Published: May 04, 2008 11:29 pm            

Tigers fall in ‘A’ title game

LEXINGTON — Paintsville made a serious run at an All “A” Classic State Tournament title in Lexington on Sunday, coming just a game short of the crown.

After victories over Murray and Lexington Christian, the Tigers fell 3-1 to Owensboro Catholic in the championship game at Applebee’s Park in Lexington.

In the championship game, Paintsville never could muster much off of Owensboro Catholic starter Cole Sturgeon. Sturgeon pitched the complete game, allowing just one run on three hits while striking out 11.

Paintsville got its lone run right away in the top of the first. Corey Adams took a walk to start the game and was sacrificed up to second base. Shane Grimm then singled Adams home, providing the run.

Sturgeon would settle in from there, though, allowing harmless hits in the third and fourth innings. He retired the Tigers in the final three innings without allowing a hit.

Paintsville starter Seth Rice had a strong outing himself, not allowing a run until getting into trouble in the fifth and sixth innings.

A wild pitch gave Owensboro Catholic the opportunity to score a run in the fifth. In the sixth, Owensboro Catholic scored two more on three hits.

Sturgeon also did some damage at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a run. Teammate Jonathan Higdon went 3-for-3 with a run and an RBI.

In a 3-1 win over Lexington Christian in the semifinals, Austin Lyons scattered seven hits and gave up just one run in throwing the complete game. Grimm had two hits and Patrick Butcher drove in a pair of runs with a double in the third inning.

In the Tigers’ 10-1 win over Murray in the state opener on Friday, Cory Humphrey capped off a five-run fourth with a three-RBI double. Paintsville scored four more in the fifth.



OWEN. CATHOLIC 000 012 0 — 3 7 1

PAINTSVILLE 100 000 0 — 1 3 0

Sturgeon and Pedley; Rice, Ison (6) and Adams. W — Sturgeon. L — Rice.

LEXINGTON C. 000 010 0 — 1 7 2

PAINTSVILLE 003 000 x — 3 6 0

Johnson and Crain; Lyons and Adams. W — Lyons. L — Johnson. 2B — Butcher (P).

PAINTSVILLE 100 540 0 — 10 9 2

MURRAY 000 010 0 — 1 2 5

Grimm, Lemaster (7) and Adams; Cobb, Brock (6), Garland (7) and Richerson. W — Grimm. L — Cobb. 2B — Humphrey (P), Grimm (P), Ison (P), Butcher (P). 3B — Adams (P).

        

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