McCracken County High School took an 8-0 lead after four innings and held on to beat Elizabethtown 8-3 on Thursday in the first round of the Rawlings/KHSAA State Baseball Tournament at Whitaker Bank Ballpark in Lexington, Ky.
Eight of McCracken County’s nine starters had a hit. Rook Ellington had three RBIs, and Cameron Langston had two. Caleb Reinhardt (11-1) tossed a five-hitter, allowing three runs (one earned) and striking out seven.
McCracken County (36-5), ranked No. 2 in the state, ran its state-best winning streak to 23 games and remained unbeaten this season against Kentucky competition. The Mustangs will face Johnson Central at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in the quarterfinals.
Peyton Payne went 2 for 4 with a double and run to lead No. 19 E’town (28-13) at the plate.
* Johnson Central 6, Highlands 2: The No. 17 Golden Eagles (33-9) scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning – taking advantage of two errors – to overcome a 2-1 deficit and defeat the Bluebirds (23-18).
Tate Meade and Austin Davis had RBIs for Johnson Central during the decisive inning.