Off to a 4-1 start, including a shutout of last season’s region runners-up Henderson County, the University Heights Academy baseball team knew Sunday’s 8th District showdown with Christian County would provide an early-season measuring stick.
UHA last beat the Colonels in 2021 and only won four times in the series in the previous 22 years. But on the evidence of Sunday’s 10-5 victory, the Blazers look to be strong contenders for their first district title since 2001.
Both teams turned to their aces on the mound, with the Blazers sending out Ian Tyler and Christian County handing the ball to Elijah Underhill. After two scoreless frames, UHA broke through in the top of the 3rd on Jaiden Miles’ two-run single.
The Colonels got a run back on Carter Sholar’s RBI double in the bottom of the 3rd, and Tyler exited for UHA after allowing an earned run on a hit with a walk and five strikeouts.
The teams traded runs in the 5th and 6th, leaving the Blazers clinging to a 3-2 advantage to start the final frame. Two hit-by-pitches on either side of a single loaded the bases before another HBP and an RBI single by Ben Stone extended the Blazers’ lead.
Another run came in on a bases-loaded walk, and Ryan Luckey followed with a two-run single. The third HBP of the inning stretched the margin to eight before a fly out to center field finally ended the rally.
In their final at-bat, the Colonels pushed a run across on a wild pitch before Sholar blasted a two-run home run to left field to cut the lead to 10-5.
Christian County loaded the bases with two outs to make things interesting, but a ground out ended the game to send the Colonels to a sixth defeat in their last seven outings.
Underhill took the loss, exiting after 121 pitches with two outs in the 7th and the Colonels only trailing by a run. He allowed six earned runs on four hits with five walks and 13 strikeouts to slip to 0-2 on the year.
Sholar finished with half of the Colonels’ four hits and drove in three runs to take his season total to a team-high nine.
Miles earned the win for the Blazers after giving up three earned runs on two hits with a pair of walks and a strikeout in one inning of work. Josh Pace relieved Tyler and gave up a run with two walks and three strikeouts in two and a third, and Bryson Turner got the final two outs of the game.
Miles finished with three hits and drove in two runs, Ryan Luckey and Stone each drove in two, and Luke Shouse and Nic Luckey each had an RBI.
Both teams have Monday off before UHA travels to Webster County on Tuesday and the Colonels make the trip to face Madisonville-North Hopkins.
