2018 17th District Baseball Tournament
Both Elizabethtown and Central Hardin have made a habit of being participants in the 17th District Championship game. In fact, eleven of the last thirteen seasons that has been the case, but until the emergence of the Bruins as a major state player just happened since 2008 and both one again found their way back there, but one had an easier path than the other. Much like last season, North Hardin has been making some noise and was part of a three way power struggle with both the Bruins and Panthers and whoever was seeded with the Trojans would be in for a fight.
So while Elizabethtown cruised past John Hardin in the semi-finals, Central Hardin found itself in a dogfight with North Hardin and in a game in which the Bruins took a quick 2-0 lead watched the Trojans climb right back into it with single runs in the sixth and seventh inning to tie it at 2 until a weird interpetation of the rules allowed Central Hardin to score the winning run in the bottom of that inning.
Now with round three of the Central Hardin – Elizabethtown rivalry on plate Thurday night, it looked like a pitchers duel for much of the game despite a few early fireworks by Alex Bibb, who launched a Coleman Clark fastball over the outfield wall for a two run shot to start things off. That was it for sometime as Clark did quite a job on the dangerous Bruin hitters totalling 12 K’s in his six innings of work and continued to confuse them throughout with his curveball. Central Hardin did get a great pitching performance by Cooper Jones, who was just as effective against the Panthers allowing just five hits and just two runs overall in a 5-2 win which gave the Bruins another 17th District Title.
5th Region Tourney Preview
With the 5th Region Tournament at John Hardin for the next three days (weather permitting) it does offer some interesting matchups starting off with Washington County (20-11-1) against Adair County 12-15) in the 11:00 am game. The Commanders have been one of the best in the Region this season and have one of the best in the area in senior pitcher Josh Graves and should be quite a great tournament opener to watch. The second game between Green County and Central Hardin will match 17th District against 18th and head coach Rick Davis should have his Dragons fired up against the Bruins. The third game should be the best of the day with Elizabethtown going against powerful LaRue County, winner of their last ten games. Both the Hawks and Panthers have been able to score runs in bunches. The last game will last season’s surprise team Bardstown against Campbellsville in a 6:30 game. With rain predicted for four of the first five days of the week it should be interesting if Mother Nature will cooperate. Since 2012, twice the Region Final was played on a Saturday and in 2016 it was played on a Friday. Three of the last four seasons, the playoff format has been extended at least one more day and last season was the first time it finished on a Wednesday.
