It was just the way the Lyon County Lyons were looking to start the defense of their 2nd Region championship. The Lyons got a lockdown pitching performance from starter Corey Cissell while their offense scored in every inning as the Lyons cruised to a 13-0 five-inning win over Madisonville-North Hopkins Sunday afternoon on the opening day of the 2nd Region baseball tournament.
Cissell went 3 2/3-innings, giving up just three hits, striking out four, and walking none. Coach Ricky Baker took him out at 48 total pitches, allowing for the possibility of additional innings of work should the Lyons reach the championship game.
Brady Belt would finish the final 1 1/3-innings, allowing the Maroons no hits and striking out two.
While the pitching staff for the Lyons had the Maroons well under control, the Lyon County bats were zoned in at the plate. The Lyons scored twice in the first, three times in the second, six in the third, and then closed out with two more in the fourth.
The Lyons would score their 13 runs on 12 hits and took advantage of three Madisonville errors. Lyon County was also the beneficiary of six walks and one hit batter.
Gunnar Bingham had a big game in the leadoff spot, going 3-4 with 2 RBIs and three runs scored. Austin Spears, John Bingham, and Peyton Williams all had two hits each for the Lyons. Spears finished with three RBIs and Brady Belt added two for Lyon County.
The Lyons improve to 27-6 with the win and move on to the regional semifinals Tuesday night. They will take on Henderson County, who survived a late-game rally from Hopkinsville to pick up a 2-1 win.
