NEW PARIS — For the first time since 1993, National Trail’s baseball team is the outright champion of the Cross County Conference.
The Blazers, who finished 11-1 in the CCC, secured the title with an 8-3 win at Twin Valley South on Monday, May 6.
Trail last shared the title in 2011.
The Blazers jumped out on South in the top of the first inning by scoring six runs. Cameron Harrison led off the game with a walk and scored on Travis Hunt’s first home run of the season. The inning continued with Peyton Lane hitting a triple, Hunter Lindsey walking and Austin Knapp hitting a single to score Lane. Hunter Michael then followed with a double, scoring Lindsey. Cody Webb then doubled, scoring Michael.
Lane added a run in the 2nd, and Harrison added another in the 4th to end the scoring for the Blazers.
Twin Valley South scored a run in the fourth and two more in the seventh.
Webb went the distance in the game moving his record to 6-0 on the season and notching his fourth complete game.
On Tuesday, National Trail scored in six of the seven innings as they handled host Preble Shawnee, 10-4.
The Blazers scored single runs in each of the first four innings, then added two in the fifth and four more in the seventh.
Preble Shawnee scored a run in the sixth and added three in the seventh.
In the first inning, the Blazers got their offense started when Hunt was hit by a pitch and a single by Lane. Lindsey grounded out but still was able to knock in a run.
National Trail notched four runs in the seventh inning. Hunter Michael and Joe Lawson each had RBIs in the inning.
Kenny Moore was credited with the victory for Trail. He allowed eight hits and four runs over seven innings, striking out eight and walking one.
Trail racked up eight hits in the game. Michael, Lawson, and Lane all had multiple hits for the Blazers.
Trail won its 18th game of the season with a 5-0 win against Northridge on Thursday.
The Blazers got the scoring started in the first inning when Hunt singled and was knocked in on a deep double by Lane. Trail added 2 runs in the third with a walk by Hunt then consecutive singles by Lane, Lindsey, and Knapp. The Blazers tallied their final two runs in the 5th inning.
Hunt went the distance on the mound and picked up his second win of the season. He scattered three hits, striking out six and walked five.
Trail closed out the week with a 10-0 loss to Minster on Saturday. The Blazers put runners at second and third with less than two outs in the first inning but failed to score. Minster had 13 hits over 5 innings.
Webb recorded the only hit for the Blazers.
Trail (18-5) will meet Twin Valley South in a sectional final on Wednesday, May 15 at Trail. The game is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. The winner advances to the district semifinal on Monday, May 20.
