Trigg County’s Aidon Butts continued one of Trigg County’s most dominant pitching seasons in recent history by tossing a four-hit shutout to lead the Wildcats to an 8-0 win over Madisonville-North Hopkins in the first round of the Region 2 Tournament on Monday.
The region tourney win was Trigg’s first in seven years and fourth in the past 12 seasons. Monday’s top bracket games were moved from Lyon County to University Heights to beat impending weather.
The move had little effect on Butts, who struck out nine and didn’t allow a Madisonville runner past second base. In improving to 6-0, Butts lowered his season ERA to 0.29 with 78 strikeouts in 47 innings.
The Dyersburg State signee got all of the support he needed in the first inning as the Wildcats struck for seven runs and chased starter Lane Faulk after 46 pitches and two retired batters.
A.J. Bell singled to lead off the first inning, and Aaden Allen followed with a double. Butts reached on a misplayed fly ball that plated two runs.
A Madisonville throwing error saw two more Trigg runs score. A Bentley Reynolds RBI single, wild pitch, and balk plated Trigg’s final three runs of the inning.
Trigg County had a chance to break the game open early, but left four runners in scoring position in the first three innings.
Jayce Weaver came on in relief for Madisonville and limited the Wildcats to one run on six hits over the next 19 outs. The Union College signee struck out three and walked just one.
Trigg County tacked on a run in the fifth inning when Bell singled, was sacrificed to second base, and scored on a Chase Hampton single to centerfield.
Bell and Allen had a pair of hits for Trigg County, as did Cannon Scott, who has settled into a starting role due to his consistent bat of late.
Gauge Clark had two hits for Madisonville (20-12), and Alex Richards had a double. The Maroons bow out of the postseason with their seventh first-round loss at the region tourney in eight seasons, dating back to a 2016 win over Trigg County.
Trigg County (13-11) has assured itself of a winning season for the first time since 2018, which was also their last region tourney victory.
The Wildcats will play in Tuesday’s 5:30 semifinal at Lyon County.
