CORBIN — When it mattered most, Whitley County got the job done.
Jeremy Shope’s Colonels captured their second 13th Region championship in three years, dethroning defending region champion Corbin, 7-1, on Thursday.
The two teams met five times during the season with the Colonels (35-4) coming away with four wins over the Redhounds (26-10).
If Whitley County had any doubt that it could beat Corbin after losing, 7-2, to the Redhounds during last week’s 50th District title game, the Colonels quickly erased that by scoring four runs in the first inning and never looking back.
Whitley County senior Grant Zehr turned in one of his best efforts of his career, allowing only one hit, and one earned run through five innings of work before putting an end to the Redhounds’ nine-game win streak.
Corbin scored in double figures five times during the run while averaging more than 10 runs per game.
Zehr got his game going in the top of the first inning with a run-scoring single that scored Bryce Anderson, who led the game off with a triple. Zehr, and Tyler Rose both scored on a double by Mason Croley while Matthew Wright’s double gave the Colonels a 4-0 advantage.
Corbin cut its deficit to 4-1 in the bottom of the first after a run-scoring ground out by Jacob Baker that scored Walker Landrum.
A groundout by Sam Harp in the top of the fifth inning scored Shane Parker, who reached base on a bunt, giving Whitley County a 5-1 edge.
Matthew Wright scored on an error in the sixth inning to make the score, 6-1, while Croley’s run-scoring single in the seventh inning scored Rose to push the Colonels’ lead to 7-1.
Zehr pitched a complete game, and allowed only two hits, and one earned run while striking three batters.
Croley led the way with two hits, three RBI, and one run scored while Matthew Wright, and Zehr finished with two hits, one RBI, and one run scored apiece. Sam Harp had a hit, and RBI while Anderson finished with a triple, and a run scored. Parker had a bunt single, and scored once while RJ Osborne finished with a hit.
Bradric Helton took the loss for Corbin, pitching six innings while allowing eight hits, and six earned runs while striking out eight batters. Ethan Abner pitched an inning, allowing two hits, and one earned run.
Walker Landrum, and Cameron Combs had the Redhounds’ lone hits while Walker also scored, a run, and Jacob Baker drove in a run.
