A new champion: Eastern baseball wins historic KHSAA Seventh Region title vs St. Xavier

Behind Henry Craig’s big right arm, Eastern High School put a dent in the big, green wall St. Xavier and Trinity have built around the Seventh Region title.

Craig threw a four-hit shutout as the Eagles stunned defending state champion St. Xavier 3-0 in Friday’s championship game of the Seventh Region Tournament at the University of Louisville’s Jim Patterson Stadium.

Eastern (27-12) became the first Jefferson County Public School program to win the Seventh Region baseball title since Ballard in 2015. Since 2011, Ballard was the only school other than St. X or Trinity to win the regional title.

Rarely at a loss for words, Eastern coach T.J. Graves couldn’t hold back his emotions after the Eagles’ first regional title since 1997.

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“There’s so much tradition, so many Division I athletes, so many good coaches,” Graves said. “Time after time and nobody could get through (the Seventh Region). … Finally got over that hump. I love it.”

A right-handed senior headed to Transylvania University, Craig (8-3) struck out five and walked two.

Craig said he had an easy Friday before the game, participating in senior activities, picking up his cap and gown for graduation.

“Chilled out, had some lunch,” he said.

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Any extra nerves?

“No,” he said. “I came into it confident, tried to do what I do. I knew they couldn’t hit it.”

St. X, ranked No. 2 in the state, finished 31-9. Tigers coach Andy Porta gave Craig the credit.

“He did a great job keeping us off balance,” Porta said. “You have to tip your hat to him. He pitched a great ballgame. … Give it some time, and you look back and say it was a great season. But right now it sure doesn’t feel like it.”

The Eagles scored all three of their runs with two outs in the third inning, getting an RBI single from Ethan Elmore and two-run single from Brayden Nettles.

Craig did the rest, though the Tigers did get two runners on with two outs in the top of the seventh inning. Craig struck out Jack Thompson to end it, sparking a wild celebration on the field.

Graves said Craig struggled toward the end of the regular season.

“I was like, ‘Dude, right now you just have to want that ball. You don’t want that ball right now,’” Graves said. “He came back and dominated on the biggest stage in Louisville. I’m so happy for him.”

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Eastern will face the Sixth Region champion — Fern Creek or Bullitt East — at 1:30 p.m. Thursday in the first round of the state tournament at Counter Clocks Stadium in Lexington.

Eastern’s graduation is scheduled for Thursday night, though Craig wasn’t too concerned about that ceremony.

“This is way more important,” he said.

He’d get no argument from Graves.

“I knew we could do it, but I can’t believe it,” Graves said. “I freakin love it. … I haven’t slept for three days. It’s not going to happen anymore, either.”

ST. XAVIER    000   000   0 – 0   4   0

EASTERN      003   000   x – 3   8   0

WP – Henry Craig (8-3). LP – Jake Gregor (6-3).

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

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: KHSAA 7th Region baseball: Eastern beats St. Xavier in historic upset