BARBOURVILLE — The Corbin Redhounds are back on top of the 13th Region mountain after defeating defending state champion Whitley County, 6-3, in Friday’s 13th Region Baseball Tournament.
The Redhounds (30-10) fell behind 2-0 in the top of the first but responded with three runs in bottom half of the inning while adding three more runs to take a 6-2 lead before the Colonels (28-11) scored their final run of the game in the top of the seventh.
The win marked Corbin’s sixth 13th Region championship, capturing region titles in 1994, 2005, 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2024.
The Redhounds received solid pitching throughout the region tournament, allowing only seven runs in three games.
Jeremiah Gilbert got the starting nod in the title game, and handcuffed Whitley County’s batters throughout the contest. He allowed six hits and three earned runs while striking out seven batters to improve to 6-1 on the season.
Noah Cima came up huge at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a home run (came in the first inning), two RBI and two runs scored. Kade Elam turned in a perfect 3-for-3 effort while driving in a run and scoring once. Cam Estep had a hit and drove in two runs while Mikey Neal and Lucas Tarvin finished with a hit apiece. Clay Botner scored a run while Gilbert drove in a run.
“I’m so proud of all of these guys, glad my seniors get another chance to play on that stage at the State Tournament,” Corbin coach Cody Philpot said. “These guys work so hard to put themselves in a position to win these type games. And it feels good when you see it start to pay off. They’re not finished though, they have their eyes set on the big prize.
“Jeremiah did what he does and kept a really good Whitley Co team in check today,” he added. “So many guys contributed offensively this week but Noah and Cam had some huge momentum changing swings for us tonight as they have had throughout the tournament.”
Brady Bargo took the loss, lasting 1 2/3 of an inning while allowing seven hits and four earned runs. He struck out three batters. Christian Wilson pitched 1 1/3 of an inning one hit and no runs while striking out one batter. Trey Walton threw three innings, allowing only a hit and struck out three batters.
Hunter Wilson led Whitley County with two hits and an RBI while Ronald Osborne and Bryce Anderson finished with a hit and an RBI apiece. Jerrod Croley and Matthew Wrote hit finished with a hit apiece while EJ Allen and Dee Parker scored a run apiece.
The Redhounds will be back in action Friday at Legends Field in first round action of the KHSAA State Baseball Tournament. Corbin will face-off against 3rd Region champion Owensboro Catholic (29-7) at 5 p.m.
