The 32nd District rivals Simon Kenton (20-12-1) and Walton-Verona (22-10-1) baseball teams both advanced to the semifinals one year after each lost in the 8th Region quarterfinals.
But the post-season trip to this year’s semis at the University of Louisville on Friday ended in defeat for both. The Woodford County Yellow Jackets (23-13) and North Oldham Mustangs (28-7) outscored them by a combined 18-1 to advance to the region championship Sunday at noon in Louisville.
Walton-Verona grabbed a quick lead in the top of the first inning against North Oldham. Senior Nick Allen singled and scored when junior left fielder Evan Kerns doubled.
But the Mustangs responded with four runs in the bottom of the first and never looked back. They added two more in the bottom of the fifth.
Allen (5-3) pitched a complete game for Walton-Verona. Allen struck out two, walked three and allowed six hits and six earned runs.
After the first inning, Walton-Verona managed just one hit off North Oldham freshman Ryan Sanders (6-0). Sanders struck out two, walked two and allowed just one earned run.
The Bearcats graduate four seniors. They are Allen, Aiden Brown, Landon Willis and Maddox Moffett.
Woodford County scored a run in the top of the second after the reached on a passed ball on a third strike. The Yellow Jackets only needed the run to win. But they broke the game open with a three-run double in the top of the fourth and added eight in the top of the fifth to force the 12-0 run-ruling.
Simon Kenton managed just a .158 (3 for 19) batting average overall against Woodford County junior pitcher Cole Dycus (9-1). Dycus came into the game with a .74 earned-run average.
Sophomore Logan Cones (4-1) started for Simon Kenton and pitched into the fifth inning. Junior Ben Stephens recorded the last two outs of the fifth inning. Cones struck out five and walked four. The two allowed five hits each.
The Pioneers graduate nine seniors. They are Tom Lind, Ethan Breadon, Riley Cross, Peyton Fernbach, Logan Grubenhoff, Landen Kidwell, Hunter Parks, Nolan Schreiber and Jacob Wenstrup.
