News Summary
In a thrilling nine-inning game, South Warren defeated Highlands 6-5 at the KHSAA State Baseball Tournament. Senior pitcher Mikey Coradini excelled in relief despite recent injury concerns. The match featured multiple lead changes, with a key sacrifice fly from Gray Pearson sealing the win for South Warren. This victory enhances their tournament record, moving them forward to face McCracken County in their next matchup.
Bowling Green, Kentucky – South Warren defeated Highlands 6-5 in a thrilling nine-inning game at the KHSAA State Baseball Tournament held at Kentucky Proud Park. The victory advances South Warren in the tournament, bringing their overall record to 31-8 for the season.
The game was marked by a standout performance from senior pitcher Mikey Coradini, who stepped into a crucial role after overcoming a shoulder impingement. Coradini pitched for 7 2/3 innings in relief, allowing only one run on six hits while striking out three batters. His remarkable return to pitching came just days after an acupuncture session that had initially raised doubts about his ability to play this season.
Despite a long delay due to rain at the start of the game, followed by an additional two-hour thunderstorm delay, the teams went head-to-head to deliver a memorable matchup. Highlands took an early lead, scoring three runs in the first inning, highlighted by a two-run triple from Adam Forton and an RBI groundout by Iain Carner.
South Warren was quick to respond, with Ty Croghan driving in a run during the first inning, bringing the score to 3-1. However, Highlands increased their lead to 4-1 in the second inning, thanks to back-to-back doubles from Nolan Schwalbach and Brooks Hendrix.
A second weather delay after the second inning allowed Coradini to take the mound when play resumed. He dominated the game from then on, throwing four shutout innings with only one hit allowed, which laid the groundwork for South Warren’s comeback.
In the fourth inning, a key moment arrived when Justin Capps was hit by a pitch while the bases were loaded, narrowing the gap to 4-2. Following this, Griffin Rardin contributed another run for South Warren with an RBI single, making the score 4-3.
Determined to rally, South Warren tied the game in the fifth inning with an RBI double from Joseph Fentress, following a double from Casey Green. Rardin then took charge in the sixth, driving in a run with a triple to push South Warren ahead 5-4. Unfortunately, Rardin was ejected after attempting to score on a ground ball, resulting in an incident termed “malicious contact” with the catcher.
As the game reached the seventh inning, Coradini gave up a solo home run to Brooks Hendrix, once again tying the game at 5-5.
In the ninth inning, South Warren began to turn the tide. A lead-off double from Jaxen Decker set the stage for a strong rally, followed by a single from Casey Green, establishing runners at the corners. Gray Pearson sealed the victory with a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Decker and securing the win for South Warren.
At the plate, Casey Green was particularly notable, achieving a 3-for-5 performance including a double. Jaxen Decker finished with a 2-for-5 showing, complete with a double and two runs scored. Before his ejection, Griffin Rardin made a significant impact as well, going 2-for-2 with a triple and two RBIs.
This dramatic victory marks the second consecutive one-run win for South Warren in the state tournament. The Spartans will face the Region 1 champion McCracken County in their next game scheduled for Sunday, June 8, at noon CT.
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Additional Resources
- WBKO: South Warren Walks It Off
- Wikipedia: Kentucky High School Athletic Association
- MaxPreps: South Warren Baseball Recap
- Google Search: South Warren High School baseball
- BG Daily News: South Warren Baseball News
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Baseball
- NKY Tribune: South Warren vs Highlands
- Google News: South Warren High School baseball
- USA Today: How to Watch South Warren vs McCracken County
- Google Scholar: Kentucky High School Athletics
