Jayden Nichols took a couple of years off from baseball, but both he and his Heritage Christian Academy teammates are glad he returned for his senior season.
Nichols drove in four runs with two hits to help HCA defeat Community Christian 6-5 on Thursday in a game shortened to five innings due to darkness.
With HCA down 3-1 in the second inning, Nichols hit a bases-loaded double to centerfield that cleared the bases for a 4-3 HCA lead.
After Caden Gresham doubled to lead off the fourth inning, Nichols drove him home with a single to left to put HCA up 5-3.
However, Community Christian battled back to tie the game in the fifth. With the sun rapidly setting, the Paducah school loaded the bases with three walks, and Cooper Reed tied the game with a single to left.
In what would be the final at-bat regardless of the score because the HCA field has no lights, Preston Haddock drew a one-out walk. Chase Cook pinch-ran and stole second base. Lawson Clark followed with a bloop single to right field, but Cook had to hold up and advanced to third.
After an intentional walk to Cadyn Travis to load the bases, Cook scored on a wild pitch to deliver the game-winner.
Gresham added a double for HCA, and Tycen Wells and Clark added singles as Heritage drew nine walks from CCA pitchers.
Reed had two hits and two RBI for Community Christian (1-1).
Aaron Hensley went four innings on the mound for HCA, striking out five, walking four, and giving up four unearned runs. Wells was a bit shaky in relief in the fifth inning with three walks and two strikeouts but got the win.
Heritage won last year’s matchup with CCA 15-5, the only other meeting between the schools.
HCA (1-1) will play at Crittenden County on Friday.
