{"id":2866,"date":"2022-05-29T17:14:57","date_gmt":"2022-05-29T17:14:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/?p=2866"},"modified":"2022-05-31T11:38:17","modified_gmt":"2022-05-31T11:38:17","slug":"south-warren-escapes-lady-spartans-advance-in-extra-innings-greenwood-eliminates-russell-county-7-0","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/?p=2866","title":{"rendered":"South Warren escapes\/Lady Spartans advance in extra innings; Greenwood eliminates Russell County 7-0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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SOUTH WARREN’S AVERY SKAGGS SCORES THE WINNING RUN IN THE BOTTOM OF THE EIGHTH INNING.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

ALLEN COUNTY-SCOTTSVILLE WINS IN 12 INNINGS; RUSSELLVILLE ROLLS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It had been a long day at the KHSAA 4th Region Softball Tournament, and all South Warren High School could do was wait.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Likewise, Barren County.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Allen County-Scottsville’s thrilling 9-8 victory over Logan County — in 12 innings, no less — the tournament schedule got thrown out of kilter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greenwood breezed to a 7-0 victory over Russell County, and Russellville collected 16 hits in a resounding 16-2 triumph over Clinton County.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And all South Warren could do was wait, first at the school and later at the stadium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Lady Spartans made sure the wait was worth it, forcing extra innings before Selynna Metcalfe’s RBI single subdued Barren County 4-3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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SOUTH’S AVERY SKAGGS IGNITED THE EIGHTH-INNING RALLY WITH AN INFIELD SINGLE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was a devastating defeat for the Trojanettes, as Metcalfe’s line drive fell for a single in center field, allowing South Warren’s Avery Skaggs to score from second base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

South Warren’s dugout emptied as the Lady Spartans celebrated their improbable victory. South Warren improved to 34-2 with the victory, advancing to a semifinal matchup with Russellville on Sunday afternoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greenwood, the 14th District runner-up, will square off with Allen County-Scottsville in the first semifinal, scheduled for a 2 p.m. start at Western Kentucky University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SOUTH WARREN 4, BARREN COUNTY 3 (EIGHT INNINGS)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

South Warren, the KHSAA 14th District champion and the Commonwealth’s No. 1-ranked team, according to MaxPreps, fell behind quickly against Barren County and right-hander Lillie Broady.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Lady Spartans threatened several times but could only get one base runner to cross the plate over the game’s first five innings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

South Warren’s Caroline Pitcock’s RBI single in the third cut the Lady Spartans’ deficit to 2-1, but Barren County answered in the top of the fourth with an unearned run. South Warren was running out of time, meeting along the third-base line to talk about that reality two or three times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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SOUTH WARREN PLAYERS MEET
BEFORE BATTING IN THE SIXTH INNING.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I told ’em, ‘time’s running out.’ Barren County played a great game, no doubt about it,” South Warren coach Kelly Reynolds said. “They hit the ball really well.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reynolds said she thought the Lady Spartans were getting a healthy dose of good at bats, but line drives were finding infielders’ gloves and the pressure started to mount.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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THE SOUTH WARREN FAN SECTION
GREW MORE PENSIVE WITH EACH PASSING INNING …<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heading into the bottom of the seventh, South Warren was looking at the end of its season. And no one understood that more than star center fielder Elly Bennett.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Honestly, I was just trying to calm myself down,” Bennett said with a laugh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was a textbook rally, with one out in the bottom of the seventh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eighth grader McLaine Hudson lined a single to center field, and then Caroline Pitcock drew a walk on four pitches. That brought Bennett to the plate. The Lady Spartans’ center fielder was 0-for-3 on the night but took a positive offensive approach with the game on the line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I just knew I had to make good contact, I had to get something to get the runners moving,” Bennett said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Lady Trojans’ Lilie Berry jumped ahead 0-1 in the count, but Bennett lined her next pitch into center field, scoring Hudson from third base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Barren County would avoid further damage, and the Lady Trojans threatened themselves in the top of the eighth. But South Warren reliever Selynna Metcalfe delivered a called third strike to strand two base runners, and the Lady Spartans were poised to end it all in the bottom of the eighth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“One advantage that we have is that we’ve played in a lot of games like this,” South Warren coach Kelly Reynolds said. “We had our bats going early, good at bats, but we just couldn’t get any breaks.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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… WHILE BARREN COUNTY’S FANS REACTED TO ALMOST EACH AND EVERY PITCH FOR EIGHT INNINGS.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That all changed in the bottom of the eighth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With one out, junior infielder Avery Skaggs reached on an infield hit, and Jenna Lindsey, a freshman, followed with a bunt single, setting the stage for Metcalfe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Metcalfe’s single to center field scored Skaggs, who eluded a late tag for the winning run to empty the South Warren dugout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I’m just real proud of them, how they wouldn’t give up,” Reynolds said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Bennett, a senior who will play next season at Berry Collge in Rome, Georgia, this is her last chance for a berth at the state tournament. South Warren was the state’s No. 1-ranked team last year, heading into 4th Region play, but Warren East stunned the Lady Spartans 3-2 in the championship game, ending South’s season at 35-2. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out the 2020 season before it even got started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The senior-laden Spartans understand their window is shrinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As opposed to the other way around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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SOUTH WARREN’S ELLE BENNETT DELIVERS AN RBI SINGLE IN THE SEVENTH, FORCING EXTRA INNINGS.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one had to run any of that by South Warren’s Elly Bennett.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I had to try to stay calm, but this is my last shot (at the state tournament),” Bennett said. “I’m thrilled just to see another day, just to get a chance to play again.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The South Warren parents and fans waited for Bennett, Metcalfe and their teammates to file out of the dugout and toward the buses, but Kelly Reynolds was quick to add a cautionary tip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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SOUTH WARREN TEAMMATES SELYNNA METCALFE (LEFT) AND ELLY BENNETT HAD GAME-CHANGING BASE HITS.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I told the girls,” Reynolds said, “that ‘from here on out, every game is going to be a fight.’ These teams are very good. You’ve really got to be on top of your game, mentally.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That represents the starting point for South Warren in the second game on Sunday against an upstart Russellville squad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RUSSELLVILLE 16, CLINTON COUNTY 2<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Russellville needed just five innings to claim the first KHSAA 4th Region Tournament victory in school history, a lopsided triumph over Clinton County.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Russellville improved to 24-11 while the Lady Bulldogs finish their season 17-15.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Lady Panthers struck for eight runs in the first inning and never looked back. A’miyah Collier was the winning pitcher and had a triple in Russellville’s big first inning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Russellville’s Jacklyn Zuege had two run-scoring singles in the first inning alone, finishing with three hits. Teammate Jaylah Kees also had three hits for the Lady Panthers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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VETERAN CATCHER ALLYSON SMITH AND GREENWOOD FACE AC-S IN THE SEMIFINALS.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GREENWOOD 7, RUSSELL COUNTY 0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Junior pitcher Kayden Murray was perfect through five innings, and Murray and reliever Abigail Byrd carried the Lady Gators to the semifinals with a combined 1-hitter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decisive defeat ended Russell County’s season at 18-11.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greenwood coach Taylor Proctor lamented her team’s long wait before heading to the WKU softball complex, with Allen County-Scottsville needing 12 innings to slip past Logan County.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s hard,\u201d Proctor told the Bowling Green Daily News. \u201cWe sat around for 2\u00bd hours this morning and we didn\u2019t come out with the intensity that I wanted, but to come away with a win … hopefully we will be ready to play (against AC-S).”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greenwood (31-7) broke a scoreless game with six runs in the top of the fourth, and Murray took it from there, improving her record to 21-3 in the process. The Lady Gators sent 10 batters to the plate, and Russell County never recovered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Lady Gators’ Caydence Wolfe and Allyson Smith had two hits each, and teammate Abigail Byrd worked the final two innings in the circle, giving up a lone single to pinch hitter Mallie MacQueary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greenwood will face Allen County-Scottsville at 2 p.m. Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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ALLEN COUNTY-SCOTTSVILLE’S DUGOUT
PUTS ON ITS COLLECTIVE RALLY HAT.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

ALLEN COUNTY-SCOTTSVILLE 9, LOGAN COUNTY 8 (12 INNINGS<\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allen County-Scottsville was down to its final three outs when the Lady Patriots’ Bailey Ausbrooks unloaded a two-run home run to left field — underneath where dozens of spectators were watching from the WKU parking garage — and tie the game at 7.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both squads scored single runs in the 11th inning, but Allen County-Scottsville was able to end it in the 12th.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eighth grader Addie Ausbrooks, Bailey’s kid sister, delivered the walk-off single in the bottom of the 12th inning, sending AC-S to a semifinal game against Greenwood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allen County-Scottsville improved to 19-14 with the dramatic victory, while the Lady Cougars finished their season 18-15.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Addy Law, Hadley Borders and Jacie Rice all had three hits for the Lady Patriots. Shelby Gettings had three hits for Logan County, while teammate Emerson McKinnis had a two-run double and a three-run home run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Audie Ausbrooks was the winning pitcher, while freshman Shayla Johnson took the loss for the Lady Cougars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AC-S faces Greenwood at 2 p.m. on Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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SOUTH WARREN’S PLAYERS MEET AMONGST THEMSELVES AFTER THEIR DRAMATIC WIN OVER BARREN COUNTY.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

ALLEN COUNTY-SCOTTSVILLE WINS IN 12 INNINGS; RUSSELLVILLE ROLLS It had been a long day at the KHSAA 4th Region Softball […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2868,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2866","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-otherhssports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2866","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2866"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2866\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2968,"href":"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2866\/revisions\/2968"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2868"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2866"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2866"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2866"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}