Caldwell County took the first step toward its seventh-straight 7th District championship on Tuesday, beating Hopkins County Central 8-2 in a semifinal match-up at Dawson Springs. The Tigers have won five of six to improve to 22-6, while the Storm drop three-straight and six of seven to end their season at 6-21.
After falling behind 1-0 in the top of the second inning, Caldwell used a bases-loaded walk and an RBI by Noah Brown to take a lead they would keep the rest of the way. Shane Burns singled-in Jase Felker, followed by RBI sacrifices from Oliver Parker and Easton Thompson for a 5-1 lead after three.
With the bases loaded in the fourth, Burns was hit by a pitch to stretch the lead to 5. The Tigers added their final 2 runs in the sixth, using a Storm error and a Felker sacrifice for an 8-1 score. Hopkins Central scored a run in its last at bat, but couldn’t get any closer.
Gabe East earned the win for the Tigers, working 5.0 frames while allowing a run on four hits with eight strikeouts and two walks. Bryar Riley pitched the sixth and seventh, yielding a run on two hits while striking-out three.
Thompson had 2 RBI, with Brown, Burns, Parker and Dylan Gray each driving-in a run. Felker had three hits, with Bryce Thomas and Tate VanHooser each hitting safely once.
Jacob Morphew took the loss, lasting 3.2 innings and surrendering 6 runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and three walks. Luke Rideout led the Storm at the plate with two hits and an RBI.
Caldwell will meet Madisonville-North Hopkins in the championship game on Thursday. The teams split two regular season meetings, with both winning at home.
