2026 KY High School Invitational: Recap

April 2, 2026
Carter Floyd
KY Social Media Director

The second annual Prep Baseball KY High School Invitational is officially in the books, and once again, Somerset played host to a spectacular weekend of high-level baseball. Ten of the most talented programs from across the Bluegrass State made the trip, and the action more than lived up to the hype. From dominant pitching performances and explosive offensive showings to highlight-reel defense, speed, velocity, and walk-off finishes, this weekend truly had it all. A big thank you goes out to head coach Phil Grundy, his staff, and the amazing Somerset community for hosting together another outstanding weekend. Check out the final standings, game recaps, and top performers from all ten matchups below!

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FINAL STANDINGS

#	TEAM	REC	RA	RS
1	Boyle County	2-0	5	7
2	University Heights	2-0	17	20
3	Whitley County	1-1	6	13
4	Lexington Catholic	1-1	8	12
5	Sayre	1-1	11	15
6	Boyd County	1-1	11	11
7	Breckinridge County	1-1	11	7
8	Frederick Douglass	1-1	16	15
9	Somerset	0-2	13	7
10	Henry Clay	0-2	19	10

FRIDAY, MARCH 27

BOYLE COUNTY VS. WHITLEY COUNTY

Boyle County and Whitley County opened up the weekend with a pitching-heavy battle that ultimately favored the Rebels. Boyle scratched across an early run in the first, capitalizing on an error and a fielder’s choice to take a 1-0 lead—one that would prove big enough as the game unfolded. From there, it became a showcase on the mound. '27 RHP Caeden Patterson (Troy University) turned in one of the more electric outings we’ve seen, running the fastball up to a new personal-best 90 mph while piling up strikeouts and keeping Whitley County off balance. He worked out of early traffic and settled in, finishing with 10 punchouts. Fellow '27 RHP Christian Wilson was equally impressive for the Colonels early, allowing just one unearned run over 2.1 innings to keep things within reach. Whitley County threatened late, putting together its best chance in B7 with a leadoff double from '27 Luke Hillard, but Boyle County’s defense slammed the door. '27 SS Kyler Claunch (Eastern Kentucky University) charged a slow roller and delivered on the run to the plate, where '28 C Karson Emmons absorbed contact and held on to record a game-saving out. '29 RHP/SS Kip Allen was outstanding in relief as well, tossing four innings of one-hit ball to keep the Rebels quiet and give the Colonels a chance—but Boyle County’s early run and Patterson's dominant pitching effort proved enough in a 1-0 win.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">‘27 Caeden Patterson (<a href="https://twitter.com/CPshuvday?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CPshuvday</a>)<a href="https://twitter.com/BoyleCoBaseball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BoyleCoBaseball</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TroyTrojansBSB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TroyTrojansBSB</a> commit<br><br>6’1” 175 lbs<br><br>RHP/3B<br><br>FB: 86-88 T90<br>CB: 74-78 || 2363 rpm<br>SL: 75-78 || 2443 rpm<br>CH: 79 || 1454 rpm<br>CT: 84-85 || 2334 rpm<br><br>7.0 IP | 3 H | 0 R | 0 BB | 10 K | 69% K | CG W<br><br>Truly dominant performance for… <a href="https://t.co/onbDhTm0mE">pic.twitter.com/onbDhTm0mE</a></p>— Prep Baseball Kentucky (@PrepbaseballKY) <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepbaseballKY/status/2037687292211474663?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

FREDERICK DOUGLASS VS. SOMERSET

Frederick Douglass outlasted Somerset in a back-and-forth battle, pulling away late for a 5-4 win behind timely offense and a strong bullpen performance. The Broncos jumped out early, with '27 Teppei Nagano setting the tone—tripling in the first and finishing with three hits and two runs scored, consistently driving the ball down the RF line. Somerset responded in the middle innings, capitalizing on free passes to tie the game at 3-3. '26 Caynan Sizemore (Centre College) led the offense with a pair of RBIs, while '26 Kole Grundy (Georgia Southern University) kept the Briar Jumpers in it with five innings on the mound and seven strikeouts. Frederick Douglass answered in the sixth, taking advantage of defensive miscues to regain control with a 5-3 lead. '28 Alex Whitaker proved to be the difference, driving in two runs and closing things out with 3.2 innings of one-run ball. Somerset threatened late, putting the tying run in scoring position, but Whitaker slammed the door with a backwards K to end it and cap off an electric first day of the tournament.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Final from game 2 as #11 ranked <a href="https://twitter.com/FDHSBaseball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FDHSBaseball</a> trades punches with host team <a href="https://twitter.com/jumpersbaseball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jumpersbaseball</a> before escaping with a gritty 5-4 victory<br><br>‘28 RHP Alex Whitaker (<a href="https://twitter.com/AlexWBaseball10?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AlexWBaseball10</a>) with a clutch strikeout looking to secure the W⛽️<br><br>What a day to kick off the weekend!🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KYHSI26?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KYHSI26</a> ||… <a href="https://t.co/uVbhGYP0I6">pic.twitter.com/uVbhGYP0I6</a></p>— Prep Baseball Kentucky (@PrepbaseballKY) <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepbaseballKY/status/2037747132061393029?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

SATURDAY, MARCH 28

WHITLEY COUNTY VS. HENRY CLAY

Whitley County broke things open in the middle innings in this one and never looked back, pulling away for a 13-5 win over a talented Henry Clay squad. The Colonels piled up hits throughout, led by a monster day from '29 Cooper Parman, who went a perfect 5-for-5 with three doubles, three RBIs, and two runs scored. He was joined by '26 EJ Allen (Hanover College), who added two hits, two runs, and two RBIs while also tossing three innings of one-hit ball on the mound. '27 Luke Hillard contributed on both sides as well, tossing three innings in the start while hitting a triple and scoring twice. Henry Clay showed early life behind '26 Garrett O’Donnell (Hanover College), who finished with a double and triple for five total bases, while '26 Turner Sparks (Frontier College) provided a steady four-inning start. The Whitley County depth prevailed, as '29 Kip Allen added a key two-RBI double and the Colonels erupted in the fifth + sixth innings to separate. The offensive surge paired with shutdown work on the mound late sealed a convincing win to wrap up the Colonels' weekend.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Showing he can hit on all planes today the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/3%EF%B8%8F%E2%83%A3?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#3️⃣</a> player in the ‘29 class in KY takes this ball to deep RC for a 2 RBI 2B.<br><br>Parman is working to all field this weekend picking up his 3rd hit on the weekend.<br><br>👇👇<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KYHSI26?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KYHSI26</a> || <a href="https://twitter.com/prepbaseball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@prepbaseball</a> <a href="https://t.co/9ZvIvx8PkO">https://t.co/9ZvIvx8PkO</a> <a href="https://t.co/5El4c3Wdya">pic.twitter.com/5El4c3Wdya</a></p>— Prep Baseball Kentucky (@PrepbaseballKY) <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepbaseballKY/status/2037908030965399817?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

SAYRE VS. UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS

University Heights and Sayre delivered an instant classic, with the Blazers walking it off in dramatic fashion for an 8-7 win. Sayre struck early and stayed aggressive throughout, fueled by '26 Banks Heinrich (Denison University), who drove in four runs with a triple, sac fly, and two walks. '26 Camden Stout (Centre College) set the tone on the mound as well, allowing just one hit across three strong innings in the start. University Heights chipped away behind '26 Ryan Luckey, who led the offense with three hits, two RBIs and a pair of runs scored. Trailing late in the game, Sayre rallied in the seventh to tie things at 7-7 on Heinrich’s clutch two-run triple, setting the stage for late-game action. In the bottom half, the Blazers responded with runners in motion before '26 Joshua Pace delivered the knockout punch, floating a walk-off single to center to cap off the back-and-forth battle.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">WALK-OFF for the Blazers as ‘26 Joshua Pace (<a href="https://twitter.com/Joshua_Pace2026?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Joshua_Pace2026</a>) gets just enough of this one for an RBI base knock into short CF to drive in the winning run🔥<br><br>#16 ranked <a href="https://twitter.com/UHeightsBB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UHeightsBB</a> wins an absolute thriller over #4 <a href="https://twitter.com/sayrebaseball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sayrebaseball</a> by a score of 8-7<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KYHSI26?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KYHSI26</a> || <a href="https://twitter.com/prepbaseball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@prepbaseball</a> <a href="https://t.co/IOxKAMqZnW">pic.twitter.com/IOxKAMqZnW</a></p>— Prep Baseball Kentucky (@PrepbaseballKY) <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepbaseballKY/status/2037971001376661790?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

LEXINGTON CATHOLIC VS. BOYD COUNTY

Lexington Catholic wasted no time taking control, erupting for eight runs across the first two innings and cruising to an 11-1 win over Boyd County. The Knights’ offense came out red hot, sparked by a leadoff knock from '28 Baird Woodall before RBI singles from '26 Bennie Lawrence (Transylvania University) and '26 Brady Wasik. '28 Luke Cravens delivered the big punch in the first with a bases-clearing double, and Wasik added a two-RBI triple in the second. '28 John Crandall also chipped in with an RBI knock as part of the early surge. That was more than enough support for '27 LHP Eamon Hughes, who turned in a truly dominant outing—spinning five scoreless innings with just one hit, one walk, and 11 strikeouts with heavy swing-and-miss. Boyd County found a bright spot out of the bullpen with '27 RHP Jace Manning, who settled things down with four strong innings, allowing just one hit while striking out eight. But the early deficit proved too much for the Lions as Lexington Catholic controlled this one from the jump and secured a run-rule victory.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Having himself a day in the box….<br><br>Gets in zone early & works through the ball well w/ quality barrel control.<br><br>Crandall does it once again & this time shows he can use the entire field working G2G today. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KYHSI26?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KYHSI26</a> || <a href="https://twitter.com/prepbaseball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@prepbaseball</a> <a href="https://t.co/HKV0ZnTn1X">https://t.co/HKV0ZnTn1X</a> <a href="https://t.co/5DhEVN4aOy">pic.twitter.com/5DhEVN4aOy</a></p>— Prep Baseball Kentucky (@PrepbaseballKY) <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepbaseballKY/status/2038008941104218160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

HENRY CLAY VS. BOYLE COUNTY

Boyle County and Henry Clay delivered another instant classic, with the Rebels storming back for a dramatic 6-5 walk-off win. Henry Clay came out red-hot, plating four in the first behind hits from '26 Alex Elmadolar (Transylvania University), '26 Blake Miniard (Vincennes University), '26 Jax Vires and '27 Henry Morgan, who finished with a pair of doubles. '26 RHP JT Ritchie (Frontier College) did the rest early, working five strong innings with six punchouts to carry a 5-3 lead into the sixth inning. Boyle slowly chipped away, highlighted by an RBI triple from '27 Kyler Claunch (Eastern Kentucky University) in the fourth, while a talented pair of bullpen arms in '29 Merrik Cornelius (3 IP, 1 ER) and '27 Logan Perry (2 IP, 0 ER) kept the Rebels within striking distance. In the sixth, Boyle finally broke through to even things up with sacrifices from '27 Caeden Patterson (Troy University) and Claunch. Taking over out of the bullpen was Claunch, delivering an electric top of the seventh where he struck out the side in dominant fashion to completely secure the momentum back in the Rebels' dugout. In the bottom half, '26 Carter Stapp (Wabash Valley College) led off with a single, eventually advancing to third before coming home on a balk to cap the comeback and secure the walk-off win.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">‘27 Kyler Claunch (<a href="https://twitter.com/claunch_kyler?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@claunch_kyler</a>)<a href="https://twitter.com/BoyleCoBaseball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BoyleCoBaseball</a> <br><br>5’9” 169 lbs<br><br>RHP/SS<a href="https://twitter.com/EKUBaseball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EKUBaseball</a> commit<br><br>FB: 85-87 || 2429 rpm<br>SL: 78-80 || 2554 rpm<br><br>1.0 IP | 0 H | 0 R | O BB | 3 K🔥<br><br>Absolutely electric 7th inning from the two-way here, bringing ALL the energy into the Rebel dugout by… <a href="https://t.co/qYEyYjS0x8">pic.twitter.com/qYEyYjS0x8</a></p>— Prep Baseball Kentucky (@PrepbaseballKY) <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepbaseballKY/status/2038062666720162265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 29, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

BRECKINRIDGE COUNTY VS. LEXINGTON CATHOLIC

Breckinridge County closed out the day with a statement win behind a dominant all-around performance from '27 RHP Tristan Wicker, who overpowered a talented Lexington Catholic lineup in a 7-1 victory. The uncommitted right-hander was in complete control from the start, tossing a complete game with just one earned run allowed while racking up 12 strikeouts, consistently generating swings and misses and limiting hard contact throughout. Wicker also contributed at the plate, finishing 1-for-2 with an RBI as the Tigers steadily built their lead. Breckinridge County struck early in the first, then broke things open with a big fourth inning highlighted by RBI singles from multiple contributors. While '28 Andrew Jenkins competed well on the mound for Lexington Catholic—working four innings and keeping his team within striking distance—the Tigers continued to apply pressure. The game turned decisively in the sixth when Breckinridge County added three more runs, highlighted by a triple from '27 Brody Butler that turned into a little league home run, bringing energy to the dugout and extending the lead to 7-1. From there, Wicker slammed the door in dominant fashion, striking out the side in the seventh to secure the complete game victory and cap off one of the most impressive pitching performances of the weekend.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">‘27 Tristan Wicker (<a href="https://twitter.com/TristanWicker15?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TristanWicker15</a>)<a href="https://twitter.com/BCtigerbaseball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BCtigerbaseball</a> <br><br>5’9” 185 lbs<br><br>RHP<br><br>FB: 85-86 T87 || 2559 rpm<br>SL: 76-78 || 2922 rpm<br>CB: 74-76 || 2784 rpm🔨<br><br>7.0 IP | 4 H | 1 ER | 12 K | W<br><br>Elite stuff from Wicker tonight in a CG win for the Tigers, settling in after the 2nd with 64… <a href="https://t.co/btGBNqZTey">pic.twitter.com/btGBNqZTey</a></p>— Prep Baseball Kentucky (@PrepbaseballKY) <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepbaseballKY/status/2038104817084539172?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 29, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

SUNDAY, MARCH 29

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS VS. FREDERICK DOUGLASS

University Heights continued its early-season surge with one of the more electric comebacks of the weekend, storming back from a 7-0 deficit to take down Frederick Douglass in the Sunday morning matchup. The Broncos controlled the early innings behind timely hitting from Kentucky Wesleyan College commits '26 Braxton Hensley and '26 Gabe Wright, and a short start from '28 Connor Harris, who racked up 4 strikeouts through two no-hit innings as well as adding two RBIs at the plate. The Blazers flipped the game in a six-run fourth, highlighted by a bases-clearing double from '27 AJ Hogart. University Heights kept the pressure on, adding four more in the sixth to take control for good. '26 Hayden Hunt (Indiana State University) paced the offense with a 2-for-3 day, three runs scored and an RBI, while '26 Cadence Gibson and '26 Joshua Pace each contributed key run production in the middle innings. On the mound, '26 Thomas Hallmark turned the tide with a solid relief outing, punching out six over 2.1 innings. Frederick Douglass mounted a late push in the bottom of the 7th, but the Blazers held on to cap off a statement 2-0 weekend.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/25PBFG?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#25PBFG</a> alum has shown well this weekend…<br><br>Hogart shows raw power in the box w/ quality bat to ball skills. <br><br>Has also shown he will be a middle of the order threat for <a href="https://twitter.com/UHeightsBB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UHeightsBB</a> this spring.<a href="https://twitter.com/PB_Uncommitted?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PB_Uncommitted</a> || <a href="https://twitter.com/prepbaseball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@prepbaseball</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KYHSI26?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KYHSI26</a> <a href="https://t.co/1oLqKH70n2">https://t.co/1oLqKH70n2</a> <a href="https://t.co/XRzIrd1uZZ">pic.twitter.com/XRzIrd1uZZ</a></p>— Prep Baseball Kentucky (@PrepbaseballKY) <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepbaseballKY/status/2038272813492994084?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 29, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

BOYD COUNTY VS. BRECKINRIDGE COUNTY

Boyd County delivered one of the more complete performances of the weekend, cruising to a run-rule victory behind a dominant outing from '26 Cole Adams (University of Cincinnati). The senior southpaw was in full control from the start, allowing just one hit across 4.2 scoreless innings while punching out seven. The Lions broke things open with a five-run second inning, sparked by a double from '27 Jace Manning, an RBI bunt single from '26 Kaleb Kelley, and a loud three-RBI double off the bat of '27 Grant Slater (University of Alabama). After the early surge, Breckinridge County found a bright spot in '30 Jackson Carman, who was impressive in relief, retiring nine of ten hitters over 3.1 innings to slow the Lions’ offense. Boyd County re-ignited in the sixth, stringing together base hits from '27 Brody Biggs, Manning, and '27 Conner Davis to plate five more and seal the win. '27 Alex Maynard worked around traffic for a scoreless sixth to finish it off, capping a dominant all-around showing for the Lions.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">‘26 Cole Adams (<a href="https://twitter.com/Cole_Adams_14?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Cole_Adams_14</a>)<a href="https://twitter.com/BoydCoBaseball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BoydCoBaseball</a> <br><br>6’1” 205 lbs<br><br>LHP/1B<a href="https://twitter.com/GoBearcatsBASE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GoBearcatsBASE</a> commit<br><br>FB: 89-91 T93 || 2204 rpm<br>SL: 78-81 || 2538 rpm<br>CH: 82-83 || 1502 rpm<br>CT: 84-86<br><br>4.0 IP | 1 H | 0 R | 0 BB | 7 K<br><br>Taking control of this game from the start, pounding the zone all day… <a href="https://t.co/q42uc6eccq">pic.twitter.com/q42uc6eccq</a></p>— Prep Baseball Kentucky (@PrepbaseballKY) <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepbaseballKY/status/2038319028985270347?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 29, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

SOMERSET VS. SAYRE

Sayre closed out the weekend in style, taking down host Somerset 8-3 behind a loud offensive showing and a deep, efficient pitching staff. The tone was set immediately by '26 Gary Gibson II, who launched a solo home run on the very first pitch of the game and later added a two-run blast in the fourth to lead the Spartans’ offense. On the mound, '27 Patrick Donworth was effective in his start, tossing 2.1 hitless innings with five strikeouts to keep Somerset off balance early. The Briar Jumpers showed life in the middle innings, trimming the deficit to three behind an RBI knock from '26 Connor Roberts, but couldn’t fully close the gap. Sayre’s bullpen proved to be the difference down the stretch, as freshmen '29 arms Graham Potter and Eli Hammons combined to allow just one run while striking out four over the final frames. The duo slammed the door late, securing an 8-3 win to cap a strong showing for the Spartans.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Gibson doing it once again today in his 2nd plate appearance today…..<br><br>The <a href="https://twitter.com/PB_Uncommitted?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PB_Uncommitted</a> OF/RHP gets all of this once w/ a loud & long HR to deep LF as he starts his senior campaign off w/ a bang. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KYHSI26?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KYHSI26</a> || <a href="https://twitter.com/prepbaseball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@prepbaseball</a> <a href="https://t.co/s7T0kOZC4z">https://t.co/s7T0kOZC4z</a> <a href="https://t.co/C35t0zInNK">pic.twitter.com/C35t0zInNK</a></p>— Prep Baseball Kentucky (@PrepbaseballKY) <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepbaseballKY/status/2038355323530969389?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 29, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>