Daviess County’s plan coming into Monday’s 9th District Tournament opener against Owensboro was to get the job done efficiently and effectively but to also come out of the game unscathed as they’ve got state tournament hopes on their mind.
The Lady Panthers did all those things as they cruised to the 12-0 win over the Lady Devils in four innings at Owensboro Catholic High School.
“We wanted to set the tone early on,” DC coach John Biggs said. “Not saying we want to do every game out but I felt we were a little more selective than we were the last time we played them. That’s a much improved Owensboro team and they did a nice job the first time making plays. We kind of emphasized we were going to be more patient. If we were going to walk then we were going to take walks then try to keep balls out of the air and hit line drives.”
While the Lady Panthers got the job done at the plate throughout the game, the one that set the tone first for DC was sophomore Raylee Roby.
Roby went all five innings and struck out 10 while throwing a perfect game.
“We were pretty confident Raylee would give us a good effort,” he said. “She did the last time out against them and she really did her job in the circle. She pitched a perfect game but that only happens with the plays made in the field … That’s her first district game.”
For Roby, she knew her defense would have her back and knowing how she pitched in their previous matchup against Owensboro, it gave her even more.
“It makes it a lot easier because a lot of teams around here don’t have the defense that we do,” she said.
After Roby put the Lady Devils down in order in the top of the first, it was the Panther defense that got going as they scored five in the opening frame to give themselves the only lead they would need.
DC added another in the second on a solo home run from Hattie Newman and after another run in the third, led 7-0 before they got enough runs to end the game early in the bottom of the fourth.
Newman, Millie Roberts, Jessie Daniels, Seana Leibfried and Katie Mewes each scored twice in the win.
Even though they got the bats going, it wasn’t from postseason experience as Biggs said they aren’t as experienced as many think.
“A lot of people don’t understand that we have two people, two people in our lineup that have played in a district game before, meaningful innings,” he said. “Everybody thinks we’re this veteran team and we’ve had some kids that have stepped up and we thought we’re going to be capable but this is their first go-around with a lot of this too.”
Owensboro loses just two seniors from this year’s roster as Lady Devil coach Quincy Moorman said they have a lot to take from this season.
“The competitive edge and the competitive spirit,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of girls that don’t play year-round, don’t play travel ball. They just come out for high school. In our huddle, we were talking about how we need some girls playing, to compete. To get to that level, of the Daviess County team, we’re going to have to play. We have five or six that play travel ball and you need 25 to be able to compete with the top teams in the state and unfortunately for us right now, we don’t have that and we have two top programs in the state right here in our district.”
The Lady Panthers now advance to take on Owensboro Cathlolic Tuesday in the 9th District Tournament championship.
Biggs said he knew they were focused Monday and he hopes that carries over.
“I was really pleased with the focus,” he said. “I could tell when we were having our pregame meal, I could tell when we were at the field doing our batting practice that they were focused. They understand what’s ahead of them and what we’re going to have to do to be successful.”
For Roby, they can’t look ahead to the 3rd region Tournament as a district title is first on their list.
“Playing together as a team,” she said was key going forward. “Anything can happen so you always have to play your hardest no matter who you’re going to play.”
