Heritage Christian Academy pushed across the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh inning and made it stand up as they claimed a 4-3 road win Hopkins County Central Monday in Morton’s Gap.
The win improves the Warriors’ record 13-5 overall and 4-5 against Kentucky High School Athletic Association schools. HCA was granted KHSAA membership last summer and began playing schools in that association at the start of the school year in all sports. Heritage will still compete in the Kentucky Christian Athletic Association this spring and all of the next school year.
With the game tied at three after six innings, JJ Thompson reached base with his third hit of the game. He stole second with David Jent at the plate. Jent then coaxed a walk, however, Thompson was caught stealing third base.
Weston Powell delivered the big hit, a double to center field that scored Jent with the go-ahead run.
Tra Fowler was outstanding in relief for HCA, pitching the final three innings to get the win. He allowed just two hits and one earned run. He struck out four and walked just one.
He came on in relief of Walker Ashby who allowed just two hits but was able to pitch around seven walks and allowed just two runs.
Heritage scored three runs in the third inning. It was Powell again who had a big hit, a single to right that scored Jent (single) and Thompson (walk).
Bradley Boyd came through with a line drive hit the left that scored Fowler (single).
Thompson finished with three of HCA’s nine hits and stole four bases. Powell had two hits and three RBIs, and Boyd also had two hits.
Hopkins County Central (11-11) was limited to four hits in the game, with Tyler McKinney’s double the lone extra-base hit for the Storm.
McKinney was also the tough-luck loser on the mound for Hopkins Central, striking out 10 but allowing four earned runs.
