By Nick Brockman, Messenger Sports Reporter nbrockman@the-messenger.com
Losing by the run rule is never easy to take, especially when the expectations are so high.
All season long, the Madisonville-North Hopkins baseball team aimed at claiming the school's first regional title since 1979 and boasted the talent to accomplish the task. That dream came to an end Tuesday night when the Maroons (25-7) dropped an 11-0 game to Henderson County (26-6) in a 2nd Region semifinal contest at Elmer Kelley Stadium.
In a season in which North scored a region-best 311 runs, the Maroons failed to record a single hit against Colonels pitcher Myles Scott.
After an uneventful first inning for both teams, the Colonels dominated at the plate and on the mound. Scott took the ball for Henderson and worked quickly throughout. His fast pace kept the Maroons off balance and Scott tossed a five-inning no-hitter.
Henderson loaded the bases with one out in the second inning to mount the first scoring threat. North starting pitcher Ben Campbell struck out Codie Abbott for the inning's second out.
Campbell fell behind 3-0 to Colonel leadoff hitter Jordan Cessna before throwing a strike. On the next pitch, the Maroons appeared to escape the jam unscathed as Cessna sent a towering fly ball to center field.
Senior Zach Baird appeared to have a beat on the ball near the warning track, but as the ball dropped toward the field it glanced off Baird's glove. Three runners scored and Cessna advanced all the way to third on the play.
All season long, the Madisonville-North Hopkins baseball team aimed at claiming the school's first regional title since 1979 and boasted the talent to accomplish the task. That dream came to an end Tuesday night when the Maroons (25-7) dropped an 11-0 game to Henderson County (26-6) in a 2nd Region semifinal contest at Elmer Kelley Stadium.
In a season in which North scored a region-best 311 runs, the Maroons failed to record a single hit against Colonels pitcher Myles Scott.
After an uneventful first inning for both teams, the Colonels dominated at the plate and on the mound. Scott took the ball for Henderson and worked quickly throughout. His fast pace kept the Maroons off balance and Scott tossed a five-inning no-hitter.
Henderson loaded the bases with one out in the second inning to mount the first scoring threat. North starting pitcher Ben Campbell struck out Codie Abbott for the inning's second out.
Campbell fell behind 3-0 to Colonel leadoff hitter Jordan Cessna before throwing a strike. On the next pitch, the Maroons appeared to escape the jam unscathed as Cessna sent a towering fly ball to center field.
Senior Zach Baird appeared to have a beat on the ball near the warning track, but as the ball dropped toward the field it glanced off Baird's glove. Three runners scored and Cessna advanced all the way to third on the play.
Henderson followed consecutively with an RBI single, intentional walk, two-run triple and scored another on a passed ball. All seven runs on the inning were unearned.
The Colonels tallied three more runs in the third inning as five runners reached base. Gabe Pirtle and Kyle Gibson accounted for all three runs on a pair of base hits. Henderson finished off its scoring with a run in the fourth via a wild pitch.
Offensively, North never found the key to dismantling Scott's rhythm. Scott struck out eight and allowed just two base runners, both on walks. Baird represented the lone Maroon base runner to advance past first. Baird reached on a walk in the third, advanced to second on a passed ball and moved to third on a deep fly out to center.
Campbell tossed a complete game and struck out three in his final outing.
For many of North's players, the loss came as another lesson learned in postseason baseball, but for six seniors it marked the end of a career. Baird, Campbell, Justin Lamb, Matt Levin, Ryan Quinn and Micah Rainwater each ended their respective high school careers at home.
The loss represented North's third defeat of the season at home and third to 2nd Region teams, two at the hands of Henderson.
With the win, Henderson advances to play 7 p.m. Wednesday against Christian County in the 2nd Region Championship at Elmer Kelley Stadium.
North (25-7) 000 00 - 0 0 1
Henderson (26-6) 073 1X - 11 8 0
WP: Myles Scott. LP: Ben Campbell.
Christian County earned the first spot in the 2nd Region Championship game with a 5-0 win against Crittenden County (17-13).
Colonels pitcher Dylan Carroll tossed a complete game shutout and struck out 10 Rocket batters.
Although Crittenden out-hit Christian, the Colonels (18-14) made the most of their opportunities. Christian plated single runs in the third and sixth innings on respective sacrifice flies.
The Colonels' big inning came in the fifth when Christian collected three runs on four hits.
Meanwhile, Crittenden left its scoring chances on the base paths. The Rockets recorded back-to-back singles to start the fifth, but Carroll retired the next three batters in order to escape the jam. Crittenden stranded two more runners in the sixth.
Crittenden (17-13) 000 000 0 - 0 7 2
Christian (18-14) 001 031 X - 5 6 0
WP: Dylan Carroll. LP: Casey Oliver.
The Colonels tallied three more runs in the third inning as five runners reached base. Gabe Pirtle and Kyle Gibson accounted for all three runs on a pair of base hits. Henderson finished off its scoring with a run in the fourth via a wild pitch.
Offensively, North never found the key to dismantling Scott's rhythm. Scott struck out eight and allowed just two base runners, both on walks. Baird represented the lone Maroon base runner to advance past first. Baird reached on a walk in the third, advanced to second on a passed ball and moved to third on a deep fly out to center.
Campbell tossed a complete game and struck out three in his final outing.
For many of North's players, the loss came as another lesson learned in postseason baseball, but for six seniors it marked the end of a career. Baird, Campbell, Justin Lamb, Matt Levin, Ryan Quinn and Micah Rainwater each ended their respective high school careers at home.
The loss represented North's third defeat of the season at home and third to 2nd Region teams, two at the hands of Henderson.
With the win, Henderson advances to play 7 p.m. Wednesday against Christian County in the 2nd Region Championship at Elmer Kelley Stadium.
North (25-7) 000 00 - 0 0 1
Henderson (26-6) 073 1X - 11 8 0
WP: Myles Scott. LP: Ben Campbell.
Christian County earned the first spot in the 2nd Region Championship game with a 5-0 win against Crittenden County (17-13).
Colonels pitcher Dylan Carroll tossed a complete game shutout and struck out 10 Rocket batters.
Although Crittenden out-hit Christian, the Colonels (18-14) made the most of their opportunities. Christian plated single runs in the third and sixth innings on respective sacrifice flies.
The Colonels' big inning came in the fifth when Christian collected three runs on four hits.
Meanwhile, Crittenden left its scoring chances on the base paths. The Rockets recorded back-to-back singles to start the fifth, but Carroll retired the next three batters in order to escape the jam. Crittenden stranded two more runners in the sixth.
Crittenden (17-13) 000 000 0 - 0 7 2
Christian (18-14) 001 031 X - 5 6 0
WP: Dylan Carroll. LP: Casey Oliver.
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