Henderson County kept its momentum going Tuesday night, putting together a complete performance in a 12-1, six-inning win over Union County at home to open district play.
The Colonels set the tone early and never let it slip. Sophomore Tucker Siewert brought in the first run of the night with a groundout in the opening inning, adding to what has been a consistent season at the plate.
The score stalled at 1-0 until the third inning, when Henderson County pushed four runs across with timely hitting. Junior Brody Belt delivered the biggest swing of the inning with a two-run triple, while Siewert added a sacrifice fly, and junior Will Schwartz followed with an RBI single to stretch the lead.
From there, the Colonels leaned into their identity.
Head coach J.D. Arndt has emphasized winning in the details, and it showed again on Tuesday.
“We’re trying to win outside the margins,” Arndt said. “We’re throwing strikes, making good plays, stealing bases, and that’s really the MO of our team.”
That approach was clear in the sixth inning when Henderson County broke the game open with six runs, despite only recording three hits in the frame. The Colonels drew walks, took extra bases and capitalized. Senior Hunter Evans highlighted the inning with a two-run double, and senior Cameron House followed with a three-run triple that ended the game via mercy rule.
House finished with a team-high three RBIs, marking his most productive game of the year. Junior Wyatt Holland and House each collected two hits, while Belt added two walks and a hit as part of a patient night at the plate. As a team, Henderson County worked six walks and stole multiple bases, putting constant pressure on Union County’s defense.
Freshman Paxden Beck also picked up his first varsity hit, adding to an already strong night for the Colonels.
On the mound, junior Maddox Golday delivered another efficient outing. The right-hander allowed just three hits and one run across six innings while striking out seven.
“Maddox did what he did last time he pitched, in Bowling Green versus Butler County, and pitched another complete game,” Arndt said.
Golday has been a staple in the rotation, pitching his 23rd inning of the season with an ERA of 2.47.
Union County’s lone run came in the sixth, but by then the gap was too large to overcome. Bentley Duckworth accounted for the Braves’ only RBI, while three different players recorded hits.
For Henderson County, the win is another step forward in a season that already looks different from a year ago.
“Our record is 11-5 now,” Arndt said. “Last year, including playoffs, our record was 11-16. It’s a lot better, but we have a lot of juniors and sophomores playing. We take it one game at a time.”
That mix of youth and production has shown up in multiple ways. Players like Evans have noticed the difference in the dugout and on the field.
“Tonight went great,” Evans said. “I feel like we had a lot of energy in the dugout. Everything was just clicking for us.”
Evans also pointed to improvements beyond the batter’s box.
“Our defense and baserunning have definitely helped us win most of our games,” he said. “There’s a lot of team chemistry, and our goal is to bring this momentum into the playoffs.”
Henderson County will see Union County again Thursday, this time on the road.
Recent game roundup
Colonels top Evansville Harrison at home, 8-2 (Apr. 11)
Henderson County opened the stretch with an 8-2 win over Evansville Harrison. Colby Sutton handled the work on the mound, throwing five innings on 75 pitches without allowing an earned run. Tucker Siewert went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, and Will Schwartz added a home run to pace the offense.
Colonels earn road win at Muhlenberg County, 5-2 (Apr. 13)
The Colonels followed with a 5-2 win at Muhlenberg County. Henderson County finished with five hits and four RBIs, with Wyatt Holland and William Shelton each recording two hits. The pitching staff limited Muhlenberg County to two runs in the win.
Colonels fall to Breckinridge County, 12-1 (5 innings) (Apr. 17)
Henderson County dropped a 12-1 decision to Breckinridge County in a five-inning game. The Colonels were held to five hits, with Reed Clark driving in the lone run.
Colonels respond with 11-1 win over Crittenden County (5 innings) (Apr. 20)
Henderson County answered with an 11-1, five-inning win over Crittenden County. The Colonels totaled 11 hits, with Brody Belt and Reed Clark each driving in two runs. Tucker Siewert, Wyatt Holland and Charles House also recorded hits as Henderson County bounced back at home.
