The Paris Eagles avenged a late season loss to Booneville by defeating the Bearcats last evening in the 3A-4 district tournament semifinals, 9-4, at Hackett High School. Paris junior Mason Bradley went the distance on the mound for the win. The Eagles played perhaps their most complete game of the season and will now advance to the tournament championship game versus Danville. Tonight’s championship game will be played at Cedarville High School and is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. The winner of tonight’s game will win the district tournament championship and will advance to next week’s regional tournament as a number one seed. The loser will go as a number two seed. A third place game will be played prior to the championship game between Hackett and Booneville. The winner will advance as a three seed and the loser as a four seed in the regionals.
Pitching, hitting, and defense were all highlights of the Paris win over Booneville. And in a fitting end, senior Blake Martines threw out a Booneville runner at home plate from centerfield to end the game. It was a complete team victory for the Eagles, and they will need that same effort tonight versus a very good Danville Little Johns team.
Rain has forced the tournament to move to Hackett for the semifinals, but the tournament will now conclude at the host Cedarville High School site. In the girls softball final, the Hackett Lady Hornets will play Booneville for the district tournament championship. In both sports, the 3A-4 regional teams should be strong contenders in next week’s regionals that will be held at Greenland High School.
Good luck to all remaining teams, and RNN will be in Cedarville tonight to bring you coverage of the baseball final in tomorrow’s online edition.
