By Chris Fuller
Kentucky Scouting Director

The third game on Monday at Whitaker Bank Ballpark featured the champion of the 2^nd Region, Henderson County, and the 14^th Region champion, Letcher County Central. 

Henderson County jumped on top from the start.  Junior outfielder Kaleb Duckworth lined a single to lead off the game and was promptly advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior Justin Cessna.  After senior center fielder Sam Higgs was intentionally walked, junior right fielder Ryan Ward singled to drive in Duckworth for a 1-0 lead.  Sophomore Daniel Steiner followed with a RBI single to score Higgs with Ward also scoring on an error by the Letcher left-fielder for a three-run inning.

The Colonels added two more runs in the second on a RBI single by Cessna and a bases loaded walk to Ward to build the lead to 5-0.

Henderson County starting pitcher, junior right-hander Marty Coursey, used his 82-84 mph fastball and 72-73 mph curveball to cruise through the first three innings without allowing a hit while striking out four.

That changed in the fourth though when Jordan Short led off with Letcher County’s first hit of the game and Coursey walked Zane Blair to put runners at first and second with no outs.  After Stephen Fox struck out, Coursey walked Nick King to load the bases and followed that up by walking Dakota Adams to force in a run.

Senior Colton Jones was brought on to relieve Coursey and got back-to-back strikeouts to leave the bases loaded and end the threat.

Henderson County continued to add runs, scoring once in the fourth on a passed ball and four times in the fifth, the big blow coming on a 2-run single by Cessna. 

The run-rule was enforced in the sixth as the Colonels scored the final run of the game on a balk for the 11-1 victory.

Justin Cessna went 2-4 with 2 RBI, Daniel Steiner went 2-4 with a double and RBI, and Andrew Richmond went 2-2 with 2 walks to lead the Colonels offense. 

Jordan Short collected two hits in the Letcher County loss.

Henderson County advances to face Collins in the quarterfinals June 5 at 8:30 PM.