CORBIN — Corbin will have its hands full when the Redhounds go up against 3rd Region champion Owensboro Catholic during first round action of the KHSAA Baseball State Tournament at 5 p.m. on Friday.
The Aces possess a 29-7 record and will bring in a six-game win streak.
“They are a super-solid club, very fundamental and gritty,” Corbin coach Cody Philpot said. “Just like any team that Coach Jody Hamilton has ever been involved with. They’ll be a tough test for us.”
The Aces are led by a deep pitching staff that has two seven-game winners in Luke Quinn and Barrett Evans. Quinn is 7-0 with three saves. He also possesses a 1.24 ERA and has struck out 28 batters. Evans is 7-2 with three saves. He also has a 1.68 ERA and 33 Ks. Ben Hyland is 6-0 with a 1.94 ERA. He has 39 strikeouts. Lane Hundley is 4-0 with a 1.22 ERA while Jaxson White is 4-3 with one save and a 3.96 ERA. Owensboro Catholic possesses a 2.28 ERA.
Offensively, the Aces have compiled a .315 batting average and are led by Parker Heistand’s .374 batting average. Mitchell Sams leads the team with six home runs while Houston Flynn leads the way with 38 stolen bases in 42 attempts. Owensboro Catholic has nine batters hitting over .300.
“We have to be as solid as they are, play within ourselves and not try to do too much,” Philpot said. “Take what they give us and execute when given the chance.
“A quick start is always helpful, gets the jitters out, and we hope to get off to one,”
He added. “But I don’t think it’s necessary, we’ve been in some battles and this group is compete no matter what happens until the final out is made.”
The Redhounds are batting .308 as a team while possessing six batters that are batting over .300.
Noah Cima leads the way with a .382 batting average. He also has five home runs and 37 RBI.
Corbin is a power hitting team that has combined to hit 29 home runs. Mikey Neal leads the team with nine home runs. He has also driven in 48 runs. Kade Elam and Walker Landrum also have five home runs while Cam Estep has hit four home runs and Bradric Helton has connected with one home run.
Corbin’s main strength is its pitching. The Redhounds’ ERA stands at 2.37 on the season while Jeremiah Gilbert leads the way with a 6-1 mark. He also has a save, a 1.97 ERA and 59 strikeouts. Helton is 6-3 with one save, a 2.23 ERA, and 80 Ks in 47 innings pitched. Will Freeman is 4-0 with two saves and a 1.16 ERA while Cruz Cima is 5-2 with a 2.00 ERA and 42 strikeouts. Kade Elam is 3-0 with two saves and a 1.19 ERA while Lucas Tarvin is 3-1 with a 3.10 ERA.
“I think the guys are in a good spot,” Philpot said. “There’s no question that they enjoyed winning the region but they were ready to get back to work. Everyone wants to go win this thing, they aren’t happy to just be a part of it.”
