Lexington, Ky. –– The most successful season in Lawrence Co. Softball history has come to an end after a 7-2 loss to Assumption in the semifinals of the state tournament Friday at John Cropp Stadium.
State Tournament Semifinalist 2025
Standing L to R Sam Sparks, Brinley Baisden, Emalynn Kitts, Madison Nix, Sophie Spillman, Baleigh Blackburn, Addalyn Woods, Leah Branham, Ella Smith, James Jones, Millie Sammons, Aleaha Gillispie, Lexi Crum, Stacy Jones, Braylee Triplett, Tommy Castle
Kneeling L to R Gracie Woods, Addison Bowen, Jada Patton, Taylor Blevins, Bree Jones, Abby Maynard, Gracie Preece, Bobby Preece
The Rockets got on the board in the bottom of the first inning with two runs.
Gracie Preece doubled down the left field line to leadoff the second inning for the first Bulldog hit and then the rains came for a 25 minute delay. After the delay Preece got a bad jump on a Baisden grounder and was thrown out at third for the first out of the inning.
In the bottom of the third Assumption extended the lead with two more runs to make it 4-0.
In the fourth inning the Dawgs came to life when Preece drew a walk and Baisden singled, after Aleaha Gillispie laid down a beautiful sacrifice bunt to move the runners up, Abby Maynard was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out.
Ella Smith singled to center to score pinch runner Braylee Triplett to make it 4-1 and that’s when Bree Jones stepped to the plate and the game changed.
Jones singled to right field scoring Baisden from third and courtesy runner Lexi Crum tried to score from second and made a great head first slide to avoid the tag but was called out on a delayed call from the home plate umpire for the second out. And instead of 4-3 with first and third one out it was 4-2 with two outs and first and third with Jada Patton coming to bat. Patton was rung up on a controversial strike three to end the inning and the Bulldog rally.
In the fifth inning the Rockets put a three spot up to make it 7-2 and put more pressure on Lawrence County.
With two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning the lighting and rains came again delaying the game one hour and 15 minutes.
After the delay Blevins struck out the Rockets leadoff hitter and the Dawgs were down to three outs with the season on the line.
Leadoff hitter Bree Jones lined out to the right fielder, Jada Patton hit hard grounder that ricochet off the third baseman’s glove right it the shortstop who threw Patton out at first and Emalynn Kitts hit a hard shot to the left fielder for the final out of the game.
Senior Bree Jones had two hits and drove in one run, 7th grader Brinley Baisden had two hits and scored a run, Junior Ella Smith singled and drove in one run, Senior Gracie Preece doubled and Freshman Jada Patton singled.
Taylor Blevins suffered the loss tossing six innings, allowing five earned runs, eight hits, walked one and struck out three Rockets. Blevins finished the year with a 22-5 record in the circle.
LCHS 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 – 2
AHS 2 0 2 0 3 0 – 7
All State Tournament Team
Jada Patton and Taylor Blevins
Lawrence Co. will lose three outstanding seniors in Bree Jones, Abby Maynard and Gracie Preece.
But The Dawgs will return a talented group including starters Taylor Blevins, Ella Smith, Addalyn Woods, Emalynn Kitts, Jada Patton, Brinley Baisden along with players that saw playing time this season like Braylee Triplett, Lexi Crum, Aleaha Gillispie, Leah Branham, Millie Sammons and some promising middle school players that include Gracie Woods and Sophie Spillman.
Assumption ( 35-6 ) beat Henderson Co. 4-2 in the 30th fast pitch state championship game on Saturday Afternoon.
Bulldog Head Coach Sam Sparks
COACH’S COMMENTS
“… They are very good, like you said they put a ton of pressure on you defensively. I thought we did a good job with the leadoff hitter getting her out twice. I thought we hung right in there with them and some things that happened in the middle innings that changed the momentum. It could have been 4-3 but we didn’t. Hats off to Assumption, final score isn’t indicative of how the game was played.”
“… I think most people would take being here one of the final four teams left in the state. Our girls battled and never thought they were ever out of a ballgame and always hung until the end. I think anytime you can finish within 24 hours of the state championship game you have had a pretty good year. We have taken good teams right down to the wire. And beaten a lot of good teams as well.”
“… Great leadership from our three seniors. Gracie Preece would have made the all-tournament team if we could have gotten another. I think she had six hits in the three games here. Happy for her to finish it here. Abby Maynard did a good job of receiving all year and played a position that she hasn’t played, and did a great job for us. Bree Jones graduates as our all time hits leader. We’ll miss those three not just on the field but also off the field because they were great role models for the younger ones and will be hard to replace.”
“… Lawrence County softball was good way before I came around and it will be good when I’m gone. You would think looking on paper that you have a lot of young talent and middle school group but only pans out if they work hard. This group here put a ton of work in the offseason even the ones playing basketball. If they continue to do that we have a chance to be good for a while.”
