Often times, winning or losing a game comes down to whether or not a team takes advantage of an opportunity when it presents itself. The Madisonville-North Hopkins Maroons did just that in the 7th District championship game Wednesday evening at Elmer Kelley Stadium.
Errors on three consecutive plays in the top of the second inning allowed the Maroons to score a pair of unearned runs, their only runs of the game in a tough pitchers duel, and take the district title over the Tigers 2-1.
The win gives Madisonville its second district championship in the last three seasons and will send the Maroons into the 2nd Region tournament as one of the four district winners.
Caldwell County opened the game with a bang. Luke Parker blasted a triple to center that got over the head of Maroon centerfielder Evan Wilson. Parker then scored when Drew Stevens grounded out to second, giving Caldwell County a 1-0 lead before the first hot dog was gone.
From that point, Brantley Harris shut down the Tiger offense, allowing just two more hits the rest of the way.
In the top of the second, Alex Richards led off with a single. Richards was out on a fielder’s choice, putting Evan Lear on first base. Then five minutes that cost Caldwell County the district championship.
Jaziyon Latham reached on an infield error that advanced Lear to third base. Lane Faulk reached on an anothen infield error, with Lear scoring on the play, tying the game at 1-1. Gauge Clark then laid down a bunt on the right side of the infield, which the Tigers mishandled, allowing Latham to cross the plate with the last run of the game and giving the Maroons the 2-1 lead they would hold for the rest of the night.
Caldwell County pitcher Channing Puckett did everything he could on the mound to keep his team in the game, but the problem for the Tigers was that Brantley Harris was just as good on the other side.
Harris would set down the Tigers in order in the top of the seventh to set off the celebration.
Harris went all seven innings, giving up one run on three hits, striking out two and walking one.
Puckett went all seven innings for the Tigers. He gave up two runs, neither of them earned, on two hits, striking out seven and walking two.
Alex Richards was 2-3 with a double for the Maroons.
Luke Parker, Drew Stephens, and Channing Puckett had one hit each for Caldwell County.
The two teams now wait for Thursday morning’s draw for the 2nd Region tournament, which will get underway Memorial Day at Lee S. Jones Park in Eddyville.
