By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Campbell County came up short in a slugfest while Beechwood didn’t get a single run in season-ending losses at the state baseball tournament on Saturday.
Owensboro Apollo defeated Campbell County, 14-10, and top-ranked Louisville Trinity blanked Beechwood, 11-0, in two of the four quarterfinal games at Legends field in Lexington.
After allowing only one run in six previous playoff games, Campbell County gave up six runs on five hits in the first inning of its loss. The Camels were behind, 10-3, in the sixth when they scored five runs to pull closer. But Apollo answered with four runs in the top of the seventh to extend its lead.
Campbell County senior Tyler Schumacher, who was named 10th Region Player of the Year, had a double, triple and two singles in his final high school game to earn a spot on the state all-tournament team.
Junior first baseman Gavin Kramer drove in five runs and seniors Camden Tiemeier and Jeb Kissinger hit home runs for the Camels.
Trinity entered the state tournament ranked among the top 10 teams in the nation by USA Today and handed Beechwood one its worst losses of the season.
The Shamrocks had 13 hits with Mr. Kentucky Baseball award-winner Grayson Willoughby going 3-for-3 with 2 RBI to help keep his team’s perfect record intact against in-state opponents this season.
The Tigers were limited to three singles, but they had bases loaded in the first and seventh innings and failed to score. It was the team’s first shutout since a 10-0 loss to Cincinnati Elder on April 4. Sawyer Carlisle was the Beechwood player named to the state all-tournament team.
Beechwood ended the season with a 33-10 record and Campbell County finished at 26-14. The last Northern Kentucky team that made it to the state final four was Highlands 2018.
OWENSBORO APOLLO 600 004 4 — 14 14 2
CAMPBELL COUNTY 201 005 2 — 10 15 2
WP — Ty Lillpop (5 Ks). LP — Lucas Anthrop.
HITTING LEADERS: OA — Ty Lillpop 3-4, HR, 4 RBI; Brayden Burger 2-4, 2 RBI; Geordyn Stevens 2-4, 2B; Carder 2B, Gunnar Hendricks HR, Ryleigh Logan 2 RBI, John Milburn 3-5. CC — Tyler Schumacher 4-5, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI; Gavin Kramer 2-3, 5 RBI; Camden Tiemeier HR, 2 RBI; Jeb Kessinger HR, Micah Price 2-3, Jackson Bittner 4-5.
RECORDS: Owensboro Apollo 23-12, Campbell County 26-14.
BEECHWOOD 000 000 0 — 0 3 3
LOUISVILLE TRINITY 103 031 3 — 11 13 2
WP — Konnor Stargel (6 Ks). LP — Caleb Arrasmith (6 Ks).
HITTING LEADERS: LT — Grayson Willoughby 3-3, 2 RBI; Harper Haywood 2-3, 2 RBI; Grayson Davis 2-3, Cade Partin 2-4. RECORDS: Beechwood 33-10, Louisville Trinity 39-3.