Caldwell County was one game away from winning the All-A Classic State Baseball Tournament last year. They will be looking to bring home a state title in 2018, but first the road goes through an improved Second Region Tournament that begins this week.
Caldwell County (8-2) will host Crittenden County Monday. The Tigers’ only two losses have come against Paducah Tilghman, a team ranked in the top 15 in the state.
Caldwell became the first Second Region team to advance to the All-A State Championship last year where they lost to Louisville Holy Cross in the title game.
The Tigers figure to have the deepest pitching staff in the region, which is why they are considered the favorites to repeat and win their fourth All-A Region title in school history.
Crittenden County (1-4) won their season opener before dropping their next four games. Crittenden’s only All-A region title came in 2008.
The other first round matchup in the upper bracket pits Lyon County and Livingston Central.
If there is a team with enough pitching to beat Caldwell, it could be Livingston Central. The Cardinals (4-2) won three of four games in Fort Walton Beach over Spring Break. Their only two losses have come to teams ranked in the state’s top 25 – Paducah Tilghman and Greenwood.
Livingston will be looking for their first All-A region title since 2006.
Lyon County (3-1) has won three straight games since dropping their season opener to Madisonville. The Lyons will be looking for their first All-A region title but will have a tough road to travel to pull it off.
Monday’s winners will meet Tuesday at 5:30 in the semifinals at UHA.
In the bottom bracket, University Heights (3-3) will host Fort Campbell Monday. The Blazers saw their two-year run atop the region end last year when Caldwell County claimed the title.
UHA features one of the top pitchers in the state in Drew McGowan, and their draw could allow them to save him for the championship game if they advance that far.
Fort Campbell (1-3) has won a game in the All-A region tournament and lost to UHA 11-0 in the March 21 season opener.
The winner gets Dawson Springs in the semifinals Tuesday at 7:30 at UHA. Dawson Springs (1-2) drew a first round bye. The Panthers have never won an All-A region title.
The championship will be Thursday at 6pm at UHA.