BC All-Stars Shine Bright—Finish State Runner-ups

 

 

By Greg Moore

Banner Sports Editor

 

After getting upset at the district level, Butler County 10 and under all-stars went to compete with vengeance at the State Tournament, one of three sections of the state, in Owensboro, the week after the Fourth of July.

After going undefeated in pool play, the promising group of boys held the number one seed for bracket play. In the sweltering heat, Butler County stayed poised and clung to a thrilling semifinal win over Meade County to advance to the championship, which they ultimately lost.

Southpaw, Drew Southerland, threw four strong innings well enough to get the dub in the semifinals. After getting two stikeouts then a heads-up play by the catcher, Jaxon Fowler, who tagged out a possible run out at the plate, Southerland got out of the first without giving up a run.

Crixus Jackson played a phenomenal second base throughout the contest. Jackson took care of the side in the second for the lefty working on the bump. Two 4-3 groundouts and a pop-up to second kept the Green Wave from scoring despite getting a runner on in the second.

After the bats were quiet the first inning, BC started putting the ball in play and Meade fumbled it a bit. Jay Statzer made them pay when scorched a ball in a gap for two ribbies. He would score on another infield hit by shortstop Jack Harrison, to help put the Bears up, 4-0.

Meade reversed the script and clawed back by doing much of the same; however, another play by Jackson finally bandaged the hurt, clinging to a 4-3 advantage. Plus, the offense never let up; they scored two more in the bottom of the third.

Before Southerland finished his job on the mound, he made a sensational grab going back over his shoulder on a ball that was about to fall in no-man’s land for one of those hits that could spark a flame. This helped keep the visitors down 6-3 before Harrison could reach and race around for another run in the bottom of the fourth, giving the Bears an insurance run.

It was much needed; Meade pounced on Jackson, who entered in relief in the fifth. With one out and a runner on second, BC opted for Gabe Cardwell to take over on the bump. Cardwell stranded the runner with a strikeout and groundout to Logan Overstreet at third.

With a 7-6 lead, the Bears stranded a runner at third in the bottom half of the sixth. More tension arose for the young team. A hit batter, a walk, and a hit that barely stayed fair on the left field line forced the bases loaded and no outs for Cardwell in what looked like a for sure scoring opportunity for the Green Wave from Brandenburg.

Hold on a minute, Jackson took a ground ball at second and got the lead runner at the plate for the first out. In double play depth up the middle, despite it being extremely difficult to turn, Harrison takes a screamer just on his side of second. Jack steps on the bag in fluid motion while heaving a bullet to Nolan Suiter at first for the 6-3, game-ending double play. It was a play these kids will remember forever!