RAWLINGS/KHSAA STATE BASEBALL TOURNAMENT
* Where: Whitaker Bank Ballpark, Lexington, Ky.
* Tickets: $14 in home-plate area, $10 general admission.
* Parking: $3.
* Friday’s semifinals: St. Xavier (27-12) vs. McCracken County (37-5), 6 p.m.; Bullitt East (28-10) vs. Campbell County (28-10), 8:30 p.m.
* Saturday’s final: 7 p.m.
ST. XAVIER TIGERS (27-12)
* Coach: Andy Porta (fifth season, 150-49 record).
* State ranking: No. 16.
* State titles: Six.
* Last trip to State: 2014 (beat Simon Kenton 5-2 in final).
* Probable batting order: Stephen Mitchell (Jr., LF/CF); Casey Simon (Sr., SS); Adam Elliott (Sr., CF/P); Nick Nelson (Sr., 1B); Sam Hedges (Jr., DH); Chris Esselman (Jr., 3B); Dalton Dedas (Sr., C); Sam Mudd (Jr., RF/LF); Zeke Porta (Jr., 2B).
* Top pitchers: Daniel Fischer (Sr., 6-2, 1.54 ERA); Adam Elliott (Sr., 5-2, 1.20 ERA).
* Notes: Fischer (right-hander) and Elliott (left-hander) are both headed to the University of Louisville and were named first-team All-State selections Wednesday by the Kentucky High School Baseball Coaches Association … Along with Fischer and Elliott, three other seniors have signed to play in college – Dedas (Lincoln Memorial), Nelson (Transylvania) and Porta (Asbury). … Mudd hit a walk-off home run – his first of the season – in the Tigers’ 3-2 victory over West Jessamine in Saturday’s quarterfinal.
MCCRACKEN COUNTY MUSTANGS (37-5)
* Coach: Geno Miller (third season, 101-17 record).
* State ranking: No. 2.
* State titles: None.
* Last trip to State: 2015 (lost to Highlands 5-2 in first round).
* Probable batting order: Keegan Breese (Sr., SS); Ian Walters (Sr., 3B); Trent Shelby (Jr., LF); Reid Pope (Sr., RF); Rook Ellington (So., CF); Derek Schneider (Sr., C); Cameron Langston (So., 2B); James Dodd (So., 1B); Daniel Myatt (Jr., DH).
* Top pitchers: Caleb Reinhardt (Jr., 11-1, 0.95 ERA); Luke Seed (So., 9-1, 1.63 ERA).
* Notes: The Mustangs have won 24 straight games and are 49-1 against Kentucky competition over the last two seasons, the only loss coming to Highlands in last year’s state tournament. … McCracken County has four seniors who have signed with colleges – Breese (Murray State), Isaac Lineberry (Spalding), Walters (Rend Lake) and Pope (John A. Logan). … McCracken County opened in August of 2013 as a consolidation of Heath, Lone Oak and Reidland high schools.
BULLITT EAST CHARGERS (28-10)
* Coach: Jeff Bowles (14th season, 326-147-1 record).
* State ranking: None.
* State titles: None.
* Last trip to State: 2009 (lost to Owensboro 6-5 in semifinal).
* Probable batting order: Garrett Wilson (Sr., CF); Mitchell Langley (Jr., LF); Derrick Kromenacker (Sr., DH); Troy O’Brien (Sr., SS); Jacob Reece (Jr., RF); J.T. Morsey (Sr., 1B); Michael Lobred (Jr., 3B); Jared Riordan (Jr., C); Clayton Stallings (Sr., 2B).
* Top pitchers: Kyle McKinley (Sr., 10-2, 1.78 ERA); Troy O’Brien (Sr., 5-2, 4.17 ERA).
MORE COVERAGE | Kyle McKinley doesn’t throw hard but is hard to beat
* Notes: The roster features nine seniors, including three who have signed to play college baseball – Wilson at Southern Indiana and Kromenacker and McKinley at Brescia. … The Chargers trailed early before rallying to win each of their past three games – 14-6 over DeSales in the Sixth Region final, 6-3 over Oldham County in the first round of the state tournament and 6-5 over Scott County in the quarterfinals. … The Chargers didn’t have a player make even honorable mention on the All-State teams released Wednesday, a factor Bowles said he will use as motivation for his squad.
CAMPBELL COUNTY CAMELS (28-10)
* Coach: Scott Schweitzer (seventh season, 121-110).
* State ranking: None.
* State titles: None.
* Last trip to State: 1972 (lost to Owensboro 9-3 in quarterfinals).
* Probable batting order: Collin Teegarden (Jr., SS); Colton Hartig (Jr., 2B); Cory Franzen (Jr., CF); Connor Walsh (Sr., DH); Carson Plessinger (Sr., 1B); Dawson Hogan (Sr., 3B); Joe Eblin (Jr., LF); Ethan Kremer (Jr., RF); Matt Reynolds (Jr., C).
* Top pitchers: Alex Franzen (Sr., 11-3, 1.84 ERA); Colton Hartig (Jr., 6-3, 2.42 ERA).
* Notes: The Camels are averaging 11.1 runs per game in the postseason, including a 14-3 victory over Hazard in Saturday’s quarterfinals. … Cory Franzen was a third-team All-State selection by the Kentucky High School Baseball Coaches Association. Hartig was an honorable-mention pick. …. Schweitzer is a 1998 Campbell County alum who went on to play at Kentucky Wesleyan and was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 18th round of the 2002 draft. A pitcher, Schweitzer spent four seasons (2002-05) in the minor leagues.