In front of a standing-room only crowd at Chris Simmons Field, the Christian County Colonels upset sixth-ranked University Heights Academy 5-3 in an eight-inning, District 8 baseball game Friday night.
The Colonels (11-7, 2-0) secured the top seed for next month’s district tournament, which will be played at UHA.
Eddie Davis pitched a gem for the Colonels. The junior right-hander tossed 6 2/3 innings and struck out seven, walked two and gave up only four hits.
One of those hits was by the Blazers’ Josh Pace, whose single to center field scored Jaiden Miles with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie the game at 3-3.
The Colonels led most of the game and grabbed control of the contest again in the top of the eighth inning as Andrew Mayes reached on an error and advanced to second on the same play. UHA brought in Bryson Turner to relieve Ryan Luckey and the Colonels’ Sebastian Dazey drew a walk. Johnny Lewis’ sacrifice bunt advanced Gage McCart, who came in to run for Mayes, and Dazey up one base each.
McCart then scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch with Dazey moving over to third on the play. Dylan Sweeney walked and the Colonels pulled off a double steal with Dazey scoring to push the Christian County lead to 5-3.
Sweeney was later caught stealing home to end the inning.
Dazey retired the Blazers in order in the bottom of the eighth to preserve the win.
The Colonels jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as Gage Montes singled and came around to score on a single by Layton Creamer.
Christian County pushed its lead to 2-0 in the fourth inning as Creamer singled and his pinch runner, Coalton Ingram, came around to score on a hit by Layton Lindsey.
The Blazers (14-3, 2-1) drew within 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning as AJ Hogart reached on a two-out error and came in to score on a double by Courtland Gibson.
However, Christian County took the momentum back in the top of the fifth as Blake Boehman reached on an error and scored on Creamer’s third hit of the night to make it 3-1.
Hayden Hunt started a two-out rally in the sixth for UHA. The senior reached on an error and advanced to second on the play. Hogart ripped a single down the third base line and Hunt scored to cut the lead to 3-2.
Miles started the game for UHA and went five innings, striking out seven and allowing three runs on seven hits. Turner suffered the pitching loss, as he went one inning, striking out one and walking two.
Dazey relieved Davis with two outs in the seventh and retired all four batters he faced to get the win, striking out three.
In addition to Creamer, the Colonels got a double from Sweeney.
UHA was led by Courtland Gibson with a double.
It’s a short turnaround for both teams, weather permitting, as they both will play on Saturday.
UHA is scheduled to play Paducah St. Mary in the All “A” Sectional at 11 a.m. Saturday at home. Airtime for the game is at 10:45 a.m. on 95.3 The Farm and 953thefarm.com.
Christian County is scheduled to go to Bowling Green to take on Knoxville Faragaut and fifth-ranked Bowling Green.
The Colonels are scheduled to host the Blazers at 6 p.m. Monday night. That game will air at 5:45 p.m. on 95.3 The Farm and 953thefarm.com.
Score by Innings:
100110 02 – 5 10 2
000 101 10 – 3 4 3
WP – Dazey (1 1/3 IP, 3 SO, 0 BB).
LP – Turner (1 IP, 1 SO, 2 BB).
Leading Hitters: CCHS – Montes (1B), Chase Fort (1B), Gavin Mitchell (1B), Creamer (3 1B, 2 RBI), Lindsey (1B), Sweeney (2B); UHA – Luckey (1B), Hogart (1B), Co. Gibson (2B), Pace (1B).
Photos by Peyton Biaquis