Apollo split its doubleheader, Owensboro Catholic put on an offensive display and Owensboro’s bats were silenced in some spring break softball action on Monday.
Apollo vs. Bethlehem, Madison Central
The E-gals found their stride late offensively, helping them complete a three-run walk-off comeback win over Madison Central at 3-2.
The Banshees got two runs early to take a 2-0 lead going into the fourth and it seemed like they would skate through Apollo’s lineup all throughout. But something clicked for the E-gals in the sixth inning.
A pair of singles led to a Bethlehem error, allowing Apollo’s first run of the game to cross the plate. The following at-bat eighth grader Arianna Ramirez flew out to left, earning the sacrifice fly and tying the game at 2-2.
After junior Emmie Bullington shut them down in the top of the seventh, the E-gals offense came through once again. With the inning nearing a close with two straight outs after a Banshees’ error, sophomore Mallory Velotta tripled to center to win the game for Apollo at 3-2.
Velotta and Ramirez were the only E-gals to record an RBI, while Bullington allowed one earned run on six hits while striking out seven to lead Apollo to victory.
The E-gals luck didn’t carry over into their matchup with Madison Central, as the Lady Indians offense was too much to handle in a 9-4 loss.
Madison Central grabbed two runs in the bottom of the first, but Apollo was able to cut its deficit to 2-1 in the top of the second. But after shrinking the lead, the Lady Indians quickly shifted momentum even further.
Madison Central rattled off six hits in the second inning, leading to five runs and a 7-1 lead going into the third. However, Apollo kept fighting and cut its deficit to 7-4 after the top of the fourth by getting a two-run single from junior Morgan Julian and an RBI single from senior K’Asia Palmer.
But the Lady Indians had an answer once again, scoring two in the bottom of the sixth and silencing the E-gals for the final three innings of the game to secure the 9-4 win.
The 1-1 split on the day moves Apollo to 4-4 overall, as they will take a day off before facing Eastern at 3 p.m. on Wednesday.
Owensboro Catholic vs. Christian County
Despite some late comeback efforts from Christian County in the bottom of the sixth, the Lady Aces early offense helped lead them to a 9-5 win on Monday.
The Lady Colonels took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, but a one-out two run homer from junior Abbie Dukate that helped Owensboro take over.
Up 2-1, junior Bailey Hamilton added one more in the bottom of the second with an RBI single. The following at-bat junior Brooke Hamilton went yard, securing a 6-1 lead going into the bottom of the second.
The Lady Aces kept their foot on the gas throughout the game, holding Christian County scoreless for four straight innings and grabbing three runs to take a 9-1 lead going into the sixth. The Lady Colonels were able to get through to Brooke Hamilton for four runs in the bottom of the sixth, but that was all they would get as they lost to Owensboro Catholic 9-5.
While Hamilton allowed four earned runs on the day, she only allowed four hits and three walks while striking out 14. Hamilton also led the way offensively, recording three RBIs along with Abbie Dukate.
The win is the Lady Aces second straight, as they will look to move to 8-4 against Allen County-Scottsville at 5 p.m. on Tuesday.
Owensboro vs. Oldham County
Unable to silence the bats of Oldham County, the Lady Devils lost their second straight game at a score of 12-2 to start the Softball Beach Bash.
Owensboro got two runs in the top of the first thanks to a bases-loaded walk and a sacrifice fly, but the Lady Colonels responded swiftly. After getting one run in the bottom of the first, Oldham County capitalized on a Lady Devils error to tie the game while claiming the lead on an RBI double the following at-bat.
After getting one more run in the bottom of the third, the Lady Colonels added seven more runs—six in the bottom of the fourth and one in the bottom of the fifth—to find themselves with a short-game 12-2 victory.
After taking the lead in the first, Owensboro didn’t score again, getting shut down by senior Mak Grimes and sophomore Kaitlyn Bradley. Freshman Ellington Embry and junior Lindsey Gibson were the only Lady Devils to register RBIs on the day.
