Henderson and Madisonville tried out the Ohio Valley League’s new extra-inning format on Wednesday.
The visiting Flash pushed across a run in the 10th inning to pull out an 11-10 triumph over the Miners at Elmer Kelley Stadium in Madisonville.
Starting this season, the OVL implemented a “sudden death” format to replace more traditional extra inning formats.
According to the league, the new format is intended to raise excitement to extra-inning ballgames while aiding pitcher health and arm safety. Before the game, the home team manager will decide to play either offense or defense in the event of an extra-inning game.
If the game is tied at the end of regulation, the teams will play an additional half-inning to determine a winner. The inning will begin with a runner — the third out from the previous inning — on first base and the scheduled hitter at the plate.
The team starting the additional half-inning on offense will have three outs to score a run and win the game. If they fail to score a run, the winner is the team that began the half-inning on defense.
Henderson made quick work of the new format on Wednesday, getting back-to-back base hits from Braden Gabel and Konnor Bowden to plate the game-winning run. Bowden singled into right field to end the contest.
The Flash built an early 6-0 lead before a seven-run fourth gave the Miners a one-run advantage.
Henderson went up 8-7 in the fifth, only to see the Miners answer those two runs in the bottom of the frame to take a 9-8 advantage.
The Flash tied it in the sixth, but Madisonville went up 10-9 with a run in the bottom of the seventh.
Henderson (2-3) scored once in the ninth to extend the game, before pulling out the victory in the 10th.
The Flash recorded 17 base hits in the contest, with Christian Kiper going 3-for-4 with a home run, an RBI and four runs scored.
Peayton Giles also homered and went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs batted in.
Alex Frawley had a two-run home run for Madisonville and finished the night 1-for3 with three RBIs. Pete Britton was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI while Cliff Wysinger went 2-for-5.
Reed Rheinhardt, the last of four Henderson hurlers, picked up the win. He shut out Madisonville over the final two innings while striking out five.
Coby Anker gave up the 10th-inning run for the Miners and suffered the loss.
Madisonville, now 4-1, will play at home again on Friday against the Paducah Chiefs.
Henderson will visit the Hoptown Hoppers on Friday.
