Heading into the bottom of the sixth inning of the 8th Region baseball tournament quarterfinals at Simon Kenton, Shelby County’s senior pitcher Jack Wills had given up just three hits with 10 strikeouts in a scoreless game.
That was until Simon Kenton junior Tyler Ruete stepped up to the plate. With the third pitch at bat, Ruete crushed a homerun just over left field to ignite a late Pioneers run and come away with a 3-0 victory and advance to Thursday’s semifinals.
“I knew we were going to find something in that inning,” said Ruete. “He threw me two good pitches that didn’t find the zone but he left the next one right over the middle and I knew what to do with it.”
Ahead of Monday night’s matchup, the pair had already met once earlier in the season as the Pioneers claimed a 4-2 win.
“We had a lot of fight tonight,” said Pioneers head coach Troy Roberts. “He (Wills) beat us last year and we knew he was going to be tough, so I told these guys two runs and we win the game.”
Both the Rockets and Pioneers started their best pitchers on paper in Wills and Simon Kenton senior Logan Cones.
Outside of a few singles, the Rockets were limited with their chances at bat as Cones pitched a complete game three-hitter with nine strikeouts and two walks.
“You know I just tried to make pitches and allow my defense to work behind me,” said Cones. “I try to miss the barrels and get outs.”
As the scoreless innings piled up, the odds grew increasingly in Simon Kenton’s favor. Held to just three scoreless games this season, the Pioneers had a combined 26 runs in last week’s district tournament.
Thanks to Ruete’s sixth inning homer, Shelby County was forced into a tough position. Keep Wills at the mound or go in a different direction?
Opting for a change, the Rockets elected senior Tyler Eades to the mound in a position change at first base with Wills. With a walk and a single by senior catcher Chad Atchley, Simon Kenton followed up with two back-to-back bunts that brought in two more runs.
“We just kept battling, you know,” said Ruete. “Everybody kept piecing the ball up late in the sixth (inning) and we were able to get into a nice rhythm.”
Heading into the top of the seventh, Cones had one last task. Just three more outs.
“With Logan (Cones) throwing sometimes, all it takes is one run to win some of these games,” said coach Roberts. “I mean he’s just on every time he takes the mound, no matter who we’re up against.”
Holding a three run cushion, Shelby County’s playoff hopes dwindled as Cones pitched his way into the final out of the game. A pop fly to right field sealed it as Cones completed the shutout.
In his third shutout of the season, Cones will look to continue his dominance at the mound.
“I just want to keep doing what I do best for this team,” Cones said.
For the Pioneer first baseman, Ruete capped off his ninth home run of the year and will look to find the zone once again.
“When we have confidence in our pitcher, we have confidence in ourselves to go out and get the job done,” Ruete said.
Simon Kenton will take on Henry County next, who defeated North Oldham 6-5 in Monday’s quarterfinal action. The Pioneers will take on the Wildcats Thursday at the University of Louisville as the Pioneers will look to claim their first 8th Region title since 2017. Game time is set for 6 p.m.
SOUTH OLDHAM 7, WALTON-VERONA 3
The Bearcats dug themselves a hole they were unable to get out of in the 7-3 loss at South Oldham on Monday.
The Dragons built a 6-1 lead through four innings of play as they were able to get to Bearcats starter Mason Howard. Howard allowed seven hits and six earned runs in 3.2 innings pitched.
Walton-Verona (21-11) started to mount a rally in the fifth with two runs scored and the bases loaded, but the rally attempt ended when Aiden Kerns lined out to center with two outs. Just two baserunners reached from that point.
The Bearcats finished with six hits, Bryce Corpus and Trevor Bauwens with two hits apiece. Bauwens drove in two runs, Corpus with the other run driven in. William Hurles and Julian Dixon had the other hits. Walton-Verona struggled to make contact with 10 strikeouts in the contest, Davis Gunn pitching a complete game for the Dragons.
South Oldham (20-13) advances to play Woodford County on Thursday at the University of Louisville at 8 p.m.
The Bearcats season comes to a close with 21 wins under first-year head coach Andrew Sien, their fourth straight season they hit the 20-win plateau and also claimed the 8th Region All “A” championship. They’ll graduate eight seniors.