Owensboro’s Post 9 Bombers defeat Lexington’s Post 8 in first round of state

The Owensboro American Legion Post 9 Bombers defeated the Post 8 Saints of Lexington 7-5 on Friday night in the first round of the state championship. The Bombers jumped out to an explosive early lead and held on for the eventual victory.

The Post 9 team had 12 hits on the night compared to four for Post 8 and held their opponents scoreless when it mattered. Talan Cartwright led the team at the plate with three hits and two RBIs.

Logen Thomas, Joshua Mayes, Easton Blandford and Eli DeBoer each added two hits. DeBoer added a double on the night, while Cartwright drove in a game-high two runs.

The Bombers jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the first, followed by another unanswered run in the second. The Saints added another in the fourth, but the Owensboro team countered with two more of their own.

Post 8 tried to make a comeback in the seventh inning and scored four runs, but it was not enough.

Noah Cook earned the win on the mound, allowing five runs on three hits in six innings of work. Cayden Crabtree and Carter Kimmel sealed the deal in relief, combining for no runs on just one hit.