[Stardust]

Jonah Philley stayed perfect and kept the season going for the Eastern High School baseball team.

The senior right-hander tossed a four-hitter and struck out seven as the host Eagles beat Christian Academy 6-0 in Monday’s semifinals of the 28th District Tournament.

Philley, who will be a preferred walk-on at the University of Louisville next season, improved to 11-0 this season.

“He’s been really consistent, and that’s why we went with him this first game,” Eagles coach John Morris said. “He’s a competitor and usually finds ways to get out of things and be successful. He’s really an infielder who’s pitching, but he’s really improved his game and learned how to pitch this year.”

Eastern (30-7), ranked No. 2 in the state, will face either Jeffersontown or Kentucky Country Day in Wednesday’s 6 p.m. district final. The J’town-KCD semifinal was rained out Monday and rescheduled for 6 p.m. today.

Both district finalists will advance to next week’s Seventh Region Tournament.

Eastern scored the only runs it would need Monday in the first inning, taking a 3-0 lead on Marshall Gei’s two-run single and Bo Terkelsen’s RBI groundout.

Morris said it was important for his team to have a good start against the underdog Centurions (22-13).

“This is a game that really worried me because Christian Academy, when they get a little momentum, they can put up three or four runs really quick,” he said. “In a game like this, sometimes that’s all it takes.”

Meanwhile, Philley pitched out of a pair of jams to keep the Centurions scoreless.

An error and a Matthew Mitchell single gave CAL runners at first and second with one out in the fourth inning, but Philley got Scott Dibble to ground into a double play to end the inning. Austin Kurnick led off the sixth with a double but was stranded after a fly out and two strikeouts.

“I was hitting my spots really well today,” Philley said. “I missed a few there on 0-2 counts, but I was doing it well enough to get them out. And my defense was awesome.”

CAL coach Tim Brown was impressed with Philley.

“He threw some tough pitches in some tough counts when we looked like we might get some things going,” Brown said. “You tip your hat to the kid.”

Eastern put it away with three runs in the bottom of the sixth, getting a two-run single from Mikey Baker and scoring another after a CAL throwing error.

CAL got its first two runners on in the seventh, but a groundout and two strikeouts by Philley ended it.

CAL freshman Riley Thompson (8-2) took the loss, allowing seven hits and striking out three.

“Sometimes he starts a little slow in the first inning, but they never really hit him hard,” Brown said of Thompson. “He did a great job the whole game. (Eastern) just found holes.”http://saxo.highschoolsports.net/article...-0?Avis=B2

[Stardust]

[Image: http://cmsimg.highschoolsports.net/apps/...h=410&q=60]

[Stardust]

[Image: http://cmsimg.highschoolsports.net/apps/...h=410&q=60]

[Stardust]

[Image: http://cmsimg.highschoolsports.net/apps/...h=410&q=60]

[Stardust]

[Image: http://cmsimg.highschoolsports.net/apps/...h=410&q=60]

[Stardust]

[Image: http://cmsimg.highschoolsports.net/apps/...h=410&q=60]

[Stardust]

[Image: http://cmsimg.highschoolsports.net/apps/...h=410&q=60]

[Stardust]

[Image: http://cmsimg.highschoolsports.net/apps/...h=410&q=60]

[Stardust]

[Image: http://cmsimg.highschoolsports.net/apps/...h=410&q=60]

[Stardust]

[Image: http://cmsimg.highschoolsports.net/apps/...h=410&q=60]

[Stardust]

[Image: http://cmsimg.highschoolsports.net/apps/...h=410&q=60]

[Stardust]

[Image: http://cmsimg.highschoolsports.net/apps/...h=410&q=60]

[Stardust]

[Image: http://cmsimg.highschoolsports.net/apps/...h=410&q=60]

[Stardust]

[Image: http://cmsimg.highschoolsports.net/apps/...h=410&q=60]

[Stardust]

[Image: http://cmsimg.highschoolsports.net/apps/...h=410&q=60]