A six-run second inning was enough to move the Crittenden County Rockets into the 2nd Region All A Classic baseball championship game. The Rockets would carry the momentum of that big inning all the way to a 9-4 win over University Heights Academy in the second semifinal game Tuesday night in Smithland.
UHA took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first using a single, an error, a catcher’s interference, and a walk to score the two runs.
Blazer pitching had its struggles in the second inning, giving up three walks and a hit batter. The Rockets made them pay by hanging a six on the scoreboard and taking a 6-2 lead into the bottom of the second. Jeremiah Foster, Tyler Belt, and Quinn Summers had big hits in the inning.
The Rockets added another run in the fourth and two more in the top of the sixth to run the lead out to 9-2.
University Heights tried to pull out a late-game miracle but came up short. After a pair of walks, Gavin Laronge drove in a pair of runs with a one-out single to make it 9-4. But that would be all there was to the rally as the Rockets sat down the next two batters to claim the win.
Crittenden County put nine runs on the board, despite being limited to just four hits. The Rockets also survive and advance, overcoming three fielding errors of their own.
Rocket pitching limited the Blazers to just four hits on the night. Chase Conyer got the win, going six innings, giving up four runs, just two of them earned, on two hits, striking out eight while walking five.
Gavin Laronge led the Blazers at the plate, going 2-4 with 2 RBIs. Jackson Flynn was 1-4 with a run scored.
Crittenden County will take on Caldwell County in Thursday night’s regional title game.