High school softball: 42nd and 43rd District tournament previews
So long, tune-up time: the softball postseason is here and at least one of Lexington’s districts boast a bit of intrigue.
Lafayette and Paul Laurence Dunbar have met in the 43rd District tournament each of the past six seasons, including five times in the finals. If this year’s seeding holds to form, that streak would come to an end.
The Generals, who were 7-1 against their district rivals (the lone loss was 9-7 at Dunbar) enter as the No. 1 seed. On Tuesday, they will face the winner of Monday’s game between Lexington Catholic and Lexington Christian, both of whom enter with just one district victory (they defeated each other).
Lafayette needed less than seven innings to beat tournament host Lexington Catholic twice this season. Its two wins over Lexington Christian both went the distance and included a 9-6 battle in which the Eagles led part of the way. The Generals last won a district title in 2014.
Dunbar, the two-time defending champion in the district, will have to overcome second-seeded Tates Creek to make its seventh straight finals appearance. The Commodores swept the Bulldogs this season, but both outings (13-12 and 5-2) were tight. Tates Creek’s two losses to Lafayette were similarly close (8-7 and 7-3).
In the 42nd, Scott County enters as the prohibitive favorite after sweeping that district for the seventh straight season. The Cardinals’ last loss in district play came against Henry Clay on May 11, 2009. Since Sayre doesn’t field a softball team, the No. 1 seed in the 42nd District automatically advances to the finals and to the 11th Region tournament. Scott County has appeared in every 11th Region field since moving to the region in 2006.
Henry Clay and tournament host Bryan Station face off on Monday for a shot at Scott County. The Blue Devils got the better of Station in two meetings this season, winning those games by a combined score of 22-6.
Josh Moore: 859-231-1307, @HLpreps
42nd District
At Bryan Station
Monday: Henry Clay (17-11) vs. Bryan Station (5-22), 6 p.m.
Tuesday: Scott County (27-2) vs. Henry Clay-Bryan Station winner, 6 p.m.
43rd District
At Lexington Catholic
Monday: Lexington Christian (16-14) vs. Lexington Catholic (12-12-1), 6 p.m.
Tuesday: Tates Creek (20-12) vs. Paul Dunbar (9-12), 6 p.m.; Lafayette (17-8-2) vs. LCA-Catholic winner, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday: Finals, 7 p.m.
This story was originally published May 22, 2016 at 4:28 PM with the headline "High school softball: 42nd and 43rd District tournament previews."