By Chris Fuller
Kentucky Scouting Director

The Rawlings/KHSAA State Baseball Tournament got underway with four first round games yesterday at Whitaker Bank Ballpark in Lexington.  Here is a look at scores and highlights from the action.

Hazard 5, McCracken County 1
Hazard sophomore LHP Griffin Wells shut down the McCracken County offense in firing a complete game four-hitter with seven strikeouts. Rudy Akemon went 2-for-3 with a RBI, Cole Ratliff went 2-for-3, and Ryan Smith and Blake Nidifer each added RBI singles in the Hazard win.  Sophomore left-handed hitter Keegan Breese went 2-for-3 with two doubles and a RBI in the McCracken County loss.

South Warren 4, Daviess County 0
Junior RHP Cameron Shryock (Kentucky commit) scattered five hits and struck out three over five shutout innings.  Kieffer Baxter went 2-for-3, and Trey Kirtley drove in two runs in the win.  Stewart Currie went 2-for-3 in for Daviess County in the loss.

Simon Kenton 2, Southwestern 1
Tristen Marcum scattered five hits in going the distance for the win.  Marcum kept the potent Southwestern offense off-balance all night consistently throwing his curveball for strikes.  Colton Downs delivered the big blow of the game, a two-run single, and that is all the run support Marcum would need.  Downs went 2-for-2 with 2 RBI, and Tyler Smith went 2-for-3.  Trevor Howard and Jacob Burchett each tripled in the Southwestern loss.

South Laurel 4, Scott 1
Sophomore RHP Braden Miller pitched a complete game, five-hitter, reapeatedly pounding the strike zone in issuing just one walk in the game.  Tennessee commit Daniel Neal went 2-for-3 with a RBI, Zach Allen went 2-for-3 with a RBI, Braden Miller added two hits, and Brennan Miller had an RBI double to lead South Laurel to their first State Tournament win.  Josh Castleman collected two hits, and pinch-hitter Nick Thurza added an RBI single in the Scott loss.

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