There were a few tense moments early for Christian County on Monday, but the Colonels ultimately prevailed to defeat Fort Campbell 9-1 and advance to the 8th District Baseball Tournament final. After scoring a combined 41 runs in two games against the Falcons during the regular season, CCHS found itself in a scoreless tie with FCHS in its postseason opener.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, however, after Christian County loaded the bases with an Aiden Lewis walk and consecutive singles by Gage Montes to lead off the frame, the Cols managed to score during four straight plate appearances to abruptly take a 4-0 lead. County scored via error, hit by pitch, ground out and sacrifice fly, and then turned the game over to its starting pitcher.
Phan, who had started just four games in 2023, and registered 14 strikeouts in 22 innings, was electric against Fort Campbell. The Christian County junior fanned 10 Falcons, walked just one, and scattered four hits in the complete-game victory. Phan (5-1) allowed the one run, which came on a one-out RBI single by Fort Campbell’s Aidan Blaszkowski in the sixth inning. Ethan Egner went 2-for-2 and scored the lone run.
The top-seeded Colonels, who won 14 of their final 17 games to end the regular season, put the game away with a five-spot in the bottom of the fifth inning. Montes, who finished the night 3-for-3 with two runs, drove in a pair with a two-run single during the fifth-inning onslaught. Montes, Aiden Lewis and Brylle Javier each scored a pair of runs apiece. Carter Sholar went 2-for-4, including one of two County doubles,and scored during the balanced attack.
Blaszkowski went the distance in defeat, allowing six hits and nine runs during the six-inning effort. He struck out a pair and walked one, as the Falcons (5-21) finished without a postseason victory for the 23rd season in a row.
Christian County (22-11) will play the winner of University Heights Academy (14-9) and Hopkinsville (9-17) in the 8th District championship game at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at UHA — the host of this year’s tournament. The Colonels are seeking their second straight district crown.
