1968
Ashland becomes the first school to win three consecutive state baseball titles as it beats Louisville Southern 1-0 in the finals. Senior pitcher Bob Lynch, who had two wins and a save in the 1967 state tournament and got the victory in the 1966 title game, works four innings of shutout relief against Southern. Sophomore Johnny Mullins’ bases-loaded single in the 10th inning provides Ashland with the winning run . . . In the first round of the state baseball tournament, Mayfield, coached by Jack Morris, beats Russell County, coached by Allen Feldhaus, 4-1. Mayfield sophomore Bob Perkins throws a two-hitter . . . . Newport Catholic beats Owensboro 3-2 in the first round. Steve Mason’s single scores Frank Gohs with the winning run in the eighth inning . . . Pitching dominates the state tournament. Ashland takes the title despite hitting .195 in three games; Southern hits only .108.
1978
Tates Creek wins its first state baseball championship by beating Owensboro 2-1 in the semifinals and Elizabethtown 8-4 in the finals. Junior ace Tony Mack is the winning pitcher in both games. He starts the semifinals and throws a four-hitter and strikes out four. He comes on in relief of Brad Redmon in the finals and has six K’s in four innings. The Commodores’ hitting stars include Kevin Kearns, Landon King and Toto Gilbert. “You always envision a state championship,” Coach Ron Cole says. “It’s a rare bird. Some coach a lifetime and never get into a championship game, or even coach in a state tournament” . . . Presentation senior Bev Ramser wins her fourth consecutive state tennis title, beating archirival Amy Daugherty of Sacred Heart in the finals. Richmond Model’s Chuck Gibson and John Rowlett win the state doubles title. Lynn Bybee of Central takes the boys’ individual championship.
1988
Lafayette beats St. Xavier 5-2 in the state baseball semifinals. Junior lefthander Jed Dorough is the winning pitcher. He has 12 strikeouts and scatters six hits in improving his record to 11-0. St. X senior ace Paul Byrd gives up five hits and strikes out 11 in taking the loss. Lafayette beats Boyd County 12-1 in the finals. Dorough, who went seven innings only 15 hours earlier, starts and goes five innings before leaving with the Generals leading 9-0. Shawn Wiglesworth smacks a grand slam, Kevin Goins has a two-run homer and Todd Baxter has a solo shot to fuel the championship game rout . . . Russell Smoak of Western Hills wins the boys’ state golf title at Lincoln Trail by shooting 74-73–147. Smoak thanks his coach, Joe Rogers, for lending a hand, er head. In the first round, Smoak’s second shot on the 12th hole was headed for trouble, but it struck Rogers in the head and bounces back in the fairway, 20 yards in front of the green. Smoak saved par. Lisa Weissmueller of Henry Clay takes the girls’ golf championship, shooting 78-41–149. She beats Kim Tyrer of Franklin County by one shot.
