The University Heights Academy Blazers shook off some early nerves and went on to defeat Wolfe County 9-1 Thursday afternoon in the first round of the KHSAA State Baseball Tournament at Legends Field in Lexington.
The Region 14 champion Wolves wasted no time scoring as Chance Fallen tripled to lead off the bottom of the first inning. Camden Oliver singled home Fallen to give Wolfe County a 1-0 lead.
Blazers’ Head Coach Michael Crow said he was proud of the way his team responded from the early punch.
After the first inning, UHA pitcher Jaiden Miles kept the Wolves (24-11) at bay. The senior right-hander went five innings and struck out six while walking three and scattering five hits to pick up the win.
Miles said he felt good on the mound all day.
The bottom of the Blazers’ order proved to be the difference Thursday, beginning in the top of the second inning. Jackson Flynn doubled down the right field line that seemed to wake up the team. Aiden Jones and Miles followed with doubles and helped UHA take a 3-1 lead.
Crow said Flynn’s hit came at the perfect time.
The No. 7-ranked Blazers (30-9) pushed their lead to 5-1 in the fourth inning as Miles walked and Ryan Luckey reached on an error. Cadence Gibson cleared the bases with a triple.
AJ Hogart started a four-run inning in the fifth with a single. Flynn and Jones had back-to-back singles with one out, and Josh Pace had a two-run single to make the score 7-1. Luckey doubled home two more runs with two out for a 9-1 advantage.
Flynn and Jones both finished the game 2-for-4. Pace and Cadence Gibson each had a pair of RBIs.
Thomas Hallmark pitched the last two innings for the Blazers and allowed one hit while striking out one.
Fallen led Wolfe County with a 3-for-4 day.
The Blazers advance to play Boyd County at 12:30 p.m. Central time on Saturday. Boyd knocked off No. 15-ranked South Oldham 5-1 earlier in the day. Airtime for Saturday’s game will be 12:15 p.m. on 95.3 The Farm and 953thefarm.com.
In other games at the state tournament, No. 3-ranked McCracken County blanked No. 5 Bowling Green 6-0 and No. 6 Sayre blasted Johnson Central 13-4.
Today, Campbell County meets LaRue County at 9 a.m. and Apollo will take on Whitley County at 12:30 p.m. Top ranked Louisville Trinity faces Bullitt East at 4 p.m. and West Jessamine takes on Beechwood in tonight’s last game at 7:30 p.m.
Photos by Peyton Biaquis