The Second District has always been notorious for tough competition and action-packed ballgames. On Tuesday night, the McCracken County Mustangs traveled to Haas Field, competing against their hosts, the St. Mary Vikings. In a five-inning romp, the Mustangs added to the win column against regional opponents with a 12-2 finish over St. Mary.
“My teammates and coaches have been good at instilling confidence in me at the plate, which has helped me out a lot,” Kendrick Dunning said. “I got a really good fastball to hit early in the count and jumped on it. I’m excited to hit my first varsity home run finally; hopefully, there are many more to come.”
Propelled by offense, the Mustangs tallied 11 hits in the contest—including home runs by senior Weston Miller and sophomore Dunning, marking Dunning’s first varsity career home run and Miller’s first in his final season donning crimson. Additionally, Miller went 3-for-3 in the win for McCracken County with a double, home run, two runs, three RBI, and seven total bases.
“It was a good team win. We picked the bats back up and were able to get it done as we do,” McCracken County’s Seth Harris said. “I feel like there’s no other team in the state that can compete or compare to us when our bats are hot and pitching is on.”
Harris earned the win for the Mustangs. The crafty lefthanded hurler worked four innings on 71 pitches. On the mound, Harris allowed three hits and one run while walking one and fanning four of 19 batters.
The No. 3 McCracken County Mustangs jumped on the board in the first inning with two runs courtesy of a lead-off single by senior Caleb Ehling and a six-pitch walk to sophomore Caden Kern before Scout Moffatt doubled to center field, allowing Ehling and Kern to score. The senior Moffatt was left stranded in the inning as the next three Mustangs went down in order as junior Brett Haas worked the mound for St. Mary.
Harris worked a three-batter inning in the bottom of the first with a strikeout, flyout, and pop-out.
McCracken County continued to work in the visiting half of the second inning. Senior Casey Hawes reached first base after hitting a ground ball and capitalized on an infield error. Miller doubled to left field, allowing Hawes to advance into scoring position at third. With one out, Ehling drove in two runs with an RBI single to right field, giving the Mustangs a quick 4-0 lead. However, the Vikings ended the threat as Kern grounded into a double play to conclude the top of the second.
Senior Aidan Hrdlicka collected St. Mary’s first hit, a single to center field. Hrdlicka was called on the next play, as Jake Haas grounded into a fielder’s choice. The inning wrapped up with a flyout, and Jake Haas was stranded on first base.
Two more runs came for McCracken County in the top of the third inning as Moffatt drew a six-pitch walk to lead off the inning. Quickly, Moffatt scored on an RBI double by senior Eli James. With a 5-0 lead and two outs, Hawes worked an 11-pitch at-bat before winning the battle against Brett Haas with a walk. The next batter, Miller, singled right out of Jake Haas’ reach at third base, allowing James to plate the second run in the inning, making it a 6-0 game.
With an error by McCracken County, Will Norris reached first base. With two outs, Norris advanced to second base as a HBP awarded senior Landon Durbin first base. St. Mary plated one run in the inning as Luke Sims singled to left field, scoring Norris. Despite a walk to Jackson Willett, the Mustangs ended the Viking threat as Hrdlicka grounded out.
Julian Myers appeared in relief of Brett Haas on the mound in the top of the fourth inning. Leading off for McCracken County, Kern doubled on a line drive to right field, advancing to third on a flyout by Moffatt. With an RBI double by James, his second in the contest, Kern scored to make it a 7-1 game. Senior Trace Cressler earned first base after being hit in the shoulder. The inning continued with one out as Dunning homered on a fly ball to left field, clearing the fence, allowing McCracken County to take a 10-1 lead as James and Braden Casebier scored in addition to Dunning.
Hawes continued to be patient at the plate, drawing a five-pitch walk before Miller knocked a two-run home run over left field. The Mustangs took a 12-1 lead with Miller’s home run.
Junior Noah Godwin relieved Harris in the bottom of the fifth inning. Durbin drew a five-pitch walk and was later out on a fielder’s choice by Sims. The next batter, Willett, walked before Hrdlicka singled to right field, allowing Sims to score. However, Hrdlicka was left stranded to conclude the game in five innings as Godwin struck out the next two batters.
Ehling went 2-for-4 with two RBI, and James went 2-for-3 with two RBI. Kern, Moffatt, Casebier, and Dunning collected a hit in the win.
Hrdlicka went 2-for-3 in the loss. St. Mary collected four hits courtesy of Hrdlicka, Sims, and Myers. Hrdlicka and Sims each tallied an RBI for the Vikings.
Godwin worked an inning in relief, allowing one hit, one run (earned), and two walks while fanning two of six batters on 30 pitches.
Brett Haas took the loss for St. Mary. The hurler worked three innings, allowing six hits, six runs (five earned), and four walks while striking out two on 78 pitches, facing 19 batters.
Myers finished the game for the Vikings, tossing two innings on the mound. The senior allowed five hits, six runs (earned), and one walk while striking out one on 59 pitches, facing 15 batters.
UP NEXT: The McCracken County Mustangs will return to action on Thursday at Edward Jones Field, hosting district rival and crosstown foe, the Paducah Tilghman Blue Tornado (15-7) before traveling to Clarksville on Friday night. The St. Mary Vikings will travel to Caldwell County on Thursday night. The Vikings will return to Haas Field next week, hosting Ballard Memorial (11-6).
MCCRACKEN COUNTY 12, ST. MARY 2
MCHS 2 2 2 6 0 X X — 12-11-2
STMS 0 0 1 0 1 X X — 2-4-2
WP: S. Harris; LP: B. Haas
2B: MCHS — E. James 2, B. Casebier, C. Kern, S. Moffatt, W. Miller
HR: MCHS — K. Dunning, W. Miller
TB: MCHS — W. Miller 7, E. James 4, K. Dunning 4, B. Casebier 2, C. Ehling 2, C. Kern 2, S. Moffatt 2; STMS — A. Hrdlicka, J. Myers 1, L. Sims 1
HBP: MCHS — L. Grace, T. Cressler, W. Fox; STMS — L. Durbin
SB: MCHS — C. Ehling
E: MCHS — S. Harris 2; STMS — B. Haas, J. Morris
RECORDS: McCracken County (17-6); St. Mary (11-4)