As Trinity (Whitesville’s) Ella Morris walked the bases loaded in the top of the seventh, her Head Coach, Jessica Morris, was left with two options. Leave in her tiring starting pitcher, who was sitting at 160 pitches, or thrust seventh grader Michaela Knight into the pressure-filled fray.
Opting to bring in Knight, the youngster quickly recorded the second out of the game, getting Owensboro Catholic to ground into a fielder’s choice that cut the Lady Raiders lead to 3-2. One pitch later, Emma Riney seemed to have given the Lady Aces the lead, but her line drive stayed up in the air long enough for Camryn Preston to make a diving catch – sending the Lady Raiders back to the 3rd Region All “A” Tournament Championship.
“We got into a stressful situation there at the end, but I thought they performed. They did exactly what we needed them to do,” Jessica Morris said. “…Michaela has been in some high-intensity situations just through travel ball and Little League, and she responds to it well for as young as she is.”
The Lady Raiders struck first in the bottom of the second, using small ball to their advantage. After a one-out double by Knight, Sadie Morris bunted her over to third, before Lucy Hallmark singled her home.
Owensboro Catholic responded in the top of the fourth when Lily Logsdon hit a no-doubter to deep centerfield. The two teams would remain scoreless until the Lady Raiders broke through in the bottom of the fifth. With two on and one out, Ella Morris crushed a double past the shortstop to clear the bases.
Owensboro Catholic had plenty of offensive opportunities throughout the evening, but were unable to capitalize – stranding 11 runners. Riney, Laila Hundley, Addilyn Simmons, and Carley Brey had the team’s four hits, while Anna Beth Hamilton drew three walks. Addalynn Mayfield started in the circle, allowing three runs over five innings, striking out five. Ava Mudd pitched a perfect inning in relief, striking out the side.
“Our pitching was good enough to win the game,” Owensboro Catholic Head Coach Jeremy Phelps said. “We just talked about some of our at bats and approach of our at bats. We put pressure on them, and we did good things there, but we just didn’t do enough at the right time.”
For the Lady Raiders, Hallmark led the way at the plate, going 2-3 with an RBI, while Morris finished 1-3 with two RBIs. Morris allowed two earned runs over 6 1/3 innings, striking out 13, while Knight recorded the final two outs.
Awaiting Trinity in tonight’s 3rd Region All “A” Tournament Championship is Hancock County.
“Hancock County hits well, so we are going to have to respond to that,” Jessica Morris said. “Our defense is going to have to be solid, and our hitting is going to have to be on.”
Lady Hornets shutout Lady Cougars
With a chance to punch their ticket to the 3rd Region All “A” Tournament Championship, Hancock County blitzed McLean County, scoring six runs in the opening inning en route to a 13-0 win.
Leading 1-0 in the first, a Jordyn Waltrip two-run triple, Gracie Gaynor RBI single, and Bella Bryant RBI double broke the game open. Gaynor doubled home two more in the second, and the team capped off the scoring with five runs in the fourth.
Gaynor finished 3-3 with six RBIs, Waltrip went 1-2 with two RBIs, and Ava Riggs scored three runs. Gaynor started in the circle and threw a complete game shutout, striking out nine.
For the Lady Cougars, Ava McCarty and Kyra Nichols had the team’s lone hits. McCarty started in the circle, allowing five earned runs over two innings, while Nichols pitched in relief, striking out five over two innings.
