In a game that featured South Warren and their top-ranked offense – a lone McLaine Hudson RBI double was all there was to show for it – instead they were stifled by Daviess County’s pitching duo of Sophia Cain and Kamryn Timmons. Timmons, who pitched a shutout inning in relief, had the deciding moment at the plate – crushing a two-run double in the bottom of the fifth to give the Lady Panthers the lead in their eventual 3-1 win in the opening round of the State Tournament over the top-seeded Lady Spartans.
Despite entering as underdogs, Daviess County had a plan and stuck to it.
“We had stressed the game plan since we won the region, and we have been working on it prior to that,” Daviess County head coach John Biggs said. “We told them we were going to stick to that. We watched some film and got some information on how we wanted to approach things a bit differently than we did in the past, and we told them that there might be some adversity or a play here or there, but just to trust us.”
Cain started on the mound and hit the first batter she faced in Hudson. After recording an out, Hudson was thrown out attempting to steal second – the first time she had been caught all season long. From there, Cain was able to weave in and out of trouble, throwing four shutout innings before allowing her lone run of the game in the top of the fifth.
After allowing a leadoff walk, she was relieved by Timmons who gave up an RBI double to Hudson. Unfazed, the sophomore retired the next three batters to strand Hudson at second and limit the damage to one.
After only recording one hit through the first four innings, the Lady Panthers’ offense roared to life in the bottom of the fifth. Callie Smith started the rally with a leadoff double before reaching third on a wild pitch. Briley Henry laid down a sacrifice bunt, but was able to reach first on the play before advancing to second. After a strikeout, Timmons stepped up to the plate with two outs – ripping the eventual game-winning double into left field.
“I was just thinking of putting the ball in play,” Timmons said. “We had two outs at the time so I just knew I had to score this run because I didn’t know if we were going to score again. I zoned everything out and the pitch was there.”
Timmons started on the mound in the sixth, but after falling behind in the count 3-0, she was relieved by Cain. Despite entering in the middle of an at-bat, Cain attacked the hitter, eventually getting her to fly out.
“I kind of grew up doing that,” Cain said. “My Dad would put me in those situations when I was little on purpose. So, I was kind of used to that. I just trusted myself and my spins. I just knew if I at least spun it and it was in the zone, then they wouldn’t be able to hit it.”
After a 1-2-3 sixth, the Lady Panthers’ offense added a much-needed insurance run in the bottom of the inning. With one out, Annie Newman singled and advanced to second on an error and immediately scored on a Molly Hancock single.
In the top of the seventh, Cain hit the first batter Keegan Pruitt, before getting the Lady Spartans’ ninth hitter to fly out. Facing the top of the lineup, Hudson recorded her second hit of the game, a single into deep left. Pruitt attempted to advance to third on the play but was gunned out by right fielder Kylie Clark. Kinleigh Russell flew out to center to end the game.
Cain allowed one run over six innings, striking out three and allowing only six base runners. Her and Timmons combined to keep Layla Ogden, one of the most dangerous power hitters in the state, hitless.
Daviess County is off today and faces the reigning champs Henderson County, in the second round tomorrow at 1 pm et.
“We just need to keep the energy and how tight we are,” Timmons said. “I love how tight our girls are and how God centered our team is. I think that is going to help us.”
