For the first time in seven years the Bullitt East High School baseball team is heading to the state tournament.
J.T. Morsey went 3 for 4 with four RBIs and led a 13-hit attack as the Chargers beat DeSales 14-6 on Thursday in the final of the Sixth Region Tournament at the University of Louisville’s Jim Patterson Stadium.
It’s the first regional title since 2009 for the Chargers (26-10), who will face Eighth Region champion Oldham County (30-7) at 1:30 p.m. next Friday in the first round of the state tournament at Whitaker Bank Ballpark in Lexington, Ky.
“It’s such a tough region,” Bullitt East coach Jeff Bowles said. “There were no good draws this year. Everybody had to throw their No. 1 (pitcher) the first day, and if you didn’t you were crazy.”
The Colts (17-23) led 3-1 before the Chargers took control with five runs in the fourth and four in the fifth for a 10-3 lead.
“We responded in a big way,” said Bowles, who has nine seniors on the roster. “That’s what happens when you have so many seniors. Your chances of that go up.”
Bullitt East batted around in the fourth, getting a two-run single by Morsey and an RBI single by Jared Riordan. Morsey and Riordan added RBIs in the fifth inning, and two other runners scored from third on consecutive passed balls.
Jacob Reece added a two-run single and Morsey an RBI triple in the sixth as the Chargers increased their lead to 13-6.
“(Morsey) worked his tail off in the off-season,” Bowles said. “He got off to a great start, then got into a funk and then got into my dog house and I closed the door and wasn’t letting him out. Then I gave him an opportunity, and he took advantage of it. We’re going to ride J.T. Morsey and guys that are hot like that as long as we can.”
Gilly Simpson went 3 for 4 with a run to lead the DeSales offense.
Jason Frakes can be reached at (502) 582-4046 and jfrakes@courier-journal.com.
BULLITT EAST 100 543 1 – 14 13 2
DESALES 030 030 0 – 6 9 1
WP – Michael Lobred. LP – Brayden Recktenwald. 3B – Campbell (D), Morsey (BE). 2B – Wilson (BE), McKinley (BE).
All-tournament team – J.T. Morsey, Kyle McKinley, Troy O’Brien (Bullitt East), Alec Brothers, Ben Newberry, Mitch Sirohman (DeSales); Tyler Burk, Garrett Schmeltz (Pleasure Ridge Park); Brady Keehn, Daulton Walls (North Bullitt); Andrew Emberton (Southern); Evan Flener (Fern Creek); Nolan Cook (Fairdale); Austin Wise (Butler).