Zach Lucas

Harrison Co. wins KHSAA title behind freshman pitcher

High School Baseball

Two first-inning runs were all Region 10 champion Harrison County High School needed Saturday as the school held on for its fourth Kentucky High School Athletic Association championship with a 2-1 win over Region Six champion Butler High School. Harrison County freshman starting pitcher Jordan Martin earned the championship victory after allowing just one run in a complete-game performance. Martin struck out five and walked just three. Harrison County scored its two first-inning runs with two outs on a RBI single from junior right fielder Shane Fowler that scored junior left fielder Eric Sanders and a RBI single from junior designated hitter Samuel Logan Daily that scored senior shortstop Jared Martin. Sanders was named the state tournament MVP.

Butler senior starting pitcher Kyle McGrath almost equaled Martin’s pitching performance by allowing just two runs in his own complete-game performance. McGrath struck out eight batters and walked none. McGrath, an Eastern Kentucky University signee, ended the state tournament with 26 strikeouts in 15 innings. Butler senior shortstop Zach Lucas was the only player in the game to record multiple hits with a 2-4, one-run scored performance. (Box Score)

Player of the game: SP Jordan Martin — Martin, a freshman, had pitched just 27 innings before the state championship game but certainly didn’t show his inexperience in a complete game performance. Martin surrendered just one run on five hits in seven innings and struck out five while walking three. The performance ended Harrison County’s season on a 24-game winning streak.

KHSAA State Tournament Semifinals Roundup

High School Baseball

We know what two teams will square off for tonight’s Kentucky High School Athletic Association state tournament finals after Friday’s semifinal action. Check out recaps and awards from those two games below:

  • In the first semifinal of the day Region Six champion Butler High School scored two runs in the top of the sixth innings to take the lead for good in its 3-2 win over Region 15 champion Pikeville High School. Butler took the lead in the sixth on a two-run double from senior outfielder Daniel Pardue, and senior pitcher Kyle McGrath held on with a  scoreless seventh inning despite walking two batters to preserve the win. Senior reliever Austin Fuqua was credited with the win after holding Pikeville scoreless in one and one-third inning. Butler senior shortstop Zach Lucas was 2-3 with a run scored. Pikeville sophomore shortstop Gavin Miller was 3-4, and junior starting pitcher Layne Cecil took the loss despite allowing just three runs in a complete-game performance. (Box Score)
  • In the second semifinal matchup Region 10 champion Harrison County High School jumped out to an early 5-0 lead and held on for an 8-5 victory over Region Seven champion Louisville Male High School. Harrison County junior left fielder Eric Sanders was 3-4 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored. Junior starting pitcher Samuel Logan Daily earned the win after surrendering five runs, four of which were earned, in a complete-game effort. Daily was also 2-3 with four RBI at the plate. Male senior catcher Ryan Messex was 4-4 with one RBI. Junior left fielder Jimmy Faul, sophomore third baseman Dalton Howell and sophomore designated hitter Tyler Adams each tallied two hits in four at-bats. (Box Score)

Hitter of the day: OF Eric Sanders (Harrison Co.)

  • Stats: 3-4, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R
  • Honorable Mention: Samuel Logan Daily (Harrison Co.), Ryan Messex (Male), Jimmy Faul (Male), Dalton Howell (Male), Tyler Adams (Male), Zach Lucas (Butler), Daniel Pardue (Butler), Gavin Miller (Pikeville)

Pitcher of the day: SP Layne Cecil (Pikeville)

  • Stats: 0-1, 7 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO
  • Honorable Mention: Samuel Logan Daily (Harrison Co.), Cameron Clark (Butler), Austin Fuqua (Butler)

Day One State Tournament Roundup

High School Baseball

The first four games of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association state tournament are in the books. Check out brief recaps and awards from those games below and remember Lone Oak, LCA, Male, Warren Central, Hopkinsville, Daviess County, Harrison County and Clay County play their first-round games today.

  • Region 15 champion Pikeville High School came back from an early deficit and held off a late rally to defeat Region 14 champion Perry County Central High School in game one of the KHSAA state tournament. Pikeville junior second baseman Stephen Layne was 3-5 with one run scored and one RBI, and sophomore shortstop Gavin Miller was 2-4 with a home run, three RBI and one run scored. Junior starting pitcher Layne Cecil earned the win after surrendering six runs in five innings. Perry County senior left fielder Tyler Mullins was 2-4 with a run scored. (Box Score)
  • Region 16 champion Greenup County High School rode an outstanding pitching performance from senior starting pitcher Ethan Hardin en route to a 5-2 victory over Region Five champion Central Hardin High School. Hardin surrendered two runs on five hits in seven innings and struck out five while walking none. Greenup County senior left fielder Juan Staten was 3-4 with one run scored and one RBI. Five different Central Hardin batters recorded one hit in the game, and junior starting pitcher Dylan Schoffner took the loss despite allowing just two runs in four innings. (Box Score)
  • Region 12 champion West Jessamine High School, the highest ranked team in the tournament at No. 4 in the KHSBCA top 25, overcame an early 6-1 deficit to defeat Region Eight champion Shelby County High School 8-6 in its first-round game. West Jessamine reliever Alex Lester was almost unhittable as he allowed no runs on three hits in five and one-third innings for the win. Lester struck out 11 and walked none. Designated hitter Gus Sherrow was 3-4 with three runs scored, and third baseman Tyler West was 3-3 with two RBI and one run scored. Shelby County scored six runs in the first two innings with the help of five West Jessamine errors. Senior catcher John Hunter was 2-4 with a run scored. (Box Score)
  • Region Six champion Butler High School senior starting pitcher Kyle McGrath turned in the best pitching performance of the young tournament to lead Butler to a 7-2 win over Region Nine champion Boone County High School. McGrath struck out 16 batters in seven innings and allowed just two unearned runs on three hits. Butler junior left fielder Dwight Bigbee was 3-4 with a run scored, and senior shortstop Zach Lucas was 2-2 with two RBI and one run scored. Boone County sophomore starting pitcher Doug Teegarden took the loss after surrendering four runs in four and two-third innings but did strike out six batters. Chicago White Sox draft pick Ronald Cotton was 0-3 with a strikeout for Boone County. (Box Score)

Hitter of the day: SS Gavin Miller (Pikeville)

  • Stats: 2-4, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 R
  • Honorable Mention: Stephen Layne (Pikeville), Tyler Mullins (Perry Co.), Juan Staten (Greenup Co.), Gus Sherrow (West Jessamine), Tyler West (West Jessamine), John Hunter (Shelby Co.), Zach Lucas (Butler), Dwight Bigbee (Butler)

Pitcher of the day: Kyle McGrath (Butler)

  • Stats: 1-0, 7 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 16 SO
  • Honorable Mention: Ethan Hardin (Greenup Co.), Dylan Shoffner (Central Hardin), Alex Lester (West Jessamine)