Pendleton County baseball finished out their week at 1-2. Their overall record on the season currently stands at 9-11. Their overall district record sits at 2-4.
The Wildcats started off the week with a close 7-5 loss to Covington Holy Cross. The Indians held a 6-0 lead into the top of the 6th inning. Junior Brice Redden put the Wildcats on the board with a deep triple to straight way center field scoring both senior Joey Ball and sophomore Ethan Verst who both reached base on walks. Freshman Aaron Kirsch then knocked in Redden on a ground ball single to cut the lead to 3 runs.
After the Indians scored another run in the bottom of the 6th to extend their lead to 7-3, the Wildcats began to mount a rally in the top of the 7th. With 1 out and the bases loaded, senior Andrew Jordan slapped a single to right field bringing the score to 7-4. Kirsch then hit another timely single to cut the lead to 2 runs. With runners in scoring position, the Wildcats grounded out to end the rally and the ball game.
Sophomore Conner Neltner started on the mound. He went 5 innings striking out 6 batters and surrendering 4 earned runs. Jordan came on in relief striking out 1 and giving up a run, although it was unearned.
We have to learn to hate to lose,” said Head Coach Colin Duffie. “We came up a little short in the end, but we weren’t in rhythm earlier in the ballgame. We have to continue to get better at execution.”
The Wildcats traveled to Cynthiana for the next game where they fell to Harrison County 9-2. It was a close ballgame until the bottom of the 4th inning.
The Wildcats put the first run on the board. In the top of the 1st inning, Verst reached base on a walk. Verst then swiped 2nd base to put himself into scoring position. Redden scored Verst on a liner to left field.
The Thorobreds retied the game at 1 in the bottom of the 3rd on a passed ball.
Verst started the game on the mound and was cruising along through the 4th inning. In the bottom of the 4th after a leadoff single and a walk, the Thorobreds took a 3-1 lead on a homer to center field. After a series of walks, Redden entered the game to pitch. The Thorobreds tacked on more runs after a walk and a double. They finished the inning leading 9-1. Neltner added a run late after he reached on a single and was balked in 3 batters later.
“We’re playing well for the first few innings, but we need to start putting together complete games from start to finish,” said Duffie. “Once we can compete in all three phases for 7 innings, we’re going to start winning these type of ballgames.”
The week ended on a high note after the Wildcats defeated Holmes 8-4 on Saturday. The offense was powered by Ball, Verst and Redden who all had 2-hit games. Verst and Redden finished with 2 and 3 RBIs respectively.
The Wildcats remained consistently ahead the whole ballgame taking an 8-1 into the 4th inning. Ball pitched well striking out 7 batters while surrendering only 2 walks and 1 run. Sophomore Bradford Peoples closed out the game in the last inning. While 3 runs scored, Peoples maintained the lead and struck out 3 batters.
