— Rick Burres/Tribune-Courier || Daniel Riley throws a rocket ball in the second inning of MCHS' game against Ballard Memorial. The Marshals won 8-6.

Bock's boys down Ballard in squeaker

Marshall County baseball second only to Calloway County in KHSAA rankings

By Rick Burres
Tribune-Courier Sports Reporter
Rburres@tribunecourier.com

DRAFFENVILLE – The Marshals (14-3) are swinging hot sticks and have outscored their opponents more than 2-1 so far this season.

The Kentucky High School Athletic Association’s top three teams in the first region are Calloway County, Marshall County and Murray.

The Marshals defeated Ballard Memorial (6-11) Thursday night 8-6.

Marshall County scored a run in the first inning and held their opponent scoreless until the top of the third and fourh inning when an upset-minded Ballard put four on the big board.

The score after the top of the fourth was 1-4.

Marshall County hung tough and scored seven runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, including a pair of back-to-back home runs all but crushing Ballard’s hopes.

Daniel Riley and Brantley Barrett both hit homers.

Barrett has walked to the batter’s box 53 times this season and has a .491 batting average.

Daniel Riley has had 52 at-bats with 26 hits giving him a .481 average.

Riley was flawless on the pitcher’s mound the first two innings.

MCHS assistant coach Trevor Parker said he was a bit nervous after Ballard’s run in the top of the third and fourth innings.

“Daniel had three up and three down all the way to the third inning,” Parker said.

“He had thrown a no-hitter and then he kind of got off on location a little bit and Ballard got some rips through the fourth inning.”

“We took control in the bottom of the fourth by scoring seven runs,” Parker said.

“We brought Tyler Johnson in for the fifth inning and he did the job.”

Ballard managed to score one run in the fifth inning and one in the sixth but were denied anymore by a tough Marshals’ defense.

“We got out of the seventh inning unscathed, three up and three down,” Parker said.

Parker said the team had some games early in the season where they had to fight their way to the win coming from behind.

“I don’t really know what the spark was that ignited our seven-run fourth inning, ” Parker said.

“We’ve kind of lived and died by the big inning at times this year.”

Parker said he and head coach Don Bock would like to see a little more balance throughout the game.

“We’d like to see a couple runs here and a couple runs there,” Parker said.

“We’ve kind of been a big inning team so we are striving for more balance right now.”

The Marshals squared off against Calloway Monday night.

Results were unavailable as of press time.

They will face the Lakers again Tuesday night at 7 p.m. at Calloway County.