What to know about St. X-McCracken County clash in state baseball tournament semifinals

A handful of high school baseball programs in Kentucky have enjoyed consistent success over the past few years, but fans would be hard-pressed to find two better than the ones that will meet in a highly anticipated state tournament semifinal Friday night.

No. 1-ranked McCracken County (35-6) will face No. 3 St. Xavier (32-10) at 6:30 p.m. in the Clark's Pump-N-Shop State Tournament at the University of Kentucky’s Kentucky Proud Park. A spot in Saturday’s 7 p.m. state final is on the line.

McCracken County hasn’t won a state title since opening in August of 2013 but has reached the state semifinals for the sixth straight season and was the state runner-up to Tates Creek in 2019 and Trinity in 2021.

Meanwhile, St. X has a record eight state championships and is seeking its fourth since 2014.

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Mustangs coach Zach Hobbs knows his program must take one final step to reach the pinnacle but preaches to his team the journey is more important than the destination.

“I’d be lying to say we don’t want to win a state championship,” Hobbs said. “Everybody there wants to win a state championship. But we know what they’ve accomplished is outstanding. Just go play baseball and if we come out on the good end of the scoreboard, great. If not, we know we prepared and worked as hard as we can. This game’s not always fair. It doesn’t owe you things. You just go play.”

Here are three storylines to follow entering Friday’s matchup:

Ty Starke vs. Jack Bennett

Both coaches revealed their starting pitchers for Friday, and it shapes up to be an intriguing battle.

Coach Andy Porta said junior left-hander Ty Starke (7-0, 1.13 ERA) will get the nod for the Tigers. The 6-foot-6 University of Louisville commit did not pitch in either of St. X’s first two games of the state tournament last weekend.

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“If he’s sharp and locating his pitches, we’re going to have a difficult day,” Hobbs said. “I think the biggest challenge is his ball has a lot of run and that he can throw more than one pitch for a strike. In high school baseball, if you can do that you can be pretty successful. With Starke, all of the secondary pitches are good.”

Hobbs will counter with senior right-hander Jack Bennett (8-1, 1.42 ERA). The Western Kentucky University commit was named the Gatorade Kentucky Player of the Year earlier this week.

“He commands three pitches, and the kid is just a competitor,” St X coach Andy Porta said of Bennett.

Bats vs. arms

McCracken County has averaged 9.3 runs over its six postseason games and scored 10 or more in three of those.

Previous coverage: Ranking the state tournament field from No. 16 to No. 1 

Bennett leads the Mustangs in batting average (.466), home runs (eight) and runs (39). Junior center fielder Nate Lang is hitting .412 with three home runs and 43 RBIs.

“They hit it really well one through nine,” Porta said. “I don’t see a weak spot in that lineup.”

St. X has allowed just five total runs over its six postseason games and has shut out four straight opponents: Manual, Trinity, Christian County and Central Hardin.

Porta noted the Tigers staff is so deep that two Division I recruits — Starke and senior Luke Lantz (Yale commit) — weren’t even needed in the first two rounds of the state tournament.

Through 42 games, St. X has recorded nine shutouts and allowed just one run in six others.

Previous coverage: St. X routs Central Hardin, rolls into state semifinals 

“Being the perfectionist I am, you’re sitting there thinking, ‘Golly, we never should have given up that one run. We should have had more shutouts back then,’” Porta said. “They’re coming around, coming to form. I’ve harped on it all year long that our depth is just incredible.”

Rematch from last month

St. X won 5-2 at McCracken County on May 7.

Starke got the win, allowing four hits and one run while striking out four in four innings. Sophomore Jake Gregor, also a U of L commit, allowed one run and got the save while working three innings.

Bennett did not pitch against St. X last month.

The state rankings from Prep Baseball Report favor the Mustangs in Friday’s contest, but the regular-season matchup seems to give the edge to the Tigers.

Hobbs expects a tight battle.

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“Down here in our region, there’s a bull’s-eye on our back and we’re used to that,” he said. “I think going into this game it’s a rare circumstance for us where maybe we’re the underdog. I think a lot of people are expecting St. X to take care of business, and they’re a good ballclub. I think it’s one of those games either team can win.”

Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @kyhighs.

Clark’s Pump-N-Shop State Baseball Tournament

At University of Kentucky’s Kentucky Proud Park, Lexington

Tickets - $15 per game; $25 for weekend pass. Sold online at khsaatickets.org

Livestreaming – NFHSNetwork.com

Friday’s semifinals – Woodford County (26-13) vs. Russell County (30-6), 12:30 p.m.; St. Xavier (32-10) vs. McCracken County (35-6), 6:30 p.m.

Saturday’s championship – 7 p.m.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: KHSAA state baseball tourney: What to know about St. X-McCracken game