weren’t ready for the season to end. Starting play in the third inning after weather postponed Wednesday’s 3rd Region baseball championship mid-game, the Aces quickly plated two runs to tie the game at 2-2.
Ultimately, though, Breckinridge County (27-5) used a three-run triple in the sixth inning to take down the Aces 5-2 in the title game.
The Fighting Tigers had taken a 2-0 lead at Shifley Park Wednesday before lightning and heavy rain set in. Play was suspended with Catholic’s Sam McFarland at the plate, and the Aces (23-15) had two runners on with one out in the bottom of the third.
Though play was originally scheduled to resume at 5 p.m. at Shifley Park, field conditions weren’t suitable and the game was moved to Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green. Even there, the start time of 8 p.m. was pushed back over an hour, as the 2nd Region championship was also moved to WKU and lasted nearly three hours.
Once the Aces were finally able to step back up to the plate, McFarland sent the second pitch deep into the left corner for a double. One run scored, but Everett Munsey was tagged out at the plate trying to score from first.
McFarland advanced to third on a hit by Luke Evans then scored on a single by Luke Scales, quickly knotting the game at 2-2.
In the top of the fourth, Evans recorded all three outs at second base, and the Aces went back to the dugout roaring with energy.
Neither team could get much going, though, and both sides left runners stranded without posing much threat until the Fighting Tigers finally broke through in the sixth.
Two singles and a hit by pitch loaded the bases with no outs, and John Higdon crushed a triple to center field to clear the bases. Catholic pitcher Hunter Small induced three consecutive groundouts to stop the bleeding, but the Aces weren’t able to answer.
A lone runner was stranded in the bottom of the sixth, and a double play by Breckinridge County in the seventh ended the game.
The Tigers move on to represent the 3rd Region in a semi-state game at 11 a.m. Saturday. They’ll again play on WKU’s campus and will face 4th Region champion South Warren.
BCHS 020-003-0—5-6-2
OCHS 002-000-0—2-6-2
WP: Seeger. LP: Small. 2B: Lucas, Poole (BC), McFarland (OC). 3B: Higdon (BC).
