Blue Lick 15 captures district, on to state

 OKOLONA - With nothing at stake, it didn’t mean that the three games between Blue Lick and Hikes Point meant nothing.

Thomas Barr

Blue Lick’s Ben Parker takes a rip at a ball in the tournament opener.

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Thomas Barr

Blue Lick’s 15-year-old All-Star team won the district crown

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At the end of a hot, humid weekend, it would be the Hikes Point All-Stars who won the rubber game of the matchup. However, both teams now advance to the state tournament this week at St. Matthews.

Wrapped around 7-0 and 5-0 setbacks was a classic Blue Lick victory to stay alive in the district tournament.

On Sunday afternoon, Blue Lick staged a dramatic 6-5 victory in eight innings.

Ben Parker got the local team on the board first with a towering solo home run in the first inning to knot the score.

In the second, Blue Lick scratched another run when Casey Goins had a bunt single, stole a base and scored on Noah Nalley’s RBI single.

Pitcher Branden Devore helped his own cause when he reached on an error in the third. Two stolen bases and a bad throw to third plated Devore.

Things got ugly for Blue Lick in the fifth.

A pair of walks was followed by a ground out. With two on base, a pop up fell between three players for a single to load the bases. 

A three-run triple gave Hikes Point the 4-3 lead.

Down 5-3 in the sixth, Blue Lick came back to tie the score. Devore walked and Parker drove him home. Goins singled home the tying run.

Blue Lick ended it in the eighth inning. With two outs, Parker walked, stole a base and advanced on a wild pitch. Jacob Nalley hit a ball that the pitcher tried to backhand. Unable to pick up the ball, Nalley reached first safely and Parker scored the winning run.

In the final game, Hikes Point jumped out early and never looked back.

Hikes Point captured the final game with a 9-1 victory. 

The Blue Lick 15-year-old All-Stars, who also won the district title the previous year as 14 year olds, included: Sean Clark, Branden Devore, Casey Goins, Matthew Hayes, Zachary McCauley, Jacob Nalley, Noah Nalley, Benjamin Parker, Cody Pullin, Justin Stinson, Tyler Lloyd and Trevor Berger.

Manager Scott Belt was assisted by Jeff Parker and Dave Hayes.