By Chris Fuller
Kentucky Scouting Director

 

The 46^th District Championship game began as a good old fashioned pitching duel as West Jessamine’s Matt Yeich (pictured) and Mercer County’s Jackson Stoeckinger cruised through the first four innings without allowing a run as the game moved to the fifth inning a scoreless 0-0 tie.

In the bottom of the 5^th, West Jessamine finally broke through as Troy Merida led off the inning with a double to left field.  Justin King then laid down a bunt and beat the throw to first base for a hit, and when a walk to Daulton Peters loaded the bases, the Colts were in business.

Josh Blancet was hit by a pitch from Mercer County reliever Logan Horn, and Trey Merida stroked a base hit to center to score King to give West Jessamine a 2-0 lead.  Mercer County had to feel fortunate to be down only two runs as Peters was thrown out at the plate attempting to score from second base on the play, and Horn retired the next two batters to end the threat.

Yeich retired the Titans in order in the top half of the 6^th, and the Colts got right back to business in the bottom half as Maxx Mahon stroked a one-out single to left, Troy Merida beat out a bunt for a hit, and Lane Brooks lifted a double to right to score Mahon and push the lead to 3-0.

Mercer County avoided the shutout in the 7^th as Russell Sims had a two-out RBI single.  With Yeich’s pitch count mounting, West Jessamine turned to Maxx Mahon who retired the final batter and preserve the 3-1 victory.

Yeich allowed the one earned run and racked up 12 strikeouts in his 6 2/3 innings of work to pick up the win.  Troy Merida went 2-3 with a double, and Trey Merida 2-2 with a double to lead the West Jessamine offense.

Russell Sims went 2-4, and John Ingram added a double in the Mercer County loss. 

Both teams advance to the 12^th Region tournament.