 | LEXINGTON — Sam Coleman pitched just 15 innings during the regular season. The senior right-hander, though, was back on the mound as the #12 Indians (25-11) opened the 11th Region Tournament against Lexington Christian Academy (20-15) on Monday at Legends Field. |
"This is what we have been building up to — so I could pitch in this game," Coleman said.
And he was ready.
Coleman scattered six hits in six innings as Madison Central used a late surge to top the Eagles, 5-2. The Indians scored twice in the fifth and sixth innings, allowing Ben Murphy the chance to come out of the bullpen and close out the victory.
Central advances and will face Sayre (28-6) at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at Kentucky Proud Park. The other semifinal will feature Lexington Catholic and Frederick Douglass (6 p.m.).
Coleman had five strikeouts and three walks against LCA as he improved his record to 5-0 on the season. "He has been in this spot before," Central coach Steve Roof said of Coleman. "We knew what we were going to get when we gave him the ball."
Coleman also got some big plays from his defense — especially Cannon Spivey.
With two runners on and two outs in the top of the third inning, the centerfielder made a running catch as he crashed into wall. "That's probably the best (play) I've ever seen in a moment like that," Roof said.
In sixth inning, Spivey gunned down the would-be tying run at the plate with a great throw.
"I just had to get it done for my guy (Sam)," Spivey said. "You've got to be everywhere in the outfield."
LCA got a run off Coleman in the second, but the Indians pulled even in the bottom of the inning when Kannon Cook scored on a fielder's choice off the bat of Luke Bryner. Cook delivered a two-run single in the fifth to put Central in front for the first time, 3-1. Aiden Masters walked to lead-off the sixth and scored on an error. The Indians pushed their advantage to three runs on a groundout by Will Richardson. Bryner had an RBI and Braxton Hicks scored a run.
By: Nathan Hutchinso
And he was ready.
Coleman scattered six hits in six innings as Madison Central used a late surge to top the Eagles, 5-2. The Indians scored twice in the fifth and sixth innings, allowing Ben Murphy the chance to come out of the bullpen and close out the victory.
Central advances and will face Sayre (28-6) at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at Kentucky Proud Park. The other semifinal will feature Lexington Catholic and Frederick Douglass (6 p.m.).
Coleman had five strikeouts and three walks against LCA as he improved his record to 5-0 on the season. "He has been in this spot before," Central coach Steve Roof said of Coleman. "We knew what we were going to get when we gave him the ball."
Coleman also got some big plays from his defense — especially Cannon Spivey.
With two runners on and two outs in the top of the third inning, the centerfielder made a running catch as he crashed into wall. "That's probably the best (play) I've ever seen in a moment like that," Roof said.
In sixth inning, Spivey gunned down the would-be tying run at the plate with a great throw.
"I just had to get it done for my guy (Sam)," Spivey said. "You've got to be everywhere in the outfield."
LCA got a run off Coleman in the second, but the Indians pulled even in the bottom of the inning when Kannon Cook scored on a fielder's choice off the bat of Luke Bryner. Cook delivered a two-run single in the fifth to put Central in front for the first time, 3-1. Aiden Masters walked to lead-off the sixth and scored on an error. The Indians pushed their advantage to three runs on a groundout by Will Richardson. Bryner had an RBI and Braxton Hicks scored a run.
By: Nathan Hutchinso
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