Henderson County baseball will keep playing the underdog role in state tournament

HENDERSON, Ky. — As they finished the regular season, the Henderson County baseball team's outlook didn't look too promising.

The Colonels were 14-17 overall following their finale with McCracken County, ending on their second skid this season of three games. They just couldn't seem to break through. Although they battled and challenged many of their opponents, they could never find much of a stride.

Then a lightbulb went off when the postseason opened.

What they did in the Second Region tournament might have exceeded expectations. Henderson County defeated Caldwell, Lyon and Christian Counties, who combined for 65 wins and were the three top teams in the region. It now heads to the KHSAA baseball state tournament in Lexington for the first time since 2013.

Was this outcome expected? Probably not. The Colonels (18-17) believed in themselves regardless.

"It's really cool for us guys to get out there and get to the place that we haven't had any experience with," senior Dru Meadows said. "I think if we just stick to it and have a good time, we'll be okay."

"We've been trying to get this for three years," fellow senior Brennan Cates added. "Now it's finally the chance."

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Henderson County has come close to the state tournament numerous times but just couldn't close out the deal. The players especially remember last year's Second Region championship with Christian County. Cates went five innings with four strikeouts on the bump. Meadows was one of three Colonels with two hits in the game.

But "stupid mistakes" also caught up with Henderson County. Christian County pounced on the miscues as it rallied from five down to win the ball game. The failure lit a fire in Henderson County to come back even stronger this year.

"We knew what it was like to be in championship games," Meadows said. "It's just the fact of finishing the game out until the very end. That's what we did this year, and it ended up working out for us."

Henderson County also embraces playing the best of competition. While it took its lumps playing teams like Castle, which boasts an Auburn signee on the mound, as well as McCracken and Christian County last month, the team still greatly benefitted from playing those games.

The Colonels used them as learning tools to succeed now.

"We kind of stressed to the kids toward the end of the year that it wasn't so much about the wins and losses," Henderson County coach Adam Hines said. "It was about playing hard and playing well and understanding that we're going against good competition and raising our own level of play."

It's been a team effort this season, especially as of late.

Meadows struck out six in five innings in the district championship. Alec Satterfield is on a four-game hitting streak. Cates was also hitting right at .600 during the Second Region tournament.

Cates has one simple message for continuing to be effective at the plate.

"Just not trying to do too much with it," he said. "Just putting the ball in play and letting it do itself."

The Colonels will face Pulaski County (21-16) on Friday at 7:30 p.m. CDT at Counter Clocks Field. All of the first-round and quarterfinal games of the state tournament will be there due to the NCAA Lexington Regional taking place at Kentucky Proud Park. The rest of the tournament will move back to UK.

Pulaski County is led on offense by junior Mason Acton, a .356 hitter and the team's co-leader in home runs. The Maroons' team ERA sits at 2.98. Sophomore Carter Ross leads the staff in strikeouts (59) as well as wins (seven). Acton also has five wins on the mound with 57 strikeouts.

Meanwhile, Henderson County has looked forward to its extra practices for the state tournament. It hasn't had them in quite a while. Hines refers to them as the most enjoyable of the year. The Colonels aim to continue on extending their postseason this weekend.

"I know that (Pulaski County is) well-coached and have a couple of good pitchers," Hines said. "I kind of expect for it to be a dogfight. I think that it's going to be a close game. I'm looking forward to a good game."

Courier & Press sports reporter Treasure Washington can be reached via her email, treasure.washington@courierpress.com, and on Twitter @Twashington490.

Kentucky high school baseball state tournament

First-round and quarterfinal games will be played at Counter Clocks Field in Lexington. Semifinals and championship will be at Kentucky Proud Park in Lexington. All times CDT. Streaming available via NFHS Network.

Friday, 7:30 p.m. – Pulaski County (21-16) vs. Henderson County (18-17)

Saturday, 4 p.m. – Pulaski County-Henderson County winner vs. Pikeville-Harrison County winner

June 9, 5:30 p.m. – Semifinal

June 10, 6 p.m. – Championship

This article originally appeared on Henderson Gleaner: Kentucky high school baseball tournament: Henderson County preview