Despite KYPL-National jumping on the board first with Will Thompson scoring on a passed ball, they would fall behind their opponent quickly.
KYPL-American went on to tally four runs in the bottom of the second inning. With the help of an error, Dillon Miller and CJ Johnson were able to score before Eric Riffe’s RBI single. Riffe’s singled landed in the left field with enough room to score Jase Felker. KYPL-National’s Jackson Fitzgerald escaped the inning before any other runs were allowed.
By the top of the sixth inning, it was still anyone’s game. Jacob Pennington for KYPL-National singled to center field and allowed Thompson to score. Despite two runs separating the teams, KYPL-American refused to let the National team advance any further.
During the bottom of the seventh, an error by Tyler Belcher allowed Cameron Dean to score – a cinematic scene of Dean scoring with a cloud of dust flying through the air. Dean looked rattled from how he slid into home for a moment.
With all eyes on the victory, KYPL-American went into the top of the ninth looking for three outs but KYPL-National had other plans in mind.
The inning kicked off with Mel Mulholland singling to left field. As the bases became loaded, KYPL-National’s lead began to crumble. After multiple walks and Rook Ellington being hit by a pitch, KYPL-American tied the ballgame.
KYPL-National took the lead after Noah Brown singled to right field, allowing Shelby and Brodie Lenon to score. KYPL-American went down in a 1-2-3 inning to finish the night.
Brady Betts earned the win for KYPL-National. He allowed zero hits and zero runs in over two innings of work. Betts struck out three and walked none. Lenon threw a total of five innings in relief for Betts. Fitzgerald started the game for the winning team – he worked a total of two innings, allowing four runs on three hits and struck out one.
Johnson took the loss for KYPL-American. He allowed two hits and one run in over three innings of work. Johnson struck out five in his outing on the mound. Riley Harris started the game for KYPL-American. Harris allowed two hits and one run in over three innings of work.
Worth noting: KYPL-National finished the night with 10 hits in the game. Brown, Ellington, and Pennington had multiple hits for the winning team. KYPL-American finished with a total of seven hits. Dean and Parker Estes had multiple hits. Dean went 4-for-4 at the dish to lead his team in hits.
