Prestonsburg, Ky. — Jada Patton singled home Ella Smith with the winning run in a 4-3 Lawrence Co. victory over Pike Co. Central in the championship game of the 15th Region Softball Tournament Thursday at Stonecrest.
2025 Region 15 Champions
Kneeling L to R Bobby Preece, Jada Patton, Taylor Blevins, Gracie Preece, Abby Maynard, Bree Jones, Ella Smith, Addalyn Woods
Standing L to R Tommy Castle, Katie Webb, Lexi Crum, Emalynn Kitts, Sam Sparks, Sophie Spillman, Madison Nix, Gracie Woods, Brinley Baisden, Leah Branham, Addison Bowen, Millie Sammons, Braylee Triplett, Baleigh Blackburn, Aleaha Gillispie, James Jones, Stacy Jones, Wrendi McDavid
Pike Co. Central scored two runs in the first inning and one in the second inning to lead 3-0.
The Hawks still led 3-0 heading to the bottom of the sixth inning when the Dawgs came alive behind a Bree Jones singled and a two run blast from Jada Patton to make it 3-2.
In the bottom of the seventh inning Brinley Baisden just missed a game tying home run but settled for a leadoff double, three batters later and the Dawgs down to there final strike Ella Smith singled into right field to score Baisden and tie the game up at 3 all, after Jones walked to put runners at 1st and 2nd Patton lined a sharp base hit into left center scoring Smith to send the Bulldogs back to Lexington for the second straight year.
Taylor Blevins was once again magnificent in the circle to earn her 20th victory of the season, seven inning, one earned run, allowed seven hits and struck out seven.
15th Region Tournament MVP Jada Patton went 3-4 with a homer, two doubles, three runs batted in and a run scored, Ella Smith singled, drove in one and scored the winning run, Bree Jones and Brinley Baisden had one hit and a run scored each, Aleaha Gillispie also singled.
2025 All-Region and 15th Region Player of the Year
Taylor Blevins, Gracie Preece, Jada Patton, Ella Smith, Addalyn Woods
The Bulldogs will play 1st Region Champion Marshall Co. ( 28-8 ) on Friday June 6th at John Cropp Stadium on the campus of the University of Kentucky.
Bulldog Head Coach Sam Sparks
COACH’S COMMENTS
“… I’m happy for our kids, we came into the finals as a heavy favorite and sometimes that is hard for teams to handle especially one with not as much experience even though we won the region last year we had to replace some key pieces. I thought we played tight early and Taylor ( Blevins ) kept us in it like she always does and gave us a chance to win in the end. We were gritty, did what we had to do and got some huge hits in the 6th and 7th innings to get it done.”
“… Hats off to the Pike Co. Central pitcher, she is a dandy. I told our girls she is legit and she kept us off balance. She keeps the ball down and kept us from getting good at bats. We finally put some good swings together late in the game.”
“… Jada ( Patton ) got us going in the sixth with the homer and I’m sure they didn’t want to see her in the seventh with the game tied. But I was sure glad to have her up with runners on base.”
“… Brinley ( Baisden ) has been great, she is a contact hitter and always puts the ball in play and gives herself a chance to get on, sometimes those younger players don’t know any better in those pressure situations because they think their career is going to last forever. Pts going to be excited to see her moving forward. They were one pitch away from closing this thing out and I told Ella ( Smith ) all those cheerleading competitions you were in when you were younger is more pressure then this because if you make one mistake it’s over. I knew she would make contact and she came through and tied it up.”
“… Gracie Preece gets to play at John Cropp stadium after being hurt last year and nobody deserves it more.”
Bulldog Senior Gracie Preece
“… That was a huge comeback, this is probably the best experience that I have ever had. I didn’t get to play in the state tournament last year and I couldn’t have asked for a turn out for my final season. Late in the game we were just trying to stay focused and put some good at bats together and not get down on ourselves. We just wanted to stay confident throughout the game and that’s what we did.”
“… When Brinley led off the inning with a double we went crazy. She has done that for us all year. I was hoping it was gone when she hit it and I thought it was. And then Ella tied it which was amazing. Bree walked and then I think everybody in the dugout knew Jada was going to get a hit and win it for us. I can’t wait to get to Lexington.”
