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SPORTS
Crushing
the ball
— Photo
by TIM MANDELL
Owen County outfielder Emily Trammel crushes a triple to right
field Thursday during a 7-3 victory against Carroll County. For
more photos from the game see Page 15.
Rebels
roll in Class A
MBMS
competes in track meet
Gymnast
to be on ESPN 2
Sitting
on top of the district standings
Judo
teams brings home 12 firsts
On
the sidelines
Defense
carrying OCHS
Tim
Mandell
In sports, offense
is so much fun to watch, but just about every successful coach
will tell you that the key to winning is on the defensive side
of the game.
After opening the season with a loss they would probably like
to forget, the Owen County High School baseball team has found
its key to success — with pitching and defense.
Since a season-opening 10-8 loss to Gallatin County, Owen County
has played solid defense and has gotten superb pitching.
The Rebels are riding high on a 7-game winning streak —results
from Tuesday night’s game against Walton-Verona were not
available at press time — and have allowed just nine runs
in those seven games.
That’s a stark contrast to the Gallatin County game, when
nothing seemed to go right for Owen County, which allowed 14 walks
and committed four errors.
Since then, it’s been smooth sailing.
The Rebels have posted one impressive victory after another, beating
Williamstown (5-2) Grant County (3-2), Williamstown again (11-1)
and Carroll County (7-0) to enter the 8th Regional All A Classic
with a record of 4-1.
It only got better during the regional tournament.
Against Eminence the Rebels played errorless ball and Aaron Sutherland,
Jared Perkins and Jimmy Dalton combined for a 4-hitter during
a 17-1 victory against the Warriors.
Next up was Carroll County.
Trey Lenear fired a complete game 3-hitter, allowing one unearned
run during a 4-1 victory.
That unearned run scored off the Rebels’ lone error.
In the championship, Owen County faced Trimble County.
The Rebels committed two errors and Michael Ogden and Sutherland
combined on a 2-hitter for a 9-2 victory.
The reason for the success is simple.
Take a look at the season opener.
Four pitchers allowed just four hits, but the 14 walks and four
errors allowed Gallatin County to score 10 runs.
During the next four games, the Rebels allowed 21 hits and walked
nine batters, outscoring opponents 26-5.
But during the regional tournament, Owen County gave up just nine
hits, five walks and three runs to outscore opponents 30-4.
That’s a 7-game winning streak in which the Rebels have
outscored opponents 56-9, allowed 30 hits, 14 walks, but just
nine runs.
That’s a pretty good formula for success.
As a team, the Rebels are allowing 2.38 runs per game and have
a team earned run average of 1.58.
That means the Rebels are holding teams to two or three runs per
game, and when they play errorless ball, that number drops to
one or two runs per game.
None of the six pitchers on the team has an ERA above four runs
per game, and only one is allowing more than two earned runs per
every seven innings.
Combine that with an opponents batting average of .173 and the
Rebels have every right to expect a big season.
Saturday’s showdown looms against Kentucky Country Day,
with the winner advancing to the All A Classic.
The Rebels already have one advantage — the game is being
played on their home field.
Game time is set for 2 p.m. at Dunavent Field.
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