Prestonsburg, Ky. — Addalyn Woods hit two home runs and Taylor Blevins was lights out in the circle to help Lawrence Co. over Johnson Central 8-1 for their third consecutive 15th Region title on Thursday at Stonecrest.
15th Region Champs
Kneeling L to R Skyler Horn, Lexi Crum, Aleaha Gillispie, Taylor Blevins, Brinley Baisden, Emalynn Kitts, Bobby Preece, Tommy Castle
Standing L to R Superintendent Katie Webb, Stacy Jones, Bree Jones, James Jones, Kimber Stacy, Braylee Triplett, Madison Nix, Kyla Bragg, Ella Smith, Laila Dolen, Jada Patton, Leah Branham, Addison Bowen, Anna Compton, Baleigh Blackburn, Gracie Woods, Sam Sparks, Harry Blevins, Principal Wrendi McDavid
After a 1-2-3 inning from Blevins in the circle Woods put the Dawgs ahead with a leadoff blast to left field her sixth of the season, Jada Patton walked, Emalynn Kitts doubled to score Patton to make it 2-0 and then with two outs Kitts scored all the way from second on a wild pitch to make it 3-0 and the Dawgs were rolling.
15th Region MVP Addalyn Woods
Woods also hit her seventh homer of the year a two run shot, tallied three runs batted in and scored three times, 8th grader Skyler Horn who has only made a handful of starts behind the plate at two hits, Aleaha Gillispie singled, Patton scored two runs and drove in a run, Kitts scored a run and drove in one, Anna Compton scored two runs.
Taylor Blevins was once again outstanding in the circle picking up all three wins in the tournament. Against the high powered Golden Eagles she tossed seven innings, allowed four hits, struck out four, walked none and gave up one run.
15th Region All-Tournament and MVP
Brinley Baisden, Taylor Blevins, Emalynn Kitts, Aleaha Gillispie, MVP Addalyn Woods, Jada Patton
The Bulldogs ( 23-12 ) will head to John Cropp Stadium on the campus of the University of Kentucky next Thursday at 5:00 versus the winner of 11th Region Bryan Station ( 15-14 ) or Madison Central ( 25-8 ) who play Saturday at Noon in Winchester at Clark County High school.
Highlights from the 15th Region title game.
(CLICK PIC FOR SHORT VIDEO)
Bulldog Head Coach Sam Sparks
COACH’S COMMENTS
“…It’s a special group and this is what we have waited for and prepared for all year long. We went through a tough schedule, tinkered with our lineup in the field and batting order and then about three weeks ago we figured out what we wanted to go with and the girls have been lights out and locked in ever since.”
“… Our top of the order set the tone with three runs in the first and that really put them on their heels for the entire game. Taylor was fantastic again and should have been a shutout but I made a mistake calling the change up and they hit the homer. We beat a really good team tonight that can score runs in bunches.”
“…It’s huge to go back to Lexington for the third straight season and all this goes back to Kenny Horn. And the things that he was able to establish in his 15 or so years around the program. I’m going to give him the credit for coaching a lot of these girls and instilling the work ethic and what it takes to be good. I said a long time ago that Lawrence County is too good of a baseball community to not be good at softball. Good baseball players in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s that will have daughters and it is a reflection of that. The importance they put in softball and baseball and we are on a good run right now.”
“ Regardless of who we play out of the 11th region we will see a pitcher that throws 60 or 65, we will see a solid hitting team and a well coached team. If we play solid defense, have good at bats and Taylor keeps the ball down who knows what can happen.”
Bulldog Senior Taylor Blevins
“… I told my team to come hungry tonight and they were hungry, I think we were fired up from the start tonight. JC has waited for this all year, they have even said and posted it and we were just ready from the opening pitch.”
“… I have been talking to Addalyn ( Woods ) all year about setting the tone and she sure did with that leadoff home run. I’m so proud of her.”
“… Having a little fire under you and putting the ball in play will make good things happen. And it will rattle the pitcher a little bit. After the early lead for us to keep adding runs was huge and it kept putting pressure on them. I can’t wait to get back to John Cropp Stadium next week.”
