By Ryan Davenport, WSON Sports Correspondent
The Henderson County Lady Colonels faced off against the North Laurel Lady Jaguars in the State Championship Game of the State Softball Tournament in Lexington on Saturday evening.
In the top of the 1st inning, the Lady Colonels would get on the board early with 2 runs, one run on an RBI triple by senior first baseman Taylor Troutman and one run on an RBI single by senior catcher Hallie McCracken as the Lady Colonels would have an early 2-0 lead heading to the bottom of the 1st.
In the top of the 2nd inning, the Lady Colonels would score 3 runs, one run on a fielding error and two runs on a 2 out, 2 RBI double by junior pitcher Anna Kemp to extend the Lady Colonels lead to 5-0 heading to the bottom of the 2nd.
In the top of the 3rd inning, the Lady Colonels would score 1 run on a wild pitch to make the Lady Colonels lead expand to 6-0 heading into the bottom of the 3rd.
In the top of the 4th inning, the Lady Colonels would score 4 runs, 2 runs on a 2 RBI single by junior pitcher Anna Kemp, 1 run on an RBI triple by sophomore second baseman Ayden Bennett, and 1 run on an RBI single by freshman shortstop Maggie Grogan to push the Lady Colonels lead to 10-0 heading into the bottom of the 4th.
In the top of the 5th inning, the Lady Colonels would score 1 run on a 2 out RBI single by freshman right fielder Saniya Shields to extend the Lady Colonels lead to 11-0 heading into the bottom of the 5th.
In the bottom of the 5th inning, junior pitcher for the Lady Colonels Anna Kemp would start the inning with a strikeout and then allow the 3rd and final hit of the Lady Jaguars as the next play would be a line out double play unassisted by senior first baseman Taylor Troutman to give the Lady Colonels the 11-0 shutout mercy rule win in 5 innings and come away with their 1st ever Softball State Title. The Lady Colonels would finish the season with a (36-5) record while the Lady Jaguars would end their season with a (30-10) record.
The Lady Colonels winning their first ever state softball championship came on a special day, the same exact date that 24 years ago the baseball team won their first state baseball championship (June 15th, 2000).
Lady Colonel’s senior catcher Hallie McCracken was 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI while junior Anna Kemp was 2 for 3 with a double and 4 RBI’s. Freshman right fielder Saniya Shields was 2 for 4 with an RBI while senior left fielder Alyse Rollings was 1 for 4 with a double. Senior first baseman Taylor Troutman was 1 for 3 with a triple and an RBI while sophomore second baseman Ayden Bennett was 1 for 4 with a triple and an RBI. Freshman shortstop Maggie Grogan was 1 for 3 with an RBI while sophomore designated player Mackenzie Burczyk was 1 for 4. Freshman third baseman Azayah Hall was 1 for 3 on the evening.
Lady Colonels junior pitcher Anna Kemp in 5 innings allowed 3 hits and 0 earned runs while walking 1 batter and recording 6 strikeouts on the evening.
The Lady Colonels had 3 players represented on the State All-Tournament team, pictured below from left to right: senior first baseman Taylor Troutman, junior pitcher Anna Kemp, and senior catcher Hallie McCracken.
The Lady Colonels also had junior pitcher Anna Kemp win the State Tournament Most Valuable Player pictured below.
As a team, the Lady Colonels scored 11 runs and recorded 12 hits, 9 RBI’s, 3 doubles, 2 triples, and committed 1 error on the evening.
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