‘That was epic.’ Douglass home runs power Broncos to district softball finals
Frederick Douglass sophomore shortstop Emma Dunn claimed she didn’t know she got all of it when she took an 0-1 pitch over the left-field fence against Bryan Station on Monday night in the 42nd District Tournament semifinals at The Farm.
“I was just thinking I have a strike on me. I need to hit the ball. I need to fix my swing and just go at it,” Dunn said.
When did she realize it went out? “When I got to second base and heard everybody in the crowd.”
The solo shot with two outs in the sixth inning helped the tournament hosts defeat defending 42nd District champion Bryan Station 3-2 and advance Douglass to Wednesday’s district finals against Scott County.
“She came in clutch and she’s a clutch player, man,” Douglass coach Jason McGuire said. “She’s one of our best defensive players and, then, for the home run there. I mean, that was epic.”
Both Bryan Station (16-8) and Douglass (21-9) have spent time in the coaches’ poll Top 25 this year with the Broncos ranked No. 22 in the final rankings of the regular season. Last year, Douglass ended Scott County’s 17-year run as district champions in the semifinals only to lose to the Defenders in finals. They split their regular-season series this year.
Perhaps no rivalry in the city burns hotter than the one between the Northsiders and “the team on Winchester Road” these days.
“I love beating Bryan Station,” McGuire said, smiling broadly.
Douglass managed only three hits off Defenders pitcher Karsyn Rockvoan. They made them count.
Freshman third baseman Kavery Myrick’s two-run home run with Jarynn Bowman aboard via walk in the first inning gave Douglass a 2-0 lead.
Rockvoan’s own home run, a solo shot in the bottom of the first, and an RBI single by Aniya Farris in the third helped Bryan Station tie the game at 2-2.
With their season on the line in the bottom of the seventh, the Defenders gave themselves a chance to tie it or walk off with a win after singles by Adrienn Acure and Farris. But with two on and two out, Douglass left fielder Armani Happy snagged a sinking liner by Brooke Weathers to end the game.
McGuire alternated pitchers Savannah Wombles and Haley McGuire in the circle all night. They each allowed a run. Wombles got the win. McGuire got the save.
“We put so much work into this and it wasn’t just one person. It was multiple people,” McGuire said. “We never quit. Everybody contributed and look what happened.”
In Wednesday’s 42nd District finals, Douglass faces No. 7 Scott County, a 16-0 winner over Henry Clay earlier Monday. The Cardinals (22-5) swept the Broncos in the regular season with an 8-0 win on March 27 and a 2-0 win on May 12.
Rain threatens district schedule
Douglass and Bryan Station were set to play their 42nd District semifinal on Tuesday, but rain forecast for Tuesday evening prompted tournament officials to move it up.
The 43rd District semifinals at Tates Creek High School were not moved. Defending district and 11th Region champion Lexington Catholic was set to face host Tates Creek at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday followed by top seed Lafayette’s game against Lexington Christian at 8 p.m.
At the time of this publication, both the 42nd and 43rd District finals remained scheduled for Wednesday evening.
Monday’s other district tournament softball games
Lexington Christian 20, Paul Laurence Dunbar 1: Freshman Madison Wertzler smashed a three-run home run and a two-run home run as the Eagles (6-14) batted around in the sixth inning in their 43rd District opener against the Bulldogs (9-17) at Tates Creek High School.
Wertzler, Sophia Gorshak and Mackenzie Waits each had four hits against the Bulldogs. Waits got the win by allowing just one run on seven hits and two walks.
LCA lost to Dunbar 16-0 on April 2 and opted to forfeit a number of games against other district rivals as the season progressed. Its semifinal against Lafayette at 8 p.m Tuesday will be their first meeting of the year.
Scott County 16, Henry Clay 0 (3 innings): The Cardinals (22-5) pounded out 13 hits, including a first-inning grand slam by Georgia commit Ada Little. A home run by and Lauren Jones, a triple by Gracie Strong and a double by Kennedy Townsend in an 11-run third inning helped cut short their 42nd District semifinal via mercy rule against Henry Clay (10-17).
Wednesday’s games
42nd District finals at Frederick Douglass
7 p.m.: Douglass vs. Scott County
43rd District finals at Tates Creek
6 p.m.: Championship game, teams TBD, or semifinals at 5:30/8 p.m. if Tuesday’s games are rained out).
This story was originally published May 20, 2025 at 9:12 AM.
