[Stardust]

There was at least one Major League Baseball scout watching Ryle senior Mark Downs pitch on Monday and he had to be pretty impressed with what he saw.

Downs, a left-hander who has signed with the University of Cincinnati, struck out 18 and scattered three hits, and Ryle senior first baseman Brian Comora drove in the game’s only run with a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the fifth to lead the Raiders to a 1-0 win over Cooper in a 33rd District semifinal game at Cooper.

Ryle (25-11-1) qualifies for next week’s Ninth Region Tournament and will play the winner of today’s Boone County-Conner game in Wednesday’s district championship game.

There have only been 21 pitchers in state history who have recorded more strikeouts in a seven-inning game, according to the Kentucky High School Athletic Association record book. There are 10 listed who struck out 20, including former Cincinnati Reds pitcher Don Gullett (in 1969 for McKell against Portsmouth Clay) and former Major League outfielder Brad Wilkerson (in 1995 for Owensboro Apollo against Daviess County), and 11 who struck out 19.

Downs struck out at least two batters in every inning, including the side in the second, third, sixth and seventh innings.