Caldwell County continued its surprising start to the baseball season with an 8-7 victory at Lyon County on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Lyon, which was ranked No. 1 in the 2nd Region in a coaches’ preseason poll, is now 0-4.
Caldwell, which improved to 5-1, took the lead for good in a back-and-forth contest with two runs in the top of the fifth inning.
Collin Whittington and Westin King each had RBI singles to right as the Tigers went in front 7-5.
Cole Slone singled home another run in the sixth to give Caldwell a three-run cushion at 8-5.
Lyon mounted a rally in the bottom of the inning, loading the bases. Korben Lucas drew a two-out walk to force in a run. The Lyons then got within 8-7 when Turner Hurst was hit by a pitch.
However, Caldwell freshman Mitchell Phelps struck out the next batter to preserve the Tigers’ one-run lead and send the game to the seventh inning.
Cole Slone took over on the mound for Caldwell in the bottom of the seventh. A lineout to center and a strikeout were the first two outs of the inning. Eli Baker singled to keep the inning alive. But Slone got the next batter to pop out to second to end the game and pick up the save.
Ethan Ramage was the winning pitcher for Caldwell, working 2.1 innings in relief of starter Ari Wells. Ramage allowed two earned runs on one base hit with two strikeouts and four walks.
Caldwell won despite issuing 10 free passes to the Lyons.
The Tigers outhit Lyon 12-5.
Slone and King each finished 3-for-4 with an RBI for Caldwell. Carter Whittington was 2-for-4 and scored three times. Channing Puckett and Luke Parker each doubled.
Baker was the only Lyon with multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Hurst had a double and drove in two. John Bingham and Brady Belt each had a double.
Caldwell led 2-0 early. Lyon came back to take a 4-3 edge in the third. The Tigers went back in front 5-4 in the top of the fourth inning before the Lyons tied things in the bottom of the frame.
Caldwell has taken three of its last five games against Lyon.
Of the four teams to beat Lyon, only Marshall (1-4) has as losing record. Hopkinsville is 4-0 while Owensboro Apollo is 2-1.
Caldwell goes on the road again on Thursday for a 7th District date at Hopkins County Central. The Tigers beat the Storm 10-0 Monday in Princeton.
Lyon will play three games this weekend in the Greenwood High School Hot Rods Classic in Bowling Green. The Lyons will play Bullitt East Friday night before facing Greenwood and Owensboro on Saturday.
