Crittenden County rallied from an early three-run deficit and held off Trigg County for a 6-3 win in the 5th District baseball semifinals on Monday.
It was the Rockets’ third three-run win over the Wildcats this season.
Crittenden’s win moved them into Tuesday’s championship game against Lyon County, a 15-2 winner over Livingston Central in the other semifinal.
Even though they were playing on their home field, the Wildcats were the visiting team as the tourney’s No. 3 seed. Trigg County jumped out quickly in the top of the first inning.
James Garnett was hit by a pitch to begin the game and later moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jon Humphries. Aaden Allen followed with an RBI single to left field that scored Garnett for a 1-0 lead.
After Cannon Scott reached on an error, Ty Gootee delivered the big blow of the inning with a two-run home run to right field that pushed the Wildcats in front 3-0.
However, first-inning runs allowed have been a thorn in the side of the Wildcats this season, and Monday was no different.
Hudson Stokes and Keegan Pierson both walked to open Crittenden County’s home half of the first. Stokes stole third and scored on a throwing error. Jaxton Duncan followed with an RBI double to center field that scored Pierson and moved Eli Lovell to third.
Later in the inning, Drake Young lined a two-run double to right field to bring home Lovell and Duncan, giving the Rockets a 4-3 lead.
Crittenden County (14-16) added another run in the third inning when Quinn Summers tripled to center field and later scored on an RBI single by Duncan to extend the lead to 5-3.
The Rockets picked up their final run in the fifth inning. Young reached on an error and courtesy runner Cameron Nesbitt later scored on an RBI single by Davis Perryman for the 6-3 margin.
After the rough start, Young settled down on the mound for the Rockets, retiring nine of 10 batters in the fourth through the sixth innings. He scattered six hits and struck out eight while walking just one.
Three of Crittenden’s five hits went for extra bases.
Garnett had two of Trigg’s six hits, including a double.
Gootee pitched into the sixth inning for the Wildcats. He struck out five and allowed five earned runs.
Trigg County’s season ends with a record of 6-20, the program’s first 20-loss season since 2012. They answered by winning five of the next six district titles.
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