The Aces struggled offensively in a tough road loss to Trinity (Louisville) on Saturday, while Apollo and Daviess County closed out the first week of the season with impressive wins.
Owensboro Catholic vs. Trinity (Louisville)
A clutch hit from senior Robert Reed spoiled a late comeback from the Aces, as they fell to Trinity (Louisville) 4-3 on the road.
Owensboro Catholic got on the board on the first, as senior Luke Evans scored on a passed ball with one to give them a 1-0 lead into the bottom half of the inning. However, Trinity quickly responded with a long ball.
Senior Brady Willis walked to leadoff the bottom of the first and with a 3-1 count during the next at-bat, senior Korbyn Dickerson drove one to left to give the Shamrocks a 2-1 lead.
Both teams went stagnant through the next four innings, before the Aces started to pick up some steam in the fifth. Back-to-back walks put runners on first and second, before a groundout moved both into scoring position.
Another walk loaded the bases, before Evans was hit to tie things up at 2-2. With the bases juiced once again, senior Everett Munsey grounded into a fielder’s choice to give Owensboro Catholic a 3-2 lead.
With it seeming like the Aces had gained the momentum of the game, Trinity quickly flipped the switch once again after escaping the top of the fifth inning with another fielder’s choice.
A pair of singles and a fielder’s choice knotted things up at 3-3 and then the Shamrocks used a trio of singles in the bottom of the sixth to claim a 4-3 lead thanks to Reed driving one to center.
Still with just one hit in the game entering the seventh, Owensboro Catholic wasn’t able to get anything going and fell 4-3. Evans was responsible for the lone hit of the game for the Aces, while he and Munsey had the only RBIs of the day.
Owensboro Catholic now has a day off before they return to the diamond, as they are set for a road matchup with Muhlenberg County at 5:30 p.m. on Monday.
Apollo vs. McLean County
A blazing hot start from the Eagles bats helped them get out a blowout win on the road against McLean County at a score of 8-1.
After grabbing three in the bottom of the second, Apollo quickly loaded the bases after a single, a walk and a dropped third strike. Another walk plated a run for the Eagles, which was followed by an error that made it 5-0.
Senior Dayton Brown then singled to left, making it a 6-0 game going into the fourth. They grabbed two more in the bottom of the fourth, scoring on an RBI single from senior Nick Judd and a fielder’s choice from sophomore Whelan Skinner.
McLean County would get one run in the top of the sixth, but Apollo’s pitching staff had more than enough run support to close the door on a nice road win.
The Eagles had eight hits on the day, taking advantage of four errors by the Cougars. Judd struck out six in two innings while allowing one hit, while junior Charles Schneider struck out seven in three innings while allowing no hits.
Apollo now sits at 3-0 overall, as they are set to return home and host Union County at 6 p.m. on Monday.
Daviess County vs. Breckinridge County
Despite a 10-run bottom of the fifth for Breckinridge County, the Panthers were able to force extra innings and grab an 18-16 victory on the road.
The Panthers had built a commanding 9-1 lead going into the bottom of the fourth, having scored a run in the first, three runs in the bottom of the third and five in the top of the fifth. However, the Fighting Tigers bats came alive in the fifth.
They went off for 10 runs in the innings, taking advantage of multiple errors and scoring nine of the runs with two outs. Breckinridge County grabbed another run thanks to a walk in the bottom of the sixth, claiming a 16-15 lead.
Needing to get a run to force extra innings, junior Jackson Loucks hit a solo shot to left field to knot things up at 16. After neither team was able to get anything going in the eighth, a walk and error had runners at first and second with one out for junior Decker Renfrow.
He wasted no time at the plate, driving the first pitch he saw to right field and scoring Loucks before senior Mason Boswell scored on an error to take an 18-16 lead.
It was then that Renfrow continued his strong relief appearance, closing the bottom of the ninth 1-2-3 to earn the 18-16 win. Renfrow finished with no hits allowed and three strikeouts in three innings pitched.
Seven different players recorded RBIs on the day for Daviess County, while Loucks and sophomore Lake Wilson led the way with four each.
The road win marks the third straight for the Panthers to start the season, as they will take a day off before hosting Henderson County at 5:30 p.m. on Monday.
