Recap: WCHS baseball overcomes the odds to emerge as 2023 KHSAA state champions

“It can be done.” That is what Whitley County Baseball Head Coach Jeremy Shope said after his Colonels defeated Shelby County, 2-1, in the finals of this year’s Kentucky High School Athletic Association State Championship Tournament.

“It’s something that you believe, and it’s something that our kids believe, but to actually pull this thing off feels unbelievable,” said Shope, who in six years at the helm of the WCHS baseball program has compiled an overall record of 147-47. “What a gritty bunch this is. They have pitched well, played defense, and have had timely hitting. I am just so happy for our school, and I am so happy for our whole community.”

Indeed, the Colonels’ state championship win was a community affair, with an army of supporters making the trip from Williamsburg to Lexington to witness their team make history firsthand.

After thrilling victories over Larue County, South Warren and Henderson County earlier in the tournament, the Whitley County contingent were hoping to see one more happy ending Saturday night inside the University of Kentucky’s Kentucky Proud Park.

They were not disappointed.

Whitley started the game off with a triple from junior Bryce Anderson, who was later knocked in by senior Sam Harp to give the Colonels the 1-0 lead.

Senior Grant Zehr pitched a complete game in the championship, with he and the rest of the Whitley defense working together to keep Shelby County off the board until the sixth inning. By this time, the Colonels led by a score of 2-0 after Harp came through for his team once again, stealing home in the top of the inning.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Rockets managed to get one run across, but that was all the scoring that they would be able to muster.

“This is crazy,” said Zehr after the game, and after receiving Most Valuable Player honors. “I never would’ve thought that I would be a state champion, but I am, and it’s awesome.”

“We just gutted it out,” Zehr added. “Bryce really set the tone by starting us off with that triple. That got us off on the right foot, and we just never let up from there.”

“This is a phenomenal group of young men,” said Whitley County Schools Superintendent John Siler. “They have persevered all year, and now they’re the best team in the state.”

“They came out here in this tournament and showed everyone what kind of team they are. They play for one another, and I couldn’t be prouder. This is just a special group of young men with special coaches leading the way.I couldn’t be prouder, and our community couldn’t be prouder either.”

The Whitley County High School baseball Colonels end their 2023 campaign with an overall record of 39 wins and four losses. Their state championship victory is the first for the school since the Lady Colonels basketball team brought home a state title in 1985.