Chase Hayden retired the first three up for McCracken County in Thursday’s Region 1 Championship and Alex Staples, the first batter up for the Marshals connected for a single and that turned out to be one of the few high points of the game. It was all McCracken County from there in the Mustangs 12-0 five-inning win and eighth consecutive Region 1 title.
Staples would advance to third on a sacrifice by Ethan Landis and a wild pitch but was left stranded with the third out.
McCracken County scored eight runs in the top of the second inning. The first two scoring on wild pitches, Scout Moffatt singled to score a run and a sacrifice bunt from Jude Farley brought a run in. Jack Bennett doubled to bring two across the plate and Nate Lang batted in a run for an 8-0 lead with one out. The Marshals got out of the inning on line outs hit by Zach Sims and Eli James.
Jace Driver led off with a single in the bottom of the second before a strike out and double play quickly ended the inning for the Marshals.
The Mustangs took an 11-0 lead in the top of the third, scoring on an error and double hit by Moffatt. Conner Mannon recorded the Marshals final hit of the night in the bottom of the third and McCracken County added their final run in the top of the fifth.
Hayden pitched one and a third innings for the Marshals, struck out one and allowed five hits and eight runs. Gavin Clark pitched two and two-thirds innings, allowed four hits and three runs and struck out two. Carter McKinney finished out the final inning with a strike out, allowed two hits and a run.
The shut out went to Bennett who struck out six over four innings and allowed three hits. Bennett was selected as the tournament MVP as well as Region 1 Player of the Year. The Mustangs (33-6) will play the winner of Region 14 a week from Friday in the State Tournament.
The Marshals wrapped up a successful season under first-year head coach Tyler O’Daniel and finish with a record of 21-15.
Evan Oakley, Reese Oakley and Ethan Landis were named to the All-Tournament Team.
McCracken 0 8 3 0 1 x x 12 11 0
Marshall 0 0 0 0 0 x x 0 3 3
Marshall: Staples 1/2, Driver 1/2, Mannon 1/2
McCracken: Riley 2/3, Green 1/3 (2B, 2 RBI), Bennett 2/4 (2-2B, 3 RBI), Lang 1/2 (2 RBI), Sims 2/4, Ford 1/2, Moffatt 2/3 (2B, RBI), Farley (RBI)
Marshall: Hayden 1.1 (5 hits, 8 runs), Clark 2.2 (4 hits, 3 runs), McKinney 1.0 (2 hits, 1 run)
McCracken: Bennett 4.0 (3 hits, 0 runs), Ehling 1.0 (0 hits, 0 runs)
