A 20-game winner awaits Lyon County in the state All A Classic Saturday in Owensboro.
Campbellsville, the 5th Region champion, carries a 20-5 record into the state quarterfinal contest at Chautauqua Park. The Eagles earned their trip to Owensboro by beating Bethlehem 6-2 in the 5th Region championship game, then edging Louisville Holy Cross 1-0 in sectional action on Monday.
Lyon, meanwhile, is 15-6. However, the Lyons saw their school-record 11-game winning streak come to an end on Thursday with a home 5th District setback to Crittenden County 11-8.
Lyon’s string included a 10-6 triumph over University Heights Academy in the 2nd Region All A Classic title tilt, The Lyons then won at Murray 5-2 in sectional play to advance to the state tourney.
Campbellsville is led by senior pitcher Ryan Kearney. The left-hander threw the shutout against Holy Cross in the sectional, striking out eight while surrendering just four base hits.
Kearney is expected to get the ball on Saturday when the Eagles face the Lyons. He is 6-0 with a 1.02 earned run average. He has struck out 62 in 33 innings while allowing just 15 base hits.
Kearney heads up a strong Campbellsville pitching staff that has a combined ERA of 2.43 this season.
Senior Lawrence Mattingly leads the Eagle offense with a .458 batting average. He owns a pair of home runs and tops the team with 38 RBIs.
Lyon County is making its first appearance at a state baseball tournament.
Senior shortstop Gabe Board leads the Lyons with a .410 average at the plate. He has three home runs. Sophomore Travis Yancy is hitting .400 for Lyon, which is batting .310 as a team this season.
Yancy and Jackson Shoulders are the leading candidates to pitch for the Lyons. Shoulders, a freshman, is 3-1 with a 3.10 ERA. He threw a complete-game in Lyon’s win over Murray in sectional play. Yancy is 2-0 with a save and a 3.15 earned run average.
Lyon and Campbellsville will square off at 9 a.m. Saturday. The winner will return on Sunday morning for an 8:30 semifinal contest against either Beechwood or Williamsburg. The state championship game is set for Sunday at 1 p.m.