For a second straight year, Trinity (Whitesville) softball has secured its spot in the 12th District Championship and 3rd Region Tournament, beating Grayson County 10-2. It didn’t come easy, finding themselves trailing 1-0 early, but Ella Morris was the difference maker – striking out 14 over seven innings.
Grayson County struck first in the top of the first on an RBI single by Kinsley Chambers, but Morris struck out the next batter to limit the damage. Trinity tied it in the bottom of the second on an Emersyn Beyke RBI single, but Grayson County responded an inning later. Ellie Bratcher singled and then later scored on a sacrifice bunt and defensive error to take a 2-1 lead.
The Lady Cougars’ lead was short-lived as the Lady Raiders tied it on Michaela Knight hitting into a fielder’s choice to score Avary Emmick. It took until the fifth inning for Trinity’s offense to fully wake up, scoring five runs on RBI hits by Kendall Howard, Emmick, and Beyke. Morris hit a three-run homer in the sixth to push the lead to 10-2 and ice the game.
Morris finished 2-4 with three RBIs, Howard homered and drove in two runs, and Beyke went 2-4 with three RBIs.
“Ella was dominant in the circle with 14 strikeouts,” Trinity (Whitesville) Head Coach Jessica Morris said. “Our bats took too long to get going, but the fifth inning was big for us. Moving forward, we know we have to be better offensively.”
The 12th District Championship game is set for tonight at 5:30 p.m. where Edmonson County awaits.
Raider’s season comes to an end in heartbreaking fashion
Finding themselves in an early 11-0 hole, Trinity (Whitesville) baseball caught fire down the stretch, but their comeback bid came up just short, falling to Butler County 15-11 and bowing out in the opening round of the 12th District Tournament.
“Tonight’s game was frustrating, a Jekyll and Hyde type of game,” Trinity (Whitesville) Head Coach Matt Wright said. “Early game defensive miscues and walks spotted Butler County with runs that they didn’t have to earn. The boys stayed in the game though and chipped away at the lead. Everything started to click for us in the last few innings, but we just ran out of game to finish the comeback. I am proud of how the boys kept battling to the end. There’s absolutely no quit in them.”
Wade Burch kickstarted the comeback attempt in the fifth, leading off the inning with a double and scoring on a Nate Terry fielder’s choice. An Isaac Hernandez RBI single and Cale Boarman ground out cut the lead to 11-3.
The Raiders added three more runs in the sixth thanks to RBI doubles by Grant Howard and Keaton Abbott. Trailing 15-6 and down to their final three outs, the Raiders added five runs in the seventh.
With two on and one out, Butler County’s Thomas Embry entered in relief and shut the door to secure the win.
Harrison Barnett led the way at the plate, going 2-4 with four RBIs, and Abbott and Howard combined for four hits and two RBIs. Despite the loss, it was a successful season as the Raiders almost doubled their wins from a year ago.
“The team accomplished a lot of things that haven’t been done in the program in quite a long time,” Wright said. “That’s a testament to the work they have been willing to put in every day. There was a lot of growth this year among the players, which was on display when we won the KCAC State Championship. They’re a great group of kids that have bought into the building of the program.”
