First-year coach Taylor Follis just wants his team to play a clean baseball game. Then put several of them together, especially in district play.
Unfortunately, Follis is still waiting for the Wildcats to string them together.
Trigg County committed seven errors in an 8-4 loss at Calloway County in the Class 2A Sectionals.
In 11 games, the Wildcats have made 29 errors that have led to 34 unearned runs. Six of Calloway’s eight runs Friday were of the unearned variety as they scored on a passed ball, RBI single, passed ball, throwing error, throwing error, passed ball, throwing error, and a sacrifice fly.
While the defense was a letdown, the Wildcat offense outhit Calloway 6-4. After both starting pitchers were able to work out of jams in the first inning, Trigg got on the board first when Austin Stewart walk, advanced to second on a ground out, went to third on a passed ball, and scored on an Aaron Despain single.
Calloway got two runs back in the second when Trigg misplayed a bunt, plated a run on a passed ball, and followed that with a sacrifice fly.
The Lakers added a third run on a Trigg throwing error.
Two more errors in the fourth advanced Calloway’s lead to 5-1.
Trigg got two runs back in the fifth when Jay Humphries smacked a one-out single to center. After a groundout, pinch hitter Thomas Hawkins was hit by a pitch, and Stephen Audas walked to load the bases. Hunter Reynolds and Despain followed with bases-loaded walks to cut the lead to 5-3.
Cole Lockhart sandwiched an RBI single between two runs scoring on Trigg passed balls. The only extra-base hit of the game came from Braden Pingel.
Six Wildcats had singles with Despain driving in two runs.
Isaac Peca didn’t allow an earned run in four innings of work despite leaving the game down 5-1. He gave up three hits and struck out three. Dallas Ahart and Matthew Leeper followed in relief and combined to allow one hit.
Matthew Ray got the pitching win for Calloway, giving up four hits and two earned runs. He struck out seven, but Trigg batters were able to work six walks out of him.
Calloway County improved to 2-4 with its third straight win over Trigg County.
The Wildcats (3-8) return to action Thursday at Russellville.
