Callie Smith went 3-4 with four RBIs, while Storey Hume and Sophia Cain combined for five shutout innings to power Daviess County past Muhlenberg County 10-0 and secure their spot in the 3rd Region Semifinals.
The Lady Panthers took a 6-0 lead in the bottom of the first after RBI hits by Smith, Kylie Clark, Briley Henry, and Danielle Beckwith – setting the stage for Hume. She threw four shutout innings, allowing five total base runners and striking out a pair. Cain relieved her in the fifth, throwing two shutout innings and striking out three.
After the first inning, the Lady Panthers bats cooled off until the fifth inning, when Henry drove in a pair on a fly ball that resulted in a defensive error. An inning later, Smith doubled home Annie Newman and Molly Hancock to enforce the mercy rule.
Beckwith and Smith combined for six of the team’s 12 hits, while Clark went 2-3 with an RBI.
“We set the tone in the first inning, but we then became a little impatient at the plate,” Daviess County head coach John Biggs said. “Callie Smith and Danielle Beckwith were big at the plate, and Storey did a nice job of keeping their hitters off balance. Sophia was great in relief.”
Awaiting the Lady Panthers in the semifinals are Meade County, with first pitch set for 6:30 pm.
Lady Raiders hold off Owensboro Catholic
Despite being only a freshman, Trinity (Whitesville) starting pitcher Sophie Hatfield isn’t afraid of the big stage. Making her 3rd Region Tournament debut alongside her young teammates, Hatfield added another highlight performance – allowing one earned run over seven innings and striking out seven in her teams 6-2 win over Owensboro Catholic.
“Today was a complete team effort,” Trinity (Whitesville) head coach Jessica Morris said. “Sophie did amazing from the circle and her defense had her back the entire game. Our outfield showed up to play today and had some amazing catches. Some of our young girls came out and did big things at key times. Emersyn Beyke had an incredible hit to right field that changed the game. All of the girls played with a lot of heart today.”
Trinity struck first in the bottom of the first after Hatfield drove in Sarah Payne on a fielders choice. Morris made it 2-0 in the bottom of the fourth after doubling home K Howard. After A McKinney walked to load the bases, Beyke singled everyone home to make it 5-0.
Owensboro Catholic finally got on the board in the top of the fifth on a fielder’s choice. An inning later, Harper Latham cut it to 5-2 after ripping an RBI triple. Owensboro Catholic had some opportunities in the later innings to cut into the lead, but were unable to capitalize.
“The difference in today’s game came down to execution vs. timely hits,” Owensboro Catholic head coach Jeremy Phelps said. “We left to many runners on base – eight.”
As Hatfield kept the Lady Aces offense off balance, Ella Morris led the charge at the plate, finishing 2-3 with an RBI. For the Lady Aces, Latham finished 3-3 with an RBI, while Railey Scott threw a complete game in the circle, allowing six earned runs over six innings, striking out two.
Next up for Trinity is a semi-finals match with Ohio County at 8:30 pm.
Hancock County unable to close out Ohio County
Scoring four runs in the top of the first, Hancock County was unable to close it out, falling to Ohio County 7-5. The Lady Hornets chased starting pitcher Madyson Crowe from the game early in the second, but had no answer for her replacement – Addyson Graves. The senior threw 5 2/3 shutout innings, striking out three.
Bella Bryant made it 1-0 in the top of the first after ripping an RBI single. Ava Riggs walked with the bases loaded to make it 2-0, before Madyson Higdon drove in two on a single. An inning later, Audrey Carnes singled to make it 5-0. After scoring two runs in the second and one in the third, Ohio County took the lead in the fifth after a two-run double. The Lady Eagles added an insurance run in the sixth on a bases-loaded walk to push the lead to 7-5.
Hancock County started to rally in the seventh, but with two on and one out, Riggs popped up and Higdon struck out to end it.
Audrey Carnes finished 3-4 with an RBI, while Bryant went 2-3 with an RBI. Ryleigh French started in the circle, allowing five earned runs over 4 2/3 innings, while Bryant pitched in relief.
