Ashland, Ky. — In a very competitive Tri-State Showcase the Lawrence Co. softball team went 2-1 this past weekend.
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Emalynn Kitts gets congratulated by third base coach Bobby Preece after hitting a big home run Saturday against Louisville Male.
Lawrence Co. 10 Louisville Male 7
In the second game Saturday afternoon the Bulldogs jumped on the #5 team in the state 5-0 and then hung on for the big victory over Louisville Male ( 10-3 ).
Emalynn Kitts had two hits including her second homer of the season, a double, four runs batted in and scored three runs, Jada Patton had two hits, one RBI and scored two runs.
Gracie Preece singled twice, drove in one and scored once, Taylor Blevins singled twice and had one RBI, Bree Jones and Millie Sammons drove in a run each, Addalyn Woods, Addison Bowen, Brinley Baisden and Lexi Crum scored a run each.
Aleaha Gillispie was the winning pitcher for the Bulldogs going two and 1/3 innings, allowing three earned runs, four hits and walked one. Braylee Triplett went 2/3 of an inning, allowed one earned run and two hits. Brinley Baisden went one inning, allowed two hits and walked one. Ella Smith picked up the save pitching the final three innings, allowed two earned runs, four hits and struck out two batters.
Ella Smith looks for the sign against #5 Louisville Male on Saturday afternoon.
Hurricane ( W. Va. ) 7 Lawrence Co. 1
On the first game on Saturday the #1 team in Class 4A in West Virginia improved to 13-1 with the victory over the Bulldogs.
Jada Patton homered against Johnson Central and Hurricane.
Jada Patton hit a solo homer, Gracie Preece doubled and Bree Jones singled for the Dawgs.
Braylee Triplett suffered the loss in the circle going six innings, allowing four earned runs, twelve hits and walking one.
Lawrence Co. 11 Ashland 7
In the first game of the Tri-State Showcase the Bulldogs scored four runs in the seventh to tie it and then four more in the eighth inning to win an extra inning thriller over the host Kittens.
Taylor Blevins fires a pitch plateward against Ashland.
Taylor Blevins tossed all eight innings to get the victory, she allowed four earned runs, ten hits, walked two and struck out seven batters.
Emalynn Kitts went 4-5 with two doubles, three runs batted in and scored three runs, Gracie Preece singled three times and scored two runs.
Ella Smith had two hits including a double, knocked in three runs and scored once, Abby Maynard had two hits including a double and had two RBI’s, Bree Jones had two hits including a triple and scored a run.
Addalyn Woods had one hit and scored a run, Jada Patton had one hit and scored two runs, Aleaha Gillispie had one hit, Lexi Crum had one RBI, Brinley Baisden scored a run.
The Bulldogs ( 10-3 ) return home on Monday to face Greenup Co. ( 10-2 ) and then travel to Morehead to face Rowan Co. ( 11-2 ) on Wednesday.
Bulldog Head Coach Sam Sparks
COACH’S COMMENTS
“… I thought we stepped up to the challenge this weekend, after coming off a tough loss on Wednesday against Johnson Central. I thought we really competed against Ashland on Friday night. And then played two really good teams today. Even though the score was 7-1 against Hurricane I thought we were in the game throughout they got 3 or 4 unearned runs and then our bats really responded against a great Louisville Male team.”
“… Really happy with our performance all around this weekend defensively and offensively. All of our pitchers stepped in the circle and did what they could to get outs. And our hitting is starting to come on as well. All of our pitchers bring something to the table and none of them are afraid to take the ball and go out there and hit spots which isn’t easy to do. We are getting better at making teams hit our pitches.
“…When we can string good at bats together and make the other team make plays, we have a chance. We haven’t been doing that. Early in the Ashland game they put us in stressful situations and then late we put them in those type situations and it was good to come out on top. We hit the ball hard and gave ourselves a chance. And came up with clutch hit after clutch hit.”
“… I thought Taylor ( Blevins ) was throwing harder in the seventh than she has all year long. Her demeanor was different later in the game. I should be fired for having her throw that many pitches in this weather. But she had a lot of grit and we couldn’t have won without her tonight.”
