With still over 3 weeks left in the regular season, the Caldwell County Tiger baseball team is closing in on 20 wins.
Caldwell became the first 2nd Region school with 18 wins on Thursday when the Tigers dismissed Paducah St. Mary 12-2 in five innings at the VFW Ballpark in Princeton.
Cole Slone allowed just three base hits and struck out seven while improving to 5-1 on the season.
Slone also had a two-run single as Caldwell scored four times in the bottom of the first inning to grab an early lead.
Ari Wells doubled home a run and Collin Whittington followed with an RBI triple as the Tigers batted around in the first inning.
Luke Parker and Collin Whittington each had RBI doubles in the second inning. Whittington later scored from third when a pickoff attempt at first base got away, giving the Tigers a 7-0 lead.
A two-run home run to right field by Landon Durbin got St. Mary (11-5) on the scoreboard in the top of the third.
But Caldwell countered with two runs in the bottom of the frame.
Westin King picked up an RBI with an infield single. Slone drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 9-2.
David Ginn doubled to start the fourth inning and scored on a single by Parker to make it 10-2.
Caldwell (18-6) then ended the contest on the 10-run mercy rule with two runs in the bottom of the fifth.
Drew Stevens knocked in the first run with an infield single. Carter Whittington then singled sharply into centerfield to plate another run and bring an early end to the contest.
Parker and Carter Whittington each went 3-for-4 to lead the Caldwell offense.
Ginn and Collin Whittington were each 2-for-3.
Caldwell and St. Mary have split four game over the last two seasons. The all-time series is also tied 5-5.
The Tigers will pay a visit to Calloway County on Friday before hosting Hopkinsville on Monday.
