The regular season wrapped on Friday night at Edward Jones Field for the McCracken County Mustangs. With a 5-1 win over the visiting Henderson County Colonels, the Mustangs snagged the program’s 27th win this season ahead of the upcoming district tournament next week at Brooks Stadium.
“It was a great regular season; I thought at times we played really well, and there were times that we didn’t,” McCracken County head coach Zach Hobbs said. “This has all been spring training to get to the postseason. Our guys have grown as a team throughout the year, and we’ve learned from mistakes—one thing we’ve never doubted is their effort and focus. When you get into the season, especially with the schedule that we’ve played, you can get some lulls. We had a couple, but the guys fought through it.”
The Mustangs used four arms in the win, with junior Noah Godwin receiving the start and seniors Seth Harris, Ross Aldridge, and Caleb Ehling in relief of Godwin.
Harris claimed the win for McCracken County. The lefty hurler worked two innings, allowing two hits and one (earned) run while walking one and striking out three.
Despite on-base action from both sides of the field, it would be at the bottom of the third inning when McCracken County took the zero-zero off the scoreboard. Ehling led off the inning with a bunt single, advancing to third base on an error by Henderson County. The next batter, Scout Moffatt, moved Ehling across home plate to make it 1-0 with an RBI single on a fly ball to right field. Despite two outs from a double play, Eli James knocked a single, beating the throw and scoring on an RBI single by Kendrick Dunning to make it 2-0.
Henderson County answered in the top of the fourth inning with a two-out single by Evan DeKemper, scoring Jayce Hicks to make it 2-1. However, DeKemper was stranded as the next batter struck out on four pitches.
Three more runs came for the Mustangs in the bottom of the sixth inning. With one out, Miller drew a four-pitch walk, Caden Kern singled, and Ehling drew a walk, loading the bases for McCracken County. Despite a pitching change, the woes continued for the Colonels as Moffatt drew a walk, sending Miller home to make it 3-1. Two runs came courtesy of Miller Green’s RBI single to the right field wall, scoring Kern and Ehling to make it 5-1.
That was all McCracken County needed as Ehling struck out the side in the top of the seventh inning to end the game and complete the regular season for the Mustangs.
Miller went 2-for-2, Moffatt went 2-for-3, and Green went 2-for-3. Ehling, James, Dunning, and Kern each collected a hit in the win.
Godwin worked two innings, striking out one. Aldridge worked two innings, striking out three. Ehling ended the game on the mound, throwing an inning and striking out three.
Reed Rheinhardt took the loss for Henderson County. He worked over five innings, allowing nine hits, five runs (earned), and four walks while striking out three of 28.
Maddox Golday appeared in relief for the Colonels. He tossed less than an inning, allowing a hit and one walk.
UP NEXT: The McCracken County Mustangs will head to Brooks Stadium on Monday night to play the Community Christian Academy Warriors in the Second District tournament. The start time is for 8 p.m. after the contest duration between St. Mary and Paducah Tilghman which is set for 6 p.m.
MCCRACKEN COUNTY 5, HENDERSON COUNTY 1
HCHS 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 — 1-2-1
MCHS 0 0 2 0 0 3 X — 5-10-1
WP: S. Harris; LP: R. Rheinhardt
TB: HCHS — E. DeKemper 1, N. Belle 1; MCHS — M. Green 2, S. Moffatt 2, W. Miller 2, C. Ehling 1, C. Kern 1, E. James 1, K. Dunning 1
SB: MCHS — E. James, M. Green
E: HCHS — R. Rheinhardt; MCHS — K. Dunning
RECORDS: McCracken County (27-8); Henderson County (10-23)