Union County’s baseball squad turned a 9‑5 deficit into a championship story, sealing a walk‑off victory over Trenton in the eighth inning to claim the FHSAA Rural State Title.
A Rally for the Ages
The Fightin' Tigers appeared to have the upper hand early, with Noah Owens delivering a solid outing and the scoreboard favoring Trenton after a 9‑5 lead in the fourth.
But a spark ignited in the seventh when Evan Christmas doubled, driving in the tying run and shifting momentum.
Kendall Carter’s single ignited the rally, setting off a chain of hits that narrowed the gap.
Trenton’s Luke Hartenstein answered with an RBI double, forcing a pitching change for Union County, but the error that followed opened the door for the decisive run.
The error, a critical misplay in the eighth, allowed the tying run to score and set the stage for the walk‑off.
Westyn Miller’s clutch hit brought home the winning run, sealing the title and marking Union County’s first state championship since 2012.
Key Performances
Among the standouts, Evan Christmas and Kendall Carter delivered pivotal hits, while pitchers Brant Bivens and Jasen Sullivan kept the game competitive. The defensive miscues by Trenton, including a costly error by Luke Hartenstein, proved decisive.