CORBIN ADVANCES

The Corbin Redhounds advanced to the 13^th Region Baseball Tournament as the 50^th District Runner-up after falling to South Laurel Wednesday at Briar Creek Park in Williamsburg, 3-2.

The Redhounds edged Whitley County Tuesday night, 8-7 to gain the championship game.

South Laurel 3, Corbin 2

The Redhounds jumped on South Laurel pitcher Nathan Skinner in the top of the first inning for a 1-0 lead, but missed scoring more runs after leaving the bases loaded.

Senior Trace Vorbeck opened the game with a hit to third baseball that was misplayed. After a pop out by Brady Foley, Zack Farley drew a walk and Matthew Jewell hit into an error at short by South Laurel’s Alex Sears. Vorbeck scored on the play for a 1-0 lead.

Skinner then struck out Zach Duncum, but Derek Terry loaded the bases for the Redhounds.

Keaton Burton flew out to center field to end the inning.

Vorbeck took the mound for the Redhounds and held the Cardinals scoreless in the first two inning, but both teams had their chances to score. Vorbeck reached base on his second trip to the plate with a two-out single past Sears once again.

In the top of the third, the Redhounds rallied with two outs when Duncum and Derek Terry reached on back-to-back errors. Burton’s single loaded the bases, but Metzger hit into a fielder’s choice to third.

Vorbeck ran into trouble in the bottom of the third when the Cardinals scored two runs on four hits and a Redhound error.

However, Corbin fought back when Vorbeck hit a one-out single in the top of the fourth. He went to second when the Cardinals flubbed a pick-off attempt. He scored on a single by Farley to left field.

The teams went to the seventh tied at 2-2. Farley led off the inning with a double over the left fielder’s head. The Cardinals brought in ace, Daniel Neal, who had pitched against the Yellow Jackets Monday night.

Jewell hit a grounder back to the mound to move Farley to third, but he was stranded at third when pinch-hitter Marcus Kuhl struck out and Terry grounded out to second.

The Cardinals scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh when Joe Gaines hit a one-out single to left field. Jewell bobbled the catch and Gaines went to second. Sears walked then the runners pulled off a double steal to move into scoring position. Vorbeck struck out Neal, but Simpson came through with a single down the third base line for the winning hit.

Vorbeck led the Redhounds with 12 strikeouts and was two-for-three from the plate although he reached base all five times he went to the plate. He reached on an error and was walked.

Corbin 8, Whitley Co. 7

The Redhounds had to fight off a rally by the Whitley County Colonels to move into the championship round. Corbin jumped out to a 6-0 lead before Whitley County battled back.

The Colonels got on the scoreboard in the top of the third when Brent Logan and Austin Ysidro scored on RBI’s by Dalton Siler and Stevie Watson.

Whitley County cut the lead to two (6-4) in the top of the fourth on runs by Tillmon Jackson and Jordan Crusenberry. Ysidro had a two-run double in the inning.

Corbin pushed the lead back out to four when they plated two runs in the bottom of the inning. Vorbeck led off with a single up the middle and Foley slammed a triple to give the Redhounds a 7-4 lead. Foley scored on a sacrifice fly by Farley.

In the top of the seventh, Whitley County made it interesting. Siler reached on a one-out walk from reliever Austin Combs. A double by Crusenberry sent Siler home and a throwing error by freshman Phillip Jones allowed Cody Lewis first base.

Crusenberry and Lewis scored on a Jackson hit and the Colonels were within a run (8-7) with runners at first and second.

Combs struck out Alex Rose to get out of the innings and the Redhounds moved on with the win.

Whitley County closed out the season with a 14-17 record in Coach Kyle Adams first year as head coach. The Colonels won five out of their last eight games, including an 8-7 win over Clay County.

South Laurel 3, Corbin 2

Corbin                100  100  0- 2  8  1

South Laurel            002  000  1- 3  9  4

Vorbeck and O’Neil. Skinner, Davis (6) and Simpson. W-Skinner. L-Vorbeck. 2B-Sears (SL), Simpson (SL), Farley (C).

Corbin 8, Whitley Co. 7

Whitley Co.            002  200  3- 7  8  1

Corbin               150  200  x- 8  8  1

Jackson, Crusenberry and Ysidro. Vorbeck, Brown and O’Neil. W-Vorbeck, L-Jackson. 2B- Metzger (C), Rose (WC), Ysidro (WC), Crusenberry (WC).  3B-Vorbeck (C), Foley (C).