YSE File Photo
Twelve days ago, the University Heights Academy baseball team lost for the fifth time in six games and was struggling to bounce back after a Spring Break slide. Less than two weeks later, the Blazers are one of the hottest teams in western Kentucky.
With a convincing 7-2 victory Thursday at Crittenden County, UHA won its seventh straight contest — six of which have come against 2nd Region opponents — and moved to 15-8 overall with less than a month to go in the regular season.
Josh Pace (3-1) was electric for Heights. The sophomore hurler allowed two hits and two walks, striking out eight in six innings. The two Rocket runs he allowed were unearned. Ryan Luckey then emphatically slammed the door in the bottom of the seventh inning, striking out the side during his relief appearance.
Offensively, the Blazers started fast and furious on the road, as consecutive singles by Hayden Hunt and Cadence Gibson eventually led to a Jackson Flynn RBI groundout and Courtland Gibson sacrifice fly, giving UHA a 2-0 first-inning advantage.
After Cadence Gibson and Flynn respectively connected for a double and single to start the third inning, Heights added to its lead on two more sacrifices and a Crittenden error, putting the host Rockets in a 4-0 hole after 2.5 innings.
CCHS (13-9) finally got on the board in the fifth, cutting UHA’s lead to 5-2 when Drake Young delivered an RBI groundout and Kaiden Travis trotted home on a Pace balk, but that’s all the home team would muster. Hudson Stokes and Casey Cates accounted for the two Rocket hits — both singles.
Chase Conyer (3-3) took the loss on the mound for Crittenden County. Despite striking out five in 5 1/3 innings, Conyer allowed seven hits, four walks and six earned runs. Stokes went 1 2/3 innings in relief, striking out one and giving up just one hit in a scoreless effort.
Cadence Gibson finished 3-for-3 with three runs, an RBI, a walk and a stolen base to lead the Blazers at the plate. Sam Belt finished 1-for-2 with a run, walk and RBI, while Flynn went 1-for-2 with a run, RBI and stolen base.
In order to reach eight straight wins, University Heights will have to overcome a tall task at 11 a.m. Saturday in the form of McCracken County. The Mustangs (18-6), who will host Saturday, are currently ranked No. 3 in the state by Prep Baseball Report. This will be the first ever meeting between the programs.
