05/22/23- Update on Site for State Baseball First and Second Rounds

May 22, 2023 2022-2023 News Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MAY 22, 2023

The first and second rounds of the 2023 Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Baseball State Tournament presented by UK HealthCare will now be played at the recently renovated home of the Lexington Counter Clocks on June 1, 2 and 3. Games will be played at 10 a.m. ET, 1:30 p.m., 5:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. each day. 

“We began discussions in late February with the University of Kentucky, the staff of the Lexington Counter Clocks and representatives of VisitLex about alternative options in the event that UK was selected to host the NCAA First Round,” said KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett.

“We discussed several schedule alternatives that could have even included trying to blend the two events, but in light of the high school pitching restrictions, the other needs of our member schools and the needs of the University of Kentucky and its baseball program, to ensure they’re optimally prepared, it simply wasn’t feasible. As we have said many times, we realize our great non-interscholastic partners at all of our facilities have a variety of commitments, and our universities and colleges have as their number one priority their own student-athletes. We totally understand that fact, likely more than occasional outsiders who simply think we can ‘on a whim’ demand the use of a facility. But with the looming time deadlines of an already extremely busy weekend in town with our events and other events, the change is simply necessary at this time so that all involved can work out logistics.

“We are excited that most who come to the games may not even recognize the renovated stadium since our last appearance in 2021, with its all-weather playing surface and a host of facility improvements, and look forward to people making more memories at a location that proudly served as home for our championship from 2002-2021.

“Our staff has experienced this type of changeover mid-postseason before, so we know they will be able to adapt, as will our event staff. We sincerely thank UK Assistant AD for Operations Scott Geisinger, Counter Clocks owners Nathan and Keri Lyons and President Justin Ferrarella for their constant work to make this happen. We also are extremely grateful to the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, ALPB President Rick White and particularly the Charleston Dirty Birds for agreeing to a schedule change to make June 1 play possible. This is truly a partnership working on behalf of our student-athletes.”

“We are ecstatic about the great season that Coach Nick Mingione and his team continue to have and look forward to the chance to host this prestigious NCAA event, ” said Geisinger. “At the same time, we very much value our partnership with the KHSAA, and we work hard as an events team to make all of these events we host special for student-athletes throughout the state and will continue to work with KHSAA to make this transition as seamless as possible.”

“From the moment we first talked with the KHSAA about being even an option for this year, we have been going 100% to be the best possible host we can be,” said Ferrarella. “We have a new playing surface, a ton of new amenities, and are excited about this opportunity. We look forward to a long and successful partnership in the community with both the University and the KHSAA and will do everything we can to make sure this is a fantastic event.”

Tickets to the games are sold through the KHSAA via its ticketing partner GoFan and will be available at khsaatickets.org.