63rd District Baseball: Howard's 2-hit performance keys Musketeers; Rams roll past Lions

FLATWOODS — Greenup County's Brody Howard delivered a gem of a performance from the mound on Monday night to help the Musketeers beat the Red Devils 5-1 in the nightcap of the 63rd District Semifinals on Monday.

Howard pitched a two-hit gem while going the distance for the Musketeers. The sophomore also struck out six batters, walked seven and the only run given up was unearned. Howard also picked off a pair of Red Devil baserunners in key situations to limit Russell's scoring chances.

The Musketeers will now face the Raceland Rams in the finals on Wednesday evening for the district title. Greenup will be looking to snap the Rams streak of four-straight district titles.

Russell's Keoni Ancheta took the loss, going five innings while allowing three runs on six hits and striking out two batters in his final game with the Red Devils. Hayden McGowan and Caleb Groves threw an inning of relief for Russell.

The Musketeers took an early lead in the first when Gavin Roy singled into left to score Sawyer Hatfield. Roy later scored on a passed ball to make it 2-0.

The score remained the same until the bottom of the fourth when Russell (21-9) finally managed to scratch a run over and cut Greenup's lead in half.

Ancheta reached on a walk and Fisher's hit flared into short center and looked to be the third out, but the ball bounced out of Gammon's glove for an error to score Ancheta and make it 2-1.

Holbrook got the run back for the Musketeers (21-14) in the top of the fifth with a solo shot over the left-center field wall to make it a 2-run game again.

Greenup went on to add two insurance runs with runners scoring on a wild pitch and passed ball in the same at-bat to give the Musketeers a four-run lead and put the game away.

The Musketeers were led at the plate by Holbrook who went 2-of-4 with a home run and RBI and Howard going 2-3 with a double.

Russell's two hits came from Caden Criswell and Grayson Kiser.

Greenup Co 200 010 2 =  5  7  2

Russell 000 100 0 =  1  2  3

Brody Howard and Luke Boggs. Keoni Ancheta, Hayden McGowan (6), Caleb Groves (7) and Griffin Fisher. W-Howard (IP-7.0, H-2, R-1, ER-0, K-6, BB-6, HBP-1, WP-1). L-Ancheta (IP-5.0, H-6, R-3, ER-2, K-3, BB-2, HBP-1). McGowan (IP-1.0, H-1, R-2, ER-1, K-0, BB-2, WP-2). Groves (IP-1.0, H-0, R-0, ER-0, K-1, BB-0). Hitting–Greenup County: Sawyer Hatfield 1-3, Gavin Roy 1-3 RBI, Hunter Holbrook 2-4 HR RBI, Kasey Gammon 1-2, Brody Howard 2-3 2B; Russell: Caden Criswell 1-3, Grayson Kiser 1-1.

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Raceland 8, Lewis County 1

FLATWOODS — Key pitching from Caden Smith and multi-RBI games at the plate from both Parker Ison and Michael Pennington helped the Raceland Rams beat the Lewis County Lions 8-1 in the 63rd District Semifinals on Monday.

Smith tossed a 3-hitter in six innings of work and struck out 6 batters. The run scored by the Lions was unearned. Brayden Bush came on in relief in the seventh to close out the game and allowed one hit.

The Rams were paced offensively by Ison going 3-of-4 with a double and an RBI and Pennington with a hit with two RBI. Landon Bloss homered to drive in a run, Brody King had a hit and Grayden Floyd and Aiden Shaffer had an RBI.

Lewis County (8-25) had hits in the game from Parker Jordan, Woodrow Underwood, Asher Webb and Jameson Switzer.

Raceland (27-6) broke out on top in the bottom of the first with a solo shot over the left field wall from Bloss and later Shaffer's sacrifice bunt scored a run to make it 2-0.

The Lions cut Raceland's lead in half in the third when Bryson Helphenstine grounded into a fielders' choice and Julian Puente scored on a throwing error.

The Rams took control in the bottom half of the third with a three-run rally.

Bloss singled to lead off and Davidson followed up with a sacrifice bunt to move over the runner. Then Ison stepped in and lined a double into left to bring home a run.

Two batters later, Pennington hit into a ground out, but two runs scored on the play to extend Raceland's lead to 5-1.

Raceland will now move onto the district title game where they will face rival Greenup County on Wednesday evening at Russell High School.

Lewis Co 001 000 0 =  1  4  5

Raceland 113 111 x =  8  7  1

Stevenson, Smyke (5) and Jordan. Caden Smith, Brayden Bush (7) and Brayden King. W-Smith (IP-6.0, H-3, R-1, ER-0, K-6, BB-1, WP-2). Bush (IP-1.0, H-1, R-0, ER-0, K-0, BB-0). L-Stevenson (IP-4.0, H-6, R-7, ER-4, K-1, BB-1, HBP-1). Smyke (IP-2.0, H-1, R-1, ER-1, K-2, BB-2, WP-2). Hitting–Lewis County: Parker Jordan 1-3, Woodrow Underwood 1-3, Asher Webb 1-3, Jameson Switzer 1-3; Raceland: Landon Bloss 2-3 HR RBI, Parker Ison 3-4 2B RBI, Grayden Floyd RBI, Brody King 1-3, Michael Pennington 1-3 2-RBI, Aidan Shaffer RBI.