Caldwell County survived a pitchers’ duel in the first round of the All A Classic thanks largely to the right arm of Preston Alfred.
The sophomore right-hander struck out 11 and allowed just two singles as the Tigers turned back Fort Campbell 2-1 Wednesday at the VFW Ballpark in Princeton.
Alfred allowed just an unearned run in the top of the third inning — and that run came in on a Caldwell throwing error. He did not walk a batter.
However, Fort Campbell’s Brody Davis was Alfred’s equal for much of the day. The freshman righty allowed just two hits and one unearned tally while pitching into the sixth inning. Davis struck out five and walked one.
Mike Anderson took over from Davis and worked out of a two-on, no-out jam in the sixth.
However, Caldwell’s David Ginn singled leading off the bottom of the seventh inning — and eventually scored the game-winning run.
With one out, Collin Whittington was hit by a pitch, pushing Ginn to second. A double steal put the runners at second and third.
Luke Parker walked to load the bases. Then on the first pitch to Ari Wells, the ball squirted away from the catcher, and Ginn sprinted in from third with the game-winning run.
A pair of Fort Campbell miscues led to Caldwell’s first run in the bottom of the second.
Fort Campbell (1-7) tied the game with its unearned run in the third.
Ginn, Derek Wilson and Channing Puckett each had singles for the Tigers.
Corey Baker and Javi Ramirez singled for the Falcons.
Alfred retired the last 13 batters he faced to give Caldwell the chance to walk-off the win in the bottom of the seventh.
The Tigers have taken their last five meetings with Fort Campbell and now lead the all-time series 19-6.
The win is the eighth-straight this season for the Tigers, who will next face Lyon County Thursday at 5:30 in the All A semifinals at University Heights Academy in Hopkinsville.
Lyon advanced with a 16-1 win over Livingston Central on Wednesday.
Thursday’s late semifinal at 7:30 will pit UHA and Crittenden County.
