By Terry Boehmker
NKy Tribune sports reporter
Highlands scored four unearned runs in the fifth inning and went on to defeat McCracken County, 5-2, in the first round of the Rawlings/KHSAA State Baseball Tournament on Tuesday at Whitaker Bank Ballpark in Lexington.
Playing in the 16-team state playoffs for the first time since 1997, Highlands fell behind 2-0 in the third inning before coming back to hand McCracken County (33-3) its first loss to a Kentucky opponent this season. The Bluebirds (33-6) will take a 13-game winning streak into Wednesday’s quarterfinal game against North Bullitt (32-11) at 6 p.m.
The Highlands-McCracken County game was postponed on Monday due to rain and played Tuesday morning. In the third inning, McCracken County broke a scoreless tie when Ryan Garner ripped a two-run double down the right-field line. But Highlands took a 4-2 lead in the fifth inning by taking advantage of McCracken County fielding errors.
A throwing error on a sacrifice bunt by Highlands senior Grayson Heck allowed one run to score. Pinch-runner Kyle Rust advanced to third base on that play and crossed home plate ahead of the throw on a ground ball hit by Brady Murray. Heck then scored the go-ahead run on another throwing error. A run-scoring double by Todd Ramey capped off the inning to give the Bluebirds a 4-2 lead.
Highlands added an insurance run with two out in top of the seventh inning when Ramey hit a triple and then scored on a single by Jake Whitford. Ramey had three of his team’s nine hits in the game and all of them went for extra bases.
The entire McCracken County team was only able to get three hits off Highlands senior pitcher Mitchell Jones, who had seven strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. Jones was replaced in the sixth inning by sophomore relief pitcher Ricky Raisor, who got the final out with bases loaded. In the bottom of seventh, Raisor stuck out two of the three batters he faced to nail down the victory.