The Christian County Colonels have been a team of resiliency all season long. That was never more evident than in their 2nd Region semifinal matchup Monday night against the Caldwell County Tigers.
After seeing the Tigers cut the lead to a single run in the bottom of the sixth, the Colonels responded in a big way in the top half of the seventh. Christian County sent 19 batters to the plate as they erupted for 14 runs in the inning on their way to a 19-4 win over Caldwell County, a win that sends them on to the 2nd Region championship game against Henderson County Tuesday night.
Christian County looked to have things fairly well in hand going into the bottom of the sixth with a 5-2 lead. Aiden Lewis was rolling along on the mound, allowing Caldwell County just one run since the opening inning and the momentum felt like it had taken up a seat in the Christian County dugout. But that all changed.
After a walk by Deontaye Walls and a single from Jamus Carneyhan, Luke Parker gapped a two-out double to drive in two runs and cut the lead to a very tenuous one run going into the final inning.
But just as quick as the momentum appeared to be swinging to the Caldwell County side, it made a u-turn and Colonels seized it right back. With his pitch count passing 90, Caldwell starter Deonte Walls began to show a little fatigue and was lifted in the 7th after hitting Preston Phan and giving up a single to Josh Snorton. At that point, the landslide came roaring down the hill and the Tigers could not get out of the way.
Christian County got the offensive train rolling and for a while it looked like it was not gonna stop. The Colonels used seven hits and seven walks to push across 14 runs in the inning, ten of them coming after there were two outs. Carter Sholar got the rally in full gear with an RBI triple. Preston Phan had another big hit in the inning, driving in two runs with a double.
By the time the onslaught was over, the lead was 15 runs and the Colonels were headed to the final.
Caldwell County briefly held the lead in the game after Brady Holeman drove in a run with a single in the bottom of the first that put the Tigers up 1-0.
Christian County tied the game up in the top of the 3rd on a sacrifice bunt from Preston Phan. A sac fly from Jacob Jenkins gave the Colonels a 2-1 lead in the top of the 4th.
In the fifth, it was Carter Sholar driving in a pair of runs with a two-out single. Josh Snorton would later score on a wild pitch to extend the lead to 5-1.
Caldwell County trimmed the lead to 5-2 with a balk in the bottom of the 5th inning, setting up the wild finish.
Elijah Underhill finished 3-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Carter Sholar was 2-4 with 3 RBIs and two runs scored. Preston Phan finished the night 2-4 with 3 RBIs and two runs scored.
For Caldwell County, Luke Parker was 3-3 with 2 RBIs and a run scored. Carter Whittington finished the game 2-4.
Aiden Lewis picked up the win for Christian County, going six innings, giving up four runs on eight hits, striking out seven while walking only one.
Christian County moves to 28-7 on the year. They return to the regional championship game for the first time since 2018 when they knocked off Union County to advance to the state tournament.
Caldwell County’s season ends at 16-9.
