By Ryan Davenport, WSON Sports Correspondent 

The Henderson County Colonels faced off against the Christian County Colonels in the Championship Game of the 2nd Region Tournament in Henderson.

The Christian County Colonels would strike first in the top of the 1st inning scoring on a walk and a sacrifice fly as the Christian County would have a 2-0 lead going to the bottom of the 1st inning.

In the bottom of the 1st inning, the Henderson County Colonels would score on a walk narrowing the deficit to 2-1 heading into the top of the 2nd inning.

In the top of the 2nd inning, Christian County would score on a 2 out 2 RBI double by sophomore first baseman Aiden Lewis and then a RBI double by freshman third baseman Gage Montes as Christian County would extend their lead to 5-1 heading into the bottom of the 2nd inning. 

A 2 out RBI double in the bottom of the 3rd inning by Henderson County’s senior second baseman Brennan Cates would cut the deficit to 5-2 heading into the top of the 4th inning.

In the top of the 4th inning, Christian County would score 1 run to extend the lead to 6-2 heading into the bottom of the 4th inning.

The Henderson County Colonels would score on a dropped 3rd strike after a wild pitch that would score senior first baseman Bryce Hayden to narrow the lead of Christian County to 6-3 heading into the top of the 5th inning. 

A home run in the top of the 6th inning by senior pitcher Elijah Underhill to give Christian County a 7-3 lead heading into the bottom of the 6th inning. 

Henderson County would score 3 runs on 3 straight walks and then another run on a double play as the Henderson County Colonels would tie the game at 7-7 heading into the top of the 7th inning. 

Neither team would score in the 7th, 8th, 9th, or 10th innings as it would be a defensive game until the bottom of the 11th inning, in which the Henderson County Colonels would leadoff with back to back singles one by senior second baseman Brennan Cates and one by junior designated hitter Paxton Gardner and in result a runner on second and first with no outs. Then sophomore right fielder Dax Wilson would have a sacrifice bunt that advanced the runners to third base and second base with 1 out. Senior first baseman Bryce Hayden would walk to load the bases with 1 out with the winning run 90 feet away from a Region Championship. Senior pitcher Seth Galloway stepped up to the plate and on a 3-2 count would be hit by the pitch to score Brennan Cates and give the Henderson County Colonels the walkoff 8-7 win over the Christian County Colonels to win the 2nd Region Championship for the first time since 2013 and advance to the State Tournament. The Henderson County Colonels improve their record to (18-17) on the season while the Christian County Colonels end the season with a (25-12) record.

Henderson County Colonel’s junior shortstop Alec Satterfield was 2 for 3 with 1 RBI while senior second baseman Brennan Cates was 2 for 4 with a double and 2 RBI’s on the night. 

 

Henderson County Colonels senior pitcher Seth Galloway went 1 and ⅔ innings allowing 4 hits and 5 runs (2 earned runs) while walking 2 batters and recording 0 strikeouts on the night. Junior pitcher Clayton Brown relieved Galloway. Brown pitched 4 and ⅓ innings allowing 1 hit and 2 runs (1 earned run) while walking 3 batters and recording 5 strikeouts. Senior Bryce Hayden relieved Brown. Hayden pitched 1 inning and allowed 0 hits and 0 runs while walking 2 batters and recording 1 strikeout. Junior Paxton Gardner relieved Hayden. Gardner pitched 4 innings and allowed 1 hit and 0 runs while walking 4 batters and recording 3 strikeouts to receive the win on the night. 

 

As a team, the Henderson County Colonels scored 8 runs and recorded 8 hits, 6 RBI’s, 1 double, 4 errors, and 5 stolen bases on the night.

3 Henderson County Colonel players were named to the All 2nd Region Team, senior Brennan Cates, junior Alec Satterfield, and senior Dru Meadows all pictured above. 

 

2nd Region Coach of the Year was given to Henderson County Colonel’s Head Coach Adam Hines.

 

Player of the game for the Colonels was junior shortstop Alec Satterfield. I asked Alec how he felt like he performed in the game and how his team played and he responded with this, “I feel like our team just kept battling and never gave up. We made great defensive plays when we needed to, got runners on base when we needed to, we didn’t compromise a couple of times but that’s alright we got it in the end.”

 

Henderson County Colonels head coach Adam Hines talked about how his team persevered to make a comeback and win 8-7 in 11 innings in the Region Championship on the night, “What a game. One of the best games that I’ve been a part of. For these kids to fight for that long and they got up every single inning tonight. They deserve it, coaches deserve it, parents deserve it, they’ve worked their tails off, sacrificed so much for these kids. Even though we have been about five hundred (.500) all year they have not stopped working and they deserve it and I’m so proud of them.”

 

The Colonels will take on the 12th Region Champion on Friday night, June 2nd, at 7:30 P.M. in the Opening Round of the 2023 State Tournament in Lexington at Wild Health Field.