High School Baseball

HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL

            In Kentucky organized high school baseball began in 1940. Following the normal season regional tournaments were held and then state tournaments were played.  These tournaments were not played during 1943 due to World War II. 

   

            The team from Ohio County High School won the regional tournaments for 1977, 1978, 1980 and 1981; and thus advanced to the sectional tournaments, but did not advance to the state final tournaments for any of the four years. (Note: Starting in 1976, the state was divided into 16 “regions” (instead of 8)…and there were 4-team “sectionals.”  Region winners were fed into sectionals…and the four sectional winners went to state. (Note: scores were not found for these regional games). 

Thanks to Lori Tichenor, Ohio County Public Library, we now have more information about the success of the Ohio County High School baseball team.  Here is a newspaper article dated May 26, 1977:

" EAGLES ARE BEST IN REGION

        Ohio County has scored a total of 52 points in 5 games of District and Regional tournament action. The Eagle baseball team, one of the highest scoring in the state, took two more wins to capture the Regional title.

      Ohio County goes into the Owensboro Sectional with a game against Christian County, 9-10, Wednesday night.

      In action last Wednesday, Ohio County took a 8-3 victory over Bremen. Steve Autry blasted a two-run homer and a triple to lead the team.

      Ohio County had two runs in each of the first two innings to take the lead. Bremen came back with two runs in the third inning but Ohio County showed their strength with another run in the fourth, two runs in the fifth and one run in the sixth. Kevin Gardner had three hits in three tries and a total of 3 sacrifice RBI's. Jim Wilson also had a triple for the Eagles.

      Dale Westerfield picked up the win for Ohio County adding to his personal record of 4-1. This brought Ohio County's record to 19-7.

      The Eagles picked up their 20th win and the Regional title with a 7-1 victory over Grayson County last Thursday.

      Ohio County had four runs in the first inning when Mike Westerfield scored the fourth run on a passed ball.

      Joey Shultz and Mike Welch scored a pair of run-producing doubles and Terry Flener batted in another run on a single.

      Grayson County's only run came in the third inning.

      Shultz popped his fourth home run of the season in the fifth with a man on.

      David Willis gave up only 3 hits for Ohio County and struck out 11 batters. This was his fourth win in five outings."

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      In another article, dated June 2, 1977, it is stated that in the first Sectional game Ohio County beat Christian County with pitcher David Willis getting the win.  This win put them in the Sectional finals against Owensboro with valiant play by Kevin Gardner, Steve Autry, Dale Westerfield, Joey Shultz, Mike Welch, David Willis and Jim Wilson, but Owensboro High won the game and the Sectional title.  

      The championship 1977 team consisted of John Sandefur, Chuck Martin, Richard McCrocklin, Allen Hudson, Terry Flener, Ronnie Desper, Kevin Gardner, Joey Shultz, Dale Westerfield, Mike Welch, Bryan Ross, Richard Smith, Joe Hitchel, David Willis, Steve Heflin, Bee Stanley, Mike Westerfield, Jimmy Wilson, John Barrett, Steve Autry, managers Cydnee Fupree, Soretta Eskridge, Sara Johnson, Coach Billy Leach, and Athletic Director Jake Russell.