WILLIAMSBURG — Having to play its fifth game in five days didn’t slow down Jeremy Shope’s Whitley County Colonels during their 5-1 win over Corbin on Wednesday.
The Colonels (23-3 overall, 7-0 vs. 50th District competition) locked up the 50th District’s top seed thanks to solid pitching efforts by Bradyn Bargo, and Mason Croley.
Bargo tossed four innings, allowing only four hits, and one earned run while striking out two batters. Croley pitched three scoreless innings, allowing only two hits, and finishing with three Ks.
“It’s been a grind the last week,” Shope said. “We played three games, and competed for a state championship in Owensboro which is hours away. We come back and have to play a good Corbin team twice. We won four of the five games. This team is tough.
“So proud of these guys,” he added. “Going undefeated in our district is not easy. There are good baseball teams in it. Our team loves the game, and it makes coaching them special. We get a little breather this weekend to get rested up and then we’ll get after it to get ready for postseason.”
The game was tied at one apiece heading into the bottom of the fourth when Whitley County scored a run to take a 2-1 advantage. The Colonels added two insurance runs in the fifth inning while adding another insurance run in the sixth inning.
Andrew Stack led Whitley County at the plate with a 2-for-3 effort while scoring once. Shane Parker drove in a run, and scored once while Grant Zehr, and Sam Harp each finished with a hit, and an RBI apiece. Bryce Anderson had a hit, an RBI, and scored once while Hunter Wilson, and RJ Osborne each finished with a hit apiece.
Bradric Helton lex the Redhounds with a hit, and an RBI while Kade Elam, Walker Landrum, Cam Estep, Mikey Neal, and Noah Cima each finished with a hit apiece. Estep also scored Corbin’s lone run.
Cruz Cima tossed 4 2/3 of an inning for the Redhounds, allowing five hits, and three earned runs. He struck out two batters. Ethan Abner pitched the final 1 1/3 of an inning, giving up two hits while striking out one batter.
The loss dropped Corbin to 15-7 overall, and 4-3 against 50th District opponents. The Redhounds will be the No. 2 seed in the 50th District Tournament.
“We weren’t able to take advantage of the opportunities that we had,” Corbin coach Cody Philpot said. “We’ll learn and be ready when it matters.”
