Trinity baseball captured its third straight KHSAA Seventh Region championship on Tuesday, downing St. Xavier 2‑0 in a tightly contested matchup that hinged on a fifth‑inning rally.
A Fifth‑Inning Rally
Both runs came in the fifth inning, when Max Phillips and Nolan Hosking delivered RBI singles that pushed Trinity ahead. The early innings were scoreless, with Grayson Willoughby and St. Xavier’s Colton Zuege trading zeroes.
Willoughby, a top prospect for the 2026 MLB draft, delivered a three‑hit shutout, improving to 10‑0 with a 0.83 ERA. His command improved after the first inning, as his breaking ball took over and kept the opposition off balance.
A Shutout to Remember
The performance underscored why Willoughby is a leading contender for Kentucky’s 2026 Mr. Baseball award and a potential first‑round draft pick. Coach Rick Arnold praised the effort, calling Willoughby a "dog, dude, and stud" in the locker room.
St. Xavier’s pitcher Colton Zuege finished the season at 6‑1, allowing just seven hits while striking out five. Though he kept the game tight early, the fifth‑inning hits proved decisive.
Trinity now turns its focus to the state tournament, where it will meet Bullitt East with the goal of becoming the first repeat state champion since 1998. The upcoming clash promises another showdown between elite arms.
Off the mound, Willoughby faces a crossroads: he can sign professionally after the draft or commit to college, with the University of Kentucky among his considerations. Whatever his decision, his impact on Kentucky high school baseball is already unmistakable.