Miller went 3-for-3 in the win for McCracken County with a double in the first inning and two singles in the third and fifth. Miller finished the day with two RBI. Additionally, he was a part of a controversial call at home plate in the bottom of the fifth inning as he was called out on a squeeze play at home plate.
"I think everyone thought the same thing, but the game is what it is—we had a ball, don't lie after that," Miller said. "We got the runs in and got the job done."
Along with Miller, the Mustangs tallied nine hits courtesy of Caden Kern (2-for-3, one RBI), Caleb Ehling (2-for-4, two RBI), Kendrick Dunning (1-for-3, one RBI), and Jude Farley (1-for-4, one RBI).
"It was our determination to make it back to the finals. We want it more than anyone," Ehling said. "We feel very confident. We're going to some good recovery tonight with our eyes on the prize."
The Owensboro Catholic Aces struck first with a lead-off triple to start the contest as Houston Flynn found the gap between left and center, scoring on a ground out to make it 1-0. Despite the run, McCracken County worked with Miller Green on the mound, fanning the next batter and inducing a ground out to end the half-inning.
"This is what we've been working on all year, and I believe we've been working harder than anybody," Miller said. "This is what we worked for in the fall and our final trip. We gotta win; we want it more than anyone."
Ehling kicked off the bottom half of the first inning with a single, advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by Scout Moffatt. Green drew a walk on seven pitches before the Aces got the second out with a strikeout of Eli James. With two outs and runners on first and second, Dunning ripped a single to left field, scoring Ehling and Andrew Farmer, and on the throw, Dunning advanced to second.
The offensive onslaught continued as Miller doubled, scoring Dunning to make it 3-1. The next batter, Farley, knocked a fly ball to right field, safely reaching on an error by Owensboro Catholic. On the fly ball, Miller scored to give McCracken County a three-run lead. Courtesy runner Braden Casebier stole second and third before scoring as Casey Hawes hit a ground ball to third base and reached on an error. With Casebier scoring, McCracken County took a 5-1 lead.
Owensboro Catholic threatened in the top of the second inning but left runners stranded as Flynn grounded into a fielder's choice to end the inning. The Aces got a run back in the third inning as Ben Hyland grounded into a fielder's choice, scoring Brady Atwell.
The game continued with a back-and-forth offensive 'will they, won't they' until McCracken County found itself in trouble at the top of the fifth inning. Deuce Sims singled with two back-to-back walks to start the inning, sending home Jaxson White and Atwell, making it 5-3. The Mustangs got the first out on a Hyland bunt, but the Aces would tie it immediately after as Barrett Evans singled on a line drive to Ehling, scoring Drew Miles and Sims.
With two outs, Owensboro Catholic ripped three back-to-back singles to take a 7-5 lead over the Mustangs. McCracken County made a pitching change twice in the inning, with Seth Harris and Alex Calhoun appearing. Calhoun worked out of the jam, returning the Mustangs to the dugout.
Despite a strikeout to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning, Dunning drew a six-pitch walk. Miller singled, moving Dunning into scoring position before Farley knocked an RBI single to right field, allowing Dunning to make it a 7-6 game. The second out came controversially; as mentioned previously, Hawes bunted into a fielder's choice with Miller out advancing to home plate. Despite the call, the Mustangs tied it on the next hit courtesy of Kern's RBI double to left field, scoring Casebier. The Mustangs took a 9-7 lead courtesy of Ehling ripping an RBI double to center field, allowing Hawes and Kern to score and regain the lead.
At the top of the sixth inning, the Aces went down in order against Calhoun. Despite runners on, the Mustangs could not add on in the bottom of the inning, sending both teams to the seventh.
Despite a single by ParkerHeistand, the Mustangs collected the first out on a batter interference. The game concluded with Elijah Blair grounding into a double play to send McCracken County to the state championship.
Calhoun secured the win for the Mustangs. The senior worked over two innings, allowing one hit while facing seven batters. Green started the contest for McCracken County, working over four innings while allowing eight hits, seven earned runs, three walks, and five strikeouts. Harris appeared in relief, allowing one hit.
The Aces used four pitchers in the contest. Hyland took the loss, working over three innings on the mound while allowing four hits, four earned runs, three walks, and five strikeouts. Barrett Evans started for Owensboro Catholic, working an inning, allowing four hits, five runs (three earned), one walk, and one strikeout. Luke Quinn worked less than inning, allowing one hit. Jaxson White finished the contest for the Aces, walking one.
UP NEXT: The McCracken County Mustangs will return to Kentucky Proud Park on Saturday for the 2024 Clark's Pump N Shop State Baseball Championship against Pleasure Ridge Park. The two programs met early in the season, and the Mustangs are one of PRP's three losses.
MCCRACKEN COUNTY 9, OWENSBORO CATHOLIC 7
OCHS 1 0 1 0 5 0 0 -- 7-10-3
MCHS 5 0 0 0 4 0 X -- 9-9-0
WP: A. Calhoun; LP: B. Hyland
2B: MCHS -- C. Kern, W. Miller
TB: OCHS -- H. Flynn 4, B. Evans 2, D. Sims 2, M. Moser 2, E. Blair 1, P. Heistand 1; MCHS -- W. Miller 4, C. Kern 3, C. Ehling 2, J. Farley 1, K. Dunning 1
HBP: OCHS -- B. Atwell, B. Evans, J. White
SB: OCHS -- B. Atwell; MCHS -- B. Casebier 2
E: OCHS -- P. Heistand 2, J. Evans
RECORDS: McCracken County (34-9); Owensboro Catholic (31-8)
