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The Eastern Eagles won their first regional title since 1997

By Dyuce Woodson

May 31, 2023 –The Eastern High School Eagles' 2023 baseball season will go down in school history. On Friday, the team won the program’s second regional championship. 

“[It’s a] really cool feeling knowing that we’re the only team in my lifetime that’s ever been to state,” Eastern senior Evan C. said. 

1997 was when Eastern won its first regional title. Friday’s win also marked the first time since 2015 that a Jefferson County Public School (JCPS) won the extremely competitive seventh region. 

“Now, my kids are like rock stars,” Eastern head baseball coach T.J. Graves said. “They are going into Middletown, everybody’s recognizing them, see them in Eastern baseball gear, so that’s what’s important to me. And that’s what’s fun, is seeing the kids get to do that.” 

Eastern will take on Bullitt East High School in the first round of the state championship tournament at Lexington’s Counter Clocks Field. The first pitch is set for 1:30 p.m.