After the Madisonville-North Hopkins baseball team opened the season with 11 straight losses, it would have been hard to imagine the Maroons not only capturing a 7th-District title but also advancing in the 2nd Region tournament.
But after Saturday’s 9-2 victory over Trigg County, the Maroons have now won three in a row and find themselves a win away from competing for a region title.
Madisonville starting pitcher Erric Farmer overcame three errors behind him to hold the Wildcats scoreless over the first two frames, and the Maroons gave him some run support in the bottom of the 2nd.
After loading the bases on a pair of walks and a hit by pitch, the Maroons got on the board with a run on a wild pitch. Cadence Gibson followed with a two-run single, and Madisonville led 4-0 on another run on a passed ball.
Trigg County got a run back in the top of the 3rd when Matthew Leeper stole home, and pulled to within two in the 5th on Aidon Butts’ RBI single.
However, three runs in the bottom of the frame, including an RBI single by AJ Hogart, put the Maroons back in control. Madisonville wrapped up the scoring with a pair of runs in the bottom of the 6th, and Farmer needed only seven pitches to close out the Wildcats in the top of the 7th.
Farmer earned his fourth win of the season, overcoming six Maroon errors to allow a single earned run on three hits with a walk and five strikeouts. Cadence Gibson finished with two hits and two RBI and Courtland Gibson drove in a pair of runs.
Despite pitching well, Trigg’s Aaron Despain took the loss after giving up eight runs, five earned, on only four hits with four walks and eight strikeouts. Butts worked the final inning, giving up a run on a hit. Leeper led the Wildcats at the plate with a pair of hits.
Madisonville won its opener at the region tourney for the first time since 2016 and will face defending champions Christian County on Monday.
Trigg County’s season comes to an end with a record of 10-20.
