Top-15 showdown part of opening round of 11th Region softball tournament
The 11th Region high school softball tournament gets going on Memorial Day and features three top 25 teams as well as some other dangerous contenders looking to advance to next week’s state tournament.
The tournament draw was held Friday and the opening round begins with games at each district champion’s home field.
In perhaps the tournament’s toughest draw, Lexington Catholic, No. 10 in the final Kentucky Prep Softball coaches’ poll, visits No. 12 Madison Central in Richmond at 6 p.m. Monday.
The Knights (24-6), runners-up to Lafayette in the 43rd District finals, have one of the state’s top pitchers in Abby Hammond (24-5), who has a minuscule 0.61 earned-run average. The Indians (22-4) counter with a lineup that has six hitters batting .300 or better led by Macaila Morin (.396 average, 37 runs scored, two home runs) and Olivia Metcalfe, (.356 average, 23 RBI, seven homers).
Also Monday, No. 8 Lafayette (25-9) hosts 42nd District runner-up Bryan Station (18-15), 41st District champ Great Crossing (18-14) takes on Model (11-12) from the 44th, and 42nd District champ Scott County (20-11) hosts 41st runner-up Western Hills (23-7).
Tuesday’s semifinals and Wednesday’s finals will be held at Western Hills High School in Frankfort.
The 11th Region winner will have two days off before entering the Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Softball State Tournament presented by UK HealthCare at the University of Kentucky’s John Cropp Stadium. The 11th champ will meet the 12th Region champion at 6 p.m. Friday.
11th Region Tournament
Semifinals and finals at Western Hills
Monday’s quarterfinals
Noon: Bryan Station at Lafayette
1 p.m.: Model at Great Crossing
6 p.m.: Lexington Catholic at Madison Central
6 p.m.: Western Hills at Scott County
Tuesday’s semifinals
6 p.m.: Western Hills-Scott County winner vs. Lexington Catholic-Madison Central winner
8 p.m. Bryan Station-Lafayette winner vs. Model-Great Crossing winner
Wednesday’s finals
6 p.m.: Championship game
