Sun Sets on Mercer’s State Title Run

Jackson Stoeckinger delivers the pitch in the sixth inning of the Forcht Bank KHSAA State Championship game Saturday as the sun sets on Whitaker Bank Ballpark in Lexington.

For seven innings Saturday night the Mercer County Titans baseball team were every bit the equal of the eventual state champion Panthers of Pleasure Ridge Park (PRP). In the eighth inning, however, PRP was able to pull away slightly from the Titans, earning the state title and right to call themselves champions. 

Mercer fought from behind for much of Saturday’s game as the Panthers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning. PRP’s Ryan Hart opened the inning with a leadoff single to right field and advanced to second on a successful bunt by Josh Beams against Mercer starting pitcher Jackson Stoeckinger. Hart would later score from third base on a ground out to first base by Dalton Miller.