Behind a nearly perfect pitching performance by Nicholas Bryan, Henry County secured a 10-0 win over Eminence in six innings in the 31st District semifinals on Monday, May 19.

Bryan threw 68 total pitches, 55 of which were strikes, and allowed just two hits in a complete game on the mound for the Wildcats.

“Nicholas Bryan pitched a great game. Threw 81% strikes, can’t get any better than that,” said Henry County head coach Walker Paris. “Gave up the one hit, hit the batter, other than that, he was flawless on the mound.”

Bryan earned two strikeouts in the first inning to limit the Warrior offense. In the bottom of the first, Henry County’s offense found an early rhythm with a pair of singles from Bryan and Baylor Nolin.

A hit by pitch loaded the bases, but Eminence came up with a huge double play to halt the attack.

Henry County battled back with another three up, three down defensive stand before taking the lead in the bottom of the second.

Gentry Stivers sent a single to center field to bring in Sawyer Yates and put the Wildcats ahead 1-0.

After another three up, three down trip to the plate for Eminence, the Wildcats stretched their lead to three in the bottom of the third.

Nolin led off with a double to right field and Cam Peyton drew a walk to put runners on the corners. An error by the Warriors allowed Nolin to score with Kaiden Wilson at the plate, and Wilson delivered a ground ball single to shortstop to send Peyton home as well.

Eminence looked to bounce back in the fourth inning as Tanner Simpson wore a pitch to begin the frame.

Yet, Henry County completed a double play on the following at-bat and corralled a ground ball for the final out of the inning to stymie the Warriors’ scoring chances.

The Wildcats remained in control at the plate and extended their lead to six with three runs in the bottom of the fourth.

Facing two outs, Nolin ripped a ground ball single to center field to send Nolan Prather home and push the lead to 4-0.

Bryan followed with a double to left field, and Peyton brought in Nolin and courtesy runner Logan Perdue with an RBI single to center field to move the margin to 6-0.

Bryan sandwiched a pir of strikeouts around a ground out in the top of the fifth, but Eminence contained the Wildcats early in the bottom of the fifth with consecutive strikeouts by Simpson.

Henry County shook off the slow start to the frame, though, and used back-to-back RBI singles to the outfield by Jaylan Hortenbury and Nolin to bring the lead out to 8-0.

The Warriors kept fighting and broke up the no-hitter bid in the top of the sixth.

Terence Morgan singled to right field and Simpson ripped a hit to left field to put runners on the corners for Eminence.

However, Henry County caught a pop up at second base to leave both players on base.

The Warriors fought to strike out their first batter faced in the bottom of the sixth before surrendering back-to-back walks.

Josh Shea followed with a huge RBI double to right field, sending Wilson and Yates home for the game-ending runs.

Nolin finished a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with two runs and two RBI for Henry County. Peyton added a run, a hit and two RBI, Wilson earned a run and a hit and Shea tallied a hit and two RBI.

Bryan struck out eight batters and added two hits at the plate as well.

Simpson and Morgan had one hit each for Eminence, and Simpson struck out seven batters in five innings on the mound.

“For the past three weeks, we’ve really played as a team. Today, we almost went back to our old ways. From week two to week seven, it was rough and that’s kind of what we went back to tonight. Once we got down, we couldn’t come back,” said Eminence head coach T.J. Kelley.

With the win, Henry County advanced to the championship game against Owen County. The Wildcats beat the Rebels in last year’s district title game and Paris said his team will need to keep the momentum going from the semifinal win to have a chance at repeating as champions.

“If we come with that same intensity, no matter who the opponent is, I feel like we would be in good shape,” said Paris.

The loss brings Eminence’s season to a close with a record of 12-12. The loss also marks the end of Kelley’s tenure at the helm of the Warrior baseball team, as he is stepping aside after three seasons as head coach and six total with the program.

“For the past six years, there has been many sleepless nights, a lot of blood, sweat and tears put into the program. A lot of ups and a lot of downs, but it has come to a time for the next person to finish and take this program to another level,” said Kelley. “Many accomplishments have come along the way. We have had the best seasons this program has had in a very, very long time. We’ve made it a battle to come play Eminence, and I hope along the way, we have made people proud (and) happy to come watch us play.”