Baseball region draw pits No. 4 Lexington Catholic vs. No. 6 Sayre on first day
One of the state’s top-ranked baseball teams will be eliminated on the first day of the 11th Region Tournament at Legends Field on Monday thanks to the draw for this week’s single elimination stage of the postseason.
No. 4 Lexington Catholic, the 43rd District champion, will face No. 6 Sayre, the 42nd District runner-up, at 7:30 p.m. Monday as the last game of the region’s first round quadruple-header at Legends Field.
The rankings are according to the final published list of the regular season by PrepBaseballReport.com. The draw was held Friday at Legends Field.
Lexington Catholic (28-8) features one of the state’s best run-producing offenses and includes senior catcher Brady Wasik, who is tied for the state lead with 11 triples and ranks among the top 50 in hits with 46 on the year. Eamon Hughes (7-2, 1.88 earned run average), a junior left hander, is likely to get the start for the Knights.
Gary Gibson, a senior infielder/pitcher, leads Sayre (23-9) with a .460 average, seven home runs and 41 runs scored. The Spartans are likely to start senior right hander Banks Heinich (7-2, 1.18 ERA), whose earned run average ranks among the lowest in the state.
No. 23 Henry Clay (28-10) knocked off 42nd District top-seeded Sayre on Wednesday at Legends Field for their district’s championship. The Blue Devils hold the advantage of having called the independent professional league ballpark home all season because its own field was razed for the construction of its new school.
Henry Clay faces 43rd District runner-up Lafayette (15-17) at 10:30 a.m. on Memorial Day. Great Crossing (15-15), the 41st District champ, then faces 41st District runner-up Madison Southern (17-16) at 1 p.m.
No. 17 Madison Central (24-11), the 44th District champ who leads the region with a .359 team batting average, takes on 41st District runner-up Frankfort (17-15) at 4:30 p.m.
The region semifinals move to Berea College’s Wyatt Baseball Field on Tuesday evening due to the Lexington Legends’ home game that night, but the tournament returns to Legends Field for the championship game at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.
11th Region Baseball Tournament
Monday’s first round games
At Legends Field, Lexington
10 a.m.: Henry Clay vs. Lafayette.
1 p.m.: Great Crossing vs. Madison Southern.
4:30 p.m.: Madison Central vs. Frankfort.
7:30 p.m.: Lexington Catholic vs. Sayre.
Tuesday’s semifinals
At Berea College’s Wyatt Baseball Field, Berea
5:30 p.m.: Henry Clay-Lafayette winner vs. Great Crossing-Madison Southern winner.
8 p.m.: Madison Central-Frankfort winner vs. Lexington Catholic-Sayre winner.
Wednesday’s final
At Legends Field, Lexington
6:30 p.m.: Championship game.
