Bat Jackets win three of five on Florida trip

While most of Kentucky saw rain and thunderstorms, the Bat Jackets were in Florida for the annual spring break trip where they went 3-2 in five games. 

Woodford dominated Hancock County, 12-2, in a five-inning mercy rule win in the trip finale. Woodford scored the game’s first run in the bottom of the first inning as Max Pittman led off with a walk. After a pair of outs, a pitch hit Jonah Branham and Landon Heim singled to load the bases. Pittman scored after JB Martin walked and Nolan Asher was hit by a pitch, scoring Branham to give Woodford a 2-0 lead. Woodford added two more runs in the bottom of the third on Justus Wertzler’s two-run triple, scoring Asher and Martin. 

Hancock County scored two runs in the top of the fourth, but Woodford scored five in the bottom half on RBI singles from Heim and Martin and a walk from Pittman with the bases loaded. Woodford clinched the win with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Sawyer Moffett earned the win, allowing two runs and three strikeouts over five innings. 

The bats went quiet in losses to LaRue County (8-1) and Chocawhatchee (10-1). 

Woodford’s bats were also quiet in a 4-2 comeback win over Hilliard Bradley High School, where the Jackets scored four runs in the top of the seventh to complete the comeback win. Woodford loaded the bases to begin the comeback on walks from Heim, Martin and Asher. The first run scored when a pitch hit Pittman, and then the Jackets took the lead on an error by the pitcher on a Nash Raisor bunt attempt, scoring two runs. Pittman scored on a sacrifice fly from Ryan Cecil, scoring the game’s final run. Asher pitched the bottom of the seventh and struck out two batters in a scoreless inning to earn the win. 

Woodford began the Florida trip with a 6-4 win over Seymour High School. Like their win over Hilliard Bradley, the Jackets’ bats came alive late in the game and delivered a comeback victory. Trailing 4-2 in the bottom of the sixth, Woodford’s rally began with a walk from Wertzler and a double-to-left field from Brayden Burton. Heim tied the game with a two-run single and later scored on a home run from Martin, giving Woodford a 6-4 lead. Wertzler earned the win with two scoreless innings of relief. 

The Jackets will begin district play against Collins Wednesday, April 9 in Shelbyville.