The theory that it’s not over until it’s over was proven Thursday night in the championship game of the 2nd Region All A Classic in Smithland.
Caldwell County trailed Crittenden County 11-2 through six innings and was seemingly just three outs away from what looked like a sure loss.
However, the Tigers sent 20 batters to the plate in the top of the seventh and scored 14 runs to rally past the Rockets.
Ari Wells homered twice in the seventh inning — a three-run blast to right field in his first at-bat then a grand slam to right later in the inning — to help Caldwell capture an improbable 16-12 win in the regional All A baseball final.
Crittenden (5-6) scored six times in the bottom of the fifth to break a 1-1 tie, then added four more runs in the bottom of the sixth to go up 11-2. The Rockets had the potential game-ending run at third base — they would have ended the contest on the 10-run mercy rule with one more tally.
But Caldwell got to the seventh inning, then batted for a long, long time.
Crittenden starting pitcher Jeremiah Foster pitched well before coming out after 114 pitches. But the Rockets struggled in relief while playing their third game in four days.
In Caldwell’s big seventh inning, the Tigers were given nine walks along with a hit batter. A pair of errors also aided the Caldwell cause.
Wells’ first home run cut the gap to 11-8.
A bases-loaded walk by Brady Holeman tied the game at 11-11. Jamus Carneyhan followed with another free pass to force home another run to put Caldwell in front for the first time in the game at 12-11.
Wells then provided plenty of insurance, driving a grand slam over the right-field fence to put the Tigers up 16-11.
Those runs were important in the bottom of the seventh when the Rockets loaded the bases with no outs. However, a 4-6-3 double play turned by Caldwell took much of the sting out of the inning, although a run did score on the play to make it 16-12.
Wells also pitched the seventh inning for the Tigers, and got a strikeout to end the contest and send Caldwell County on to the All A Classic sectional round. The Tigers will play at 1st Region champion Paducah St. Mary next week at a date to be determined.
Scott Cortner (2-2) was the winning pitcher for Caldwell after getting the last two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Wells was 2-for-5 at the plate with the two homers and seven runs batted in.
Collin Whittington finished 3-for-3 with an RBI double in the second inning. Luke Parker was 3-for-5 with an RBI.
For Crittenden, Chase Conyer and Case Gobin each went 3-for-5 with a pair of runs batted in.
Each team had 13 base hits.
Caldwell (10-4) has now won seven straight games.
The Tigers return to regular-season action on Friday with a trip to Union County.
