Raiders fall in District Tourney

The McCreary Central Raiders Baseball season came to an inglorious close Tuesday night at the hands of the Wayne County Cardinals in the opening round of the 48th District Baseball Tournament.

Cardinal hitters roughed up the Raiders, scoring 17 runs on 16 hits, while their pitching and defense allowed only three McCreary baserunners over the five inning game.

Senior Kyle Jones took the mound to start the game for the Raiders and escaped the bottom of the first inning with his team only trailing, 1-0. Jones gave up a lead off single to Trey Blevins, who would score on a one-out hit from Tanner Bell. After a foul-out Wayne would load the bases with two outs, but Jones got Nick Gillespie to fly out to center to end the threat.

The Raiders had a chance to tie the game in the top of the second after Devin Rose reached on a two-out single to right. He would advance to third on a Cardinal error in the infield, which allowed Trystan Adkins to reach safely. Aaron Jones then hit a sharp grounder to short where Blevins had trouble fielding the ball, but he recovered in time to quickly toss it to second for the force out – ending the inning.

Wayne County took a 4-0 lead in their half of the inning, scoring three runs with two outs.

The Raiders put another runner in scoring position in the top of the third after Jones singled to left and advanced to second on a stolen base, but Wayne County starter Trajan Smith retired the next two batters he faced to end the inning.

Jones was lifted in favor of Justin Trammell with one out in the third after two Wayne County runners reached on an error and a fielder’s choice. Both of those runners would score on a Blevins single, and Blevins would later cross the plate on a two-out single from Tanner Bell. Bell was caught stealing by Rose, one of two put outs from behind the plate by the senior catcher.

The Cardinals broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth inning as they sent 13 batters to the plate against relievers Ethan Stephens and Caleb Dixon. All told the Cardinals would score 10 runs in the frame, ending when Rose threw out Gillespie trying to take second after reaching on a walk.

The Raiders ended the season with a 3-23 record.