– Ann Beckett/Tribune-Courier || (Above) Coach Billy Thorpe walks to the mound as the Marshals tried to fend off Lone Oak in the First Region tournament.

Marshals fall short in repeat shot at state

Lone Oak defends
early lead in region
semi-final

By Ann Beckett
Tribune-Courier Sports
sports@tribunecourier.com

MCCRACKEN COUNTY – Playing Lone Oak in the semi-final round of the First Region baseball tournament, the Marshals escaped two errors in the first inning not allowing the Purple Flash to score.

That was not the case in the second inning when Lone Oak’s Eric Winn hit one out over the left field fence to give Lone Oak a 1-0 lead.

The Marshals loaded the bases in the third inning on a McKenty single and two walks by Alex Helm and Blake Turner. Colby Wiseman singled to score Helm to tie the score at one. Lone Oak added another run in the top of the third to go up again over the Marshals 2-1.

Pitcher Andrew Edwards walked the first three at the plate for Lone Oak in the fourth inning. Then a single would give Lone Oak one more to go up 4-1. With bases loaded and still no outs, Edwards walked the next two batters that gave Lone Oak a 6-1 lead. A pitching change for the Marshals brought in Reese Johnson sending Edwards to play at first. Lone Oak scored one more on a wild pitch to end the four run inning up 7-1.

Marshall County rallied in the sixth when with two outs they loaded the bases. Logan Walker’s single scored Blake Sullivan, pinch-running for Edwards and Garrett Hunt. Down 7-3, Shane McKenty walked to load the bases once more. Nick Forte’s hit was picked up by Lone Oak but overthrown at first scoring Chase York and McKenty. The Marshals four run inning brought them to within two of Lone Oak with the score 7-5.

Blake Turner managed to get on base in the seventh inning but was left stranded with the final out of the game.

The Marshals had three hits to Lone Oak’s seven but Lone Oak led the way in errors with five.

Lone Oak went on to claim the First Region title with a 9-6 win over Murray High.

The Marshals end their season with a record of 19-18 in what was a transitional season between Coach Don Bock and new head coach Billy Thorpe.

“I thought the boys didn’t give up all season,” said Coach Thorpe. “They responded well to the coaching change and played hard.

Thorpe will lose eight seniors to graduation. “Our seniors are quality kids, some of whom are going on to play at the next level, and I wish them nothing but the best,” said Thorpe.