Records: St. X (33-10) | Russell County (31-6)

Table Setter: The culmination of the 2022 baseball season is upon us. St. Xavier being here shouldn't surprise anyone. The Tigers are one of the few true perennial title contenders year in, year out. Russell County may not have the gravitas of its opponent, but the Lakers have long maintained a reputation of excellence on the diamond. And their spot in the finals is well deserved, largely on the strength of a dynamic duo on the mound. Both squads can pitch with anyone and should have quality arms helping decide today's championship game. A St. Xavier victory would further enhance an already sterling baseball tradition, while Russell County seeks to elevate its program's stature from regional power to state champion for the first time.

Game time is set for 7:00pm this evening.

 

St. Xavier All-Stars

Jake Bennett: .435 BA | 14 HR (2nd in the state) | 66 RBIs (state leader)

Cooper Smith: .459 BA | 57 runs scored (4th in the state) | 12 triples (state leader)

Ben Purnell: 7-0 with a 0.96 ERA in 36.1 innings pitched

Jake Gregor: 4-3 with a 2.82 ERA in 49.2 innings pitched | 29 RBIs 

 

Russell County All-Stars

Nathan Lawson: .464 BA | 13 HRs  (3rd in the state) | 48 RBIs 

Cody Luttrell: 12-0 with a 0.50 ERA | 132 Ks in 70.2 innings

Isaac Roy: .424 BA | 33 RBIs

Just curious, why have all of the team descriptions said "All-Stars" instead of High School or nothing after the team name?

10 minutes ago, Jumper_Dad said:

Just curious, why have all of the team descriptions said "All-Stars" instead of High School or nothing after the team name?

That's just something I came up with on a whim to call out the star players for each team. It's definitely not meant to denote a selection to any sort of All-Star or All-State team. Sorry for any confusion to anyone browsing these threads. 

Cody Luttrell's 12 wins top the state rankings and his ERA and strikeouts rank in the top 5. If he can replicate the form he's shown all year just one more time, he can put the Lakers in position to pull off the upset. Luttrell on the mound tonight is the single most intriguing aspect of this game for me. And I'm sure I'm not alone. 

 

Audio available HERE.

Live stats available HERE.

Live stream by PrepSpin available for a price HERE.

Live stream by NFHS Network available via subscription HERE.

St. Xavier Lineup

1. RF Marks

2. 3B Smith

3. C Bennett

4. P Gregor

5. SS Akers

6. DH Comella

7. 1B Purnell

8. CF Jardina

9. 2BThompson

10. LF Hildenbrand

Russell County Lineup

1. LF Stringer

2. CF Gosser

3. 1B Lawson

4. C Roy

5. SS Aaron

6. RF Antle

7. DH Hammond

8. 2B Carpenter

9. 3B Gosser

10. P Luttrell

Cooper Smith added to his state leading triple total, but is left stranded. 

Scoreless as Russell County bats next in the bottom of the 1st.

A two out double by Lawson yields nothing for the Lakers. Still scoreless as we move to the 2nd.

Akers, Comella, and Purnell due up for X.

The Tigers go in order.

Aaron, Antle, and Hammond due up for RC in the bottom of the 2nd

Russell County goes quietly to conclude the 2nd. Still scoreless.

Jardina, Thompson, and Marks due up for X in the top of the 3rd.

This is a high quality broadcast by the NFHS Network and KHSAA. 

Smith finds an opening in the outfield to plate Jardina with an RBI single. Bennett then tags one to the wall to drive in Marks.

2-0 X

Tigers still at the plate, two on with one out.

1 minute ago, DevilMayCare said:

Smith finds an opening in the outfield to plate Jardina with an RBI single. Bennett then tags one to the wall to drive in Marks.

2-0 X

Tigers still at the plate, two on with one out.

Bennett nailed that one.