‘Playing for each other.’ Lexington Catholic shuts out Madison Central in region tourney.
Sophomore ace Abby Hammond and Lexington Catholic allowed only a single hit in their 5-0 victory at Madison Central in the opening round of the 11th Region Softball Tournament on Monday night.
That singular hit arrived in the sixth inning, when Madison Central’s Shelby Hensley delivered a single to break up the Knights’ momentum.
“I’m just really thankful for my teammates that play on defense,” Hammond said. “Obviously, they made really good contact on the ball (offensively). I mean, that was just really good by them. They’ve definitely practiced contact and that was really impressive. But my defense made some really good plays, and I’m really proud of them. And I’m just happy that we’re moving on. Thankful to play tomorrow.”
Lexington Catholic (21-9) advanced to Tuesday night’s semifinals where it was to face Scott County (18-8) at Henry Clay High School. Lafayette (25-4) was to meet Great Crossing (28-4) in the other semifinal.
Kayla Mattingly was the first to cross home plate for the Knights, thanks to Hammond’s two-out, line-drive double to center field in the second inning. Though Madison Central (23-7) escaped the inning with no more damage, the Knights were right back at it in the third.
Kinley Willoughby drove home Ava Emmert with a ground ball to left field to double the Knights’ lead.
LexCath Coach Emery Emmert said getting on the scoreboard allows his team to mentally settle in.
“We just have to put up a few runs,” Emmert said. “We get a couple runs and we feel good and then we can loosen up and then put up more and by the time that happens, it pretty much seals the deal.”
Catholic ended up sealing the deal in the fourth, when the Knights scored three additional runs off the bats of Olivia Ryan and Lydia Kennedy. Per Hammond, LexCath has devoted effort recently toward refining pitch selection at the plate.
“In batting practice recently,” Hammond explained. “We’ve been working on taking away rise balls. And I think we did a pretty good job with that today, definitely more room for improvement, but if we can focus in on one side of the plate and have an approach when we go up to bat, that really helps to minimize the swings that we have that are not good pitches to swing at.”
Following last year’s finish as state-runner up, Lexington Catholic entered this season with the understanding that opponents would bring their A-game. In hopes of meeting that challenge, as well as preparing for another difficult offseason, Emmert made the call to play a tough schedule.
“That’s just part of having success,” Emmert said. “Is you’ve got to know that everybody’s gonna give you their best. And we’ve learned that; we had a really tough schedule. We played a lot of good teams for that reason, to get through that and feel that experience. And then come in here loose, you’ve gotta be loose. If you’re tight, you’re not going to perform.”
Hammond said the Knights’ attitude centers on playing for one another.
“I think just believing in each other,” Hammond said. “And playing for each other is a big part of it. We can’t play for ourselves, that doesn’t get us anywhere. So, when this team is playing for each other, keeping us going, encouraging each other, that’s when we’re gonna make it far.”
Monday’s other first-round games
Great Crossing 3, Bryan Station 1: University of Kentucky commit Camryn Lookadoo’s two-run homer to center field in the third inning made the difference in the Warhawks’ home win.
Great Crossing’s Brenna Parker picked up the win after allowing one run on five hits while striking out seven. Bryan Station’s Karsyn Rockvoan allowed three runs on seven hits and struck out six.
Kendall Meade’s run-scoring single in the first inning put the Warhawks in front.
Bryan Station (19-11) scored its only run when Kynedi Birdsong drove home Bekah Clark.
Lafayette 13, Madison Southern 0: The host Generals run-ruled the Eagles in five innings.
Dani Brown drove him Nora Mack with Lafayette’s first run in the first inning. Lafayette proceeded to pour it on in the second, scoring five runs on the strength of a Leah Holland line-drive single and a Jenna Wells triple.
Singles from Holland and Anna Clay Denton in the third put the Generals up 8-0, and Lafayette cemented its win with five more runs in the fourth off a walk, a hit batter and hits from Olivia Planck and Holland.
Holland finished with three hits in three at-bats.
Trinity Bridges earned the win in the circle for the Generals, allowing one hit and striking out 11.
Scott County 4, Western Hills 0: Lauren Jones’ two-run homer in the first inning sparked host Scott County to the win.
The Cardinals added another run in the second when Makiah Jackson stole second base, then scored on a hit by Kelbi Hastings.
Jones crossed home plate again in the fifth on a single by Delaney Vaughn.
Ada Little pitched a two-hit shutout, striking out eight.
11th Region Tournament
At Henry Clay
Tuesday
5:30 p.m.: Lexington Catholic (21-9) vs. Scott County (18-8)
8 p.m.: Lafayette (25-4) vs. Great Crossing (27-4)
Wednesday
6 p.m.: Championship game
