Lexington Catholic 1, Harrison County 0

• Patrick Maronde’s grounder was booted by Harrison County’s shortstop, allowing Ken Riley to score from third with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning of a classic state tournament game. Riley led off with a walk, was sacrificed to second and moved to third on a fielder’s choice. Nick Maronde got the win in relief, pitching six innings of one-hit ball and striking out 11.
• A state-tournament record crowd of 5,364 watched at Applebee’s Park.
• Brandon Martin was the hard-luck losing pitcher. He went the full nine innings, and stretched his scoreless inning streak to 33 1/3 before LexCath pushed across the winning run.
• LexCath advances to play Lawrence County in Friday’s semifinals.
• We’re through eight innings and it’s still scoreless. Harrison County’s Brandon Martin has blanked the Knights on four hits.
• LexCath’s Nick Maronde struck out the side in the top of eighth (he has 5 K’s in a row and has 9 overall in 4 innings of relief). The Knights come to bat in the scoreless battle.
• We’re going to extra innings with no score. LexCath’s Ben Cloyd had a two-out double in the bottom of the seventh, but was stranded there. Before Cloyd’s hit, LexCath Coach Rodney Martin was ejected by home plate umpire Jim Sheridan. Martin was protesting a reversed call — safe to out — that cost the Knights a base runner.
• Through six, it’s still scoreless. LexCath’s Ken Riley hit a line drive that Harrison County shorstop Eric Case turned into a double play to end the innng.
• LexCath’s John Boneau had a one-out double, but was stranded at second as Brandon Martin got the next two batters. We go to the top of the sixth. Harrison County is still hitless. LexCath has two hits off Thorobreds’ starter Martin.
• Harrison County loaded the bases with two outs on an error and two walks, but Nick Maronde strikes out Malcolm Thomas on three pitches to end the top of the fifth.
• No score going to top of the fifth, and Nick Maronde is back on the mound for LexCath.
• Surprising move in the top of the fourth. Harrison County had a runner at second with two outs, and LexCath Coach Rodney Martin brought in ace lefty Nick Maronde to face left-handed hitter Brandon Martin. Maronde struck out Martin on three pitches. It was assumed that LexCath would try to hold Maronde for Saturday’s finals if the Knights would get there. We’ll have to wait and see if starter Michael Champa returns to the mound in the fifth.
• Still scoreless going to the fourth inning. Both pitchers are sharp.
• Lexington Catholic pitcher Michael Champa retired the first 8 batters he faced before giving up a walk to Christian Chasteen. Champa got his first strikeout of the game to end the third inning. There’s no score as the Knights come to bat in the bottom of the third.
• We’re under way, and neither team scored in the first inning. Harrison County went down 1-2-3, while LexCath had runners at first and second with two outs, but couldn’t cash in.
• Harrison County fans appear to outnumber LexCath fans 4 to 1. The Thorobreds look to have at least 1,500 supporters in the stands.

Apollo 12, Christian Academy of Louisville 2

• Tyler Edge did it all for Apollo. The senior lefty was the winning pitcher, allowing only three hits and striking out five in six innings. He also had a single, double and triple, drove in a run, and his pinch runner scored three times. Mason Head had a two-run homer for the Eagles, who are in the state semifinals for the second year in a row. Luke Daugherty had three RBI. Richie Stanley and Ethan Blandford had two RBI apiece for the winners.
• Apollo advances to play the Pleasure Ridge Park-Christian County winner in Friday’s semifinals.
• Apollo 11, CAL 2: The Eagles are in total control after pushing across 6 runs in the fifth. Luke Daugherty and Richie Stanley drove in two runs apiece to highlight the big inning.
• We’re going to the top of the fifth and Apollo still leads 5-2 in a sloooooow-moving game.
• Apollo 5, CAL 2: The Eagles have taken the lead in the third. Ethan Blandford had a run-scoring single and Tyler Edge followed with an RBI triple to make it 4-2. Edge then scored on an error. CAL starter Justin Weiss was pulled and replaced by another lefty, Matt Meredith.
• Apollo 2, CAL 2: Mason Head smacked a two-run homer to left field to tie it. Richie Stanley, who had walked, scored ahead of him in the bottom of the second.
• CAL 2, Apollo 0: Tim Anderson reached on an error, was sacrificed to second and eventually scored on a groundout.
  
• CAL 1, Apollo 0: The Centurions got a run in their first at-bat. Chris Kinney walked, was sacrificed to second and scored on Andy Wood’s single.

Lawrence County 4, Greenup County 0

• Lawrence County freshman righthander Chandler Shepherd threw a complete-game four-hitter to beat Greenup County. Shepherd, improving his record to 10-1, had 8 strikeouts and walked two as he dealt the Musketeers only their second shutout of the season. Greenup County senior lefty Tyler Hieneman, gave up only four hits in losing for the first time in 10 decisions this spring. He had 7 strikeouts.
• Trailing 4-0, Greenup County is down to its last three outs as we go to the top of the seventh.
• We’re going to the top of the sixth and Lawrence County leads 4-0. Greenup County has only two hits off Chandler Shepherd, and the Musketeers’ defense has made three costly errors.
• Lawrence County 4, Greenup County 0: The Bulldogs continue to add to their lead. Nick Hackney singled with two outs in the fourth, went to second on an error, and scored on another throwing error when he was stealing third.
• Lawrence County 3, Greenup County 0: Tim Hayes and Jordan Miller each drove in a run as the Bulldogs added to their lead in the bottom of the third. Lawrence County pitcher Chandler Shepherd is cruising along. He’s blanked the Musketeers on one hit through four innings and has five strikeouts.
• Lawrence County 1, Greenup County 0: The Bulldogs have taken the lead in the bottom of the second. Dustin Kingsmore singled, and came home on Brad Laney’s two-out triple to center.
• Greenup County had runners at first and third with no outs in the top of the second, but came up empty. Chandler Shepherd struck out the next two batters, and pinch runner Dakota Greenslate was thrown out at the plate when trying to score when the other runner purposely got in a rundown.
• Good crowd on hand, especially considering the early hour. Lots of fans made the trek from eastern Kentucky to catch this opener.
• Greenup County pitcher Tyler Hieneman matches Shepherd with a 1-2-3 first inning, including a pair of strikeouts.
• Strong start for Lawrence County’s Chandler Shepherd. He struck out the first two batters, and got the third on a groundout to third.

State baseball tournament

The Forcht Bank State Tournament opens at Applebee’s Park Thursday morning with 16th Region champ Greenup County vs. 15th Region champ Lawrence County at 10 a.m.

I’ll provide live updates for all seven games of the three-day tournament.

The rest of Thursday’s schedule:

• Apollo vs. Christian Academy of Louisville , 12:30
• Lexington Catholic vs. Harrison County, 6.
• Pleasure Ridge Park vs. Christian County, 8:30.

Harrison County and PRP are three-time state champs, Lexington Catholic has won two titles, and Christian County has one championship trophy.

UK prospect Zollo apparently headed to Clark County

It appears that Vinny Zollo, a 6-foot-8 high school sophomore-to-be who has commited to Kentucky, will be playing basketball in central Kentucky next season.

Clark County Coach Scott Humphrey said Wednesday that “all indications are that (Zollo) is coming here. He’s visited the school, his mom has interviewed for a teaching position, and they’ve been in town for the better part of a week looking at property. There are still a few hoops for them to jump through, but it appears it’s full throttle ahead for them to move to this area.”

Zollo played his freshman year at McClain High School in Greenfield, Ohio. Zollo broke his leg in an AAU game recently, and will be sidelined several weeks. That makes it unlikely that he will play summer ball with Clark County.

Zollo will join a Clark County team already loaded with young talent and expected to be a top contender in the 10th Region. The Cardinals’ returning starters include sophomores-to-be Robbie Stenzel and Corey Rogers, and seniors Ryan Williams and Robert Hatton.

Humphrey realizes Clark County will get a lot more attention next season with a future UK player on its roster. “Anytime you’re fortunate enough to add someone with that kind of profile, you know more eyes are going to be on your team,” he said.

Dunbar names Jason Howell football coach

Paul Dunbar has hired Tates Creek assistant Jason Howell as its new football coach.

Howell didn’t apply for the Dunbar job. He was contacted last week by the school, talked to athletic director Mike Barren during the 11th Region baseball tournament, then interviewed with principal Anthony Orr last Thursday. Howell got the job on Tuesday.

Howell, 35, will be the Bulldogs’ fifth coach since 2000. Mike Meighan started the Dunbar program in 1990 and led it for 11 years. He was followed by Mark Peach (two years), Fred Barnott (two years) and David Hensley (three years).

“I do want to bring stability here,” Howell said. “I believe in continuity and consistency. Those are two keys to building a program. You have to be consistent with discipline, traditions and the way you handle things. And I believe everybody’s got to be on the same page. There has to be continuity.”

Howell played on Pikeville’s powerhouse teams in the late 1980s. He was an offensive lineman for Coach Hillard Howard’s Class A state champs in 1988 and ‘89. He returned to Pikeville to be an assistant coach in 1996, and was there until he joined Mark Willoughby’s Tates Creek staff in 2005.

With school out and summer leagues just around the corner, Howell knows he’s got to be a quick study as a new head coach.

“We’ve got to hit the ground running, and it’s got to be done pretty quick,” he said.

Dunbar went 4-8 under Hensley last fall, and 1-9 the year before that.

This week in Kentucky high school sports history

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.

Pelphrey, Higgs, LeMaster among Hall of Famers

Paintsville basketball legend John Pelphrey, and football stars Mark Higgs of Owensboro and Frank LeMaster of Bryan Station are among 12 people who will be inducted into the Dawahares/KHSAA Hall of Fame next spring. Bob Tripure, who coached Henry Clay to state titles in baseball and girls’ basketball, and Lexington Catholic to a Sweet Sixteen championship, is also among the honorees.

The newest Hall of Fame members will play in a golf outing on June 17 at the Marriott’s Griffin Gate Resort. Induction ceremonies will be April 25, 2009 at the Lexington Convention Center.

The Class of 2009:

Pat Doyle: Led North Marshall to the 1959 state basketball title, and was named Mr. Basketball that year.

Nate Dusing: A multiple state champion swimmer at Covington Catholic, and set a national record of 47.10 in the 100 butterfly that still stands today.

Betty Dwyer: Active as a player, coach, official and athletic director in Jefferson County, including volleyball and track coach at Angela Merici and Holy Cross.

Robin Harmon Newsome: Basketball star at Sheldon Clark, led the Lady Cardinals to four consecutive state tournaments and was the state’s top scorer (32 ppg) as a senior. Also coached at Sheldon Clark, and is now the school’s atheltic director.

Mark Higgs: All-State running back at Owensboro, rushed for a then-state record 6,721 yards and led the Red Devils to the Class 4A finals in 1983. Went on to play in the NFL.

Joe Kroh: Has coached St. Xavier to 17 state tennis titles, including three individual champs and 11 doubles champs. As an athlete at St. X, won the individual state cross country title in 1959, and was part of the Tigers’ state title teams in 1959 and ‘60.

Frank LeMaster: Star athelte in football, basketball and baseball at Bryan Station, and went on to play for the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL.

Marty O’Toole: State champion swimmer at St. Xavier, was part of four consecutive state title teams from 1954-57. As coach of the Tigers, he guided them to state swimming championship every year from 1989 to 2008.

John Pelphrey: A three-time all-state basketball player, led Paintsville to three consecutive state tournaments (1985-87) and was named Mr. Basketball. Had 2,477 points and 1,318 rebounds in his career. Played for UK, and now coaches Arkansas.

Jeff Perkins: Somerset’s all-time leading scorer in football, an all-stater and prep All-American in 1968. Now principal at Somerset.

Ken Shields: Played basketball and baseball at Covington Catholic, and went on to become northern Kentucky’s winningest boys’ basketball coach with a record of 460-257 while at St. Thomas and Highlands. His teams won five region titles at Highlands. Went on to coach at Northern Kentucky University.

Bob Tripure: Only coach in state history to win state basketball titles at two schools. He led Henry Clay’s girls to the Sweet Sixteen crown in 1991, and Lexington Catholic to the championship in 1999. Was an assistant at Henry Clay when it won the boys’ title in 1983. Also coached Henry Clay to 1983 state baseball title.

This week in Kentucky high school sports history

1965

Butch Beard, who led Breckinridge County to the state basketball title, lets it be known through a family attorney that he would be interested in going to UK, but he has already signed a conference letter of intent with Louisville. A few days later, the Beard family says it won’t try to void the agreement, and Beard is bound for U of L . . . Eddie Sellier, a Lafayette assistant football coach, is named head coach of the Generals . . . Kaye Beard, a 14-year-old freshman at Campbellsville, wins the first girls’ state golf tournament sanctioned by the KHSAA. She shoots 78-83 at Shawnee Golf Course in Louisville . . . Bennie Smith of Owensboro wins the boys’ title at Seneca. George Moore of Berea is second. George Cadle of Middlesboro and Paul Schultz of St. Xavier tie for third . . . Tommy Wade of Lafayette wins the boys’ state tennis title . . . Madison Central, led by ace Jimmy Cain, has the most wins (27) going into the state baseball tournament that also includes Ashland, Bowling Green, Fern Creek, Hancock County, Heath, Highlands and Middlesboro.

1975

Sayre’s Bill Hoppe and Juan Masi win the state tennis doubles title in Louisville . . . On the day of the semifinals of the state baseball tournament, two of the participating players are taken in the major league draft. Elizabethtown shortstop Mark Bradley is a first-round pick of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Tates Creek catcher Chuck Ross is a second-round pick (and the 29th choice overall) of the Milwaukee Brewers . . . Tates Creek is without its best hitter, Bo Fucci, who has missed the last half of the season with severe hepatitis . . . Tates Creek beats Grayson County 3-0 in its state tournament opener behind Billy Knight, who improves his pitching record to 10-0, and also delivers a bases-loaded triple. E-town ace Tim Brandenburg, a junior lefthander, beats Tates Creek 6-0 in the semifinals. He allows only two hits and strikes out 13. Two days later E-town beats Somerset 9-2 for the state title. Brandenburg pitches another complete game and has 13 more strikeouts.

1985

Susan Sloane, who just finished her eighth-grade year at Sayre, wins her third consecutive state tennis title. She is rated the No. 1 player in the nation in the 14-and-under age group. Sayre junior Rafer Leach wins the state boys’ title . . . Henry Clay’s Wendy Anderson and Courtney Jones take the girls’ state doubles title . . . Tates Creek football coach Roy Walton says he will coach the girls’ basketball team for one year in place of Brad Switzer, who will be suspended for a season for using an ineligible player. Walton coached the Lady Commodores to a region title in their first season (1975) . . . The Kentucky All-Stars boys’ basketball team, led by Tony Kimbro, Mike Scott, Barry Goheen and Derrick Wilson, is scheduled to meet a team of junior all-stars, including Rex Chapman, Frank Persley, Felton Spencer and Scott Draud. The exhibition game will be a fund-raiser to finance a trip to Europe for the junior stars . . . Owensboro Catholic beats Pleasure Ridge Park 7-2 to win the state baseball title.

Booing celebrity golf

Where in the world is Matt Lauer? In lots of bunkers, I hope.

Tony Romo, I pray you get blitzed by triple-bogeys.

Justin Timberlake, may you feel like singing “Cry Me a River” after a few four-putts.

I usually don’t root against golfers — the game itself dishes out enough cruelty — but this is different. I’m booing the decision to feature Lauer, Timberlake and Romo in Golf Digest’s U.S. Open Challenge at Torrey Pines in a few weeks.

During last year’s U.S. Open at Oakmont, Tiger Woods said that a 10-handicapper couldn’t break 100 under such demanding conditions. NBC, the United States Golf Association, and Golf Digest took Tiger’s quip and ran with it. They announced a contest to select a few Regular Joes who would test this year’s U.S. Open course, Torrey Pines, at its toughest 7,600 yards. NBC will film every shot, and have its analysts, including the acerbic Johnny Miller, critique the golfers. NBC will present it as a one-hour show the weekend of the U.S. Open.

I was under the impression that four regular guys would be chosen. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

John Atkinson, a 38-year-old eight-handicapper from Omaha, Neb. — was picked in voting conducted on-line by Golf Digest. The rest of the foursome was stacked with the aforementioned celebrities: the host of NBC’s Today Show (don’t you love synergy?), an NFL quarterback and a pop singer.

Why? Because NBC is looking to lure casual golf fans and boost its ratings. This will be more about giggling on the greens with millionaire celebrities than it giving weekend hackers a window to the world of U.S. Open golf.

Real golf fans would rather watch guys they can relate to, like Atkinson, not Lauer, Timberlake and Romo. I don’t watch Clint Eastwood or Ray Romano or Kenny G hack it around in the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

I’ll probably watch the one-hour special. I’ll be rooting for Atkinson, feeling his pain as he flails away in the deep rough and four-putts a few of the glass-slick greens.

But I’ll be rooting against Lauer, Timberlake and Romo. I know, I know. There is no crying in baseball, and there is no booing in golf.

Except in this case.