By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Winning the All “A” Classic state championship is one of the goals Beechwood baseball teams have each season, but the title escaped the Tigers once again.
University Heights defeated Beechwood, 4-2, in the 2026 state championship game on Sunday at Daviess County High School in Owensboro. Over the last five years, the Tigers have lost twice in the final, twice in the semifinal and once in the sectional round of the small-school baseball playoffs.
In Sunday’s title game, Beechwood (19-4) tied the score, 2-2, on a two-run double by senior first baseman Hudson Edwards in the top of the third inning. But only one Tigers batter reached base in the final four innings and a double-play sent him back to the dugout.
After University Heights (20-3) scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth to break the tie, relief pitcher Bryson Turner retired the three batters he faced in the top of the seventh to secure the win.
This is the first time the Blazers have won the All “A” Classic baseball championship. Beechwood now has a 5-3 record in the finals with the last title coming in 2019.
University Heights got the go-ahead runs off Beechwood starting pitcher Caleb Arrasmith. After a double put runners on second and third, one scored on a ground out and another came home on a sacrifice bunt.
Beechwood players named to the state all-tournament team were senior catcher Zach True, senior pitcher Sawyer Carlisle and junior outfielder Tyler Fryman, who had hits in all three games.
In Saturday’s opening round, Beechwood defeated Jackson County, 4-0, with Carlisle getting 10 strikeouts and giving up only three hits. The Tigers got another strong pitching performance in the Sunday morning semifinals. They knocked off Lexington Christian, 5-1, with Paul Stephenson getting the win in relief.
Walton-Verona lost to Campbellsville, 10-0, in Saturday’s opening round. This was the ninth consecutive year that the Bearcats qualified for the state tournament as the 8th Region champion.
The All “A” Classic state softball tournament was also played Saturday and Sunday in Owensboro. Beechwood went 0-3 in pool play and did not make the eight-team championship bracket
BEECHWOOD 002 000 0 — 2 5 2
UNIV. HEIGHTS 200 002 x — 4 8 0
WP — Bryson Turner
LP — Caleb Arrasmith (5 Ks)
HITTING LEADERS:
B — Hudson Edwards 2B, 2 RBI; Brooks Becker 2B. UH — Cadence Gibson 2B; Jaiden Miles 2B; Hayden Hunt 2-4.
RECORDS: Beechwood 19-4, University Heights 20-3.