For the second straight year, Trigg County found themselves in an extra-inning walk-off situation in the Fifth District Baseball Tournament. This time, the Wildcats were on the winning end.
Savion Radford cranked a grand slam in the bottom of the eighth inning to send Trigg County to a 4-0 win and a berth in the championship game Tuesday against Crittenden County.
The homer ended a pitcher’s duel between Trigg’s Jake Terrell and Lyon’s Max Wadlington. Terrell pitched eight innings and allowed just two hits – singles by Gunnar Bingham and Jack Walker. He struck out 12 and walked just two.
Wadlington was just effective, throwing seven innings of four-hit baseball. He struck out seven and walked none.
After both pitchers locked in a seven-inning scoreless duel, Nick Ahart led off the Trigg County part of the eighth inning with a triple to right field. Trevor Cortner reached on a fielder’s choice that kept Ahart at third. Lyon County opted to intentionally walk Trigg’s leading hitter Riley Stallons. Gabe Board relieved Wadlington and served up the game-winning slam.
The Trigg win was a redemption of sorts for the Wildcats, who lost in last year’s semifinals to Livingston Central on a walk-off error after another strong pitching performance by Terrell.
Lyon County’s season ends with a record of 12-14 with their third straight semifinal loss.
Trigg County (17-11) advances to Tuesday’s championship game at 6pm. The Wildcats will play four-seed Crittenden County (10-18), who upset top seed and defending district champion Livingston Central 2-1. It marks the third straight year the Rockets have knocked off the top seed in the semifinals.