Upon taking the field, one probably noticed the Campbell County Camels softball team (9-7 overall) had some players missing.
Namely two of their better players in senior center fielder Bella Bastin and eighth grade third baseman Hope Hamilton did not play. During the game, senior center fielder Maddie Kramer also came out.
But Campbell County had a number of players step forward in an 8-3 road win over the Scott Lady Eagles (12-13). The Camels have the inside track on the top seed in the 37th District Tournament. Scott and Bishop Brossart are 1-1 in district play and Calvary Christian is 0-1.
Junior Alex Leicht (1-4) pitched a complete game for the Camels. She struck out four, walked four and allowed just three earned runs. Campbell County made no errors behind her.
“We have some girls playing in different positions,” said Sandi Kitchen, Camel Head Coach. “For us not to have any errors is a big thing. I’m really proud of Alex. That’s the first full seven-inning game she’s had this year. We held together.”
Campbell County had a number of players step forward to pick up the slack offensively. The electrifying seventh grade outfielder Josie Feebeck went 3 for 4 with a double, triple, three RBI and two runs scored. Feebeck has come in as a pinch runner a number of times this year.
“As the season went along, we’ve gone through some sickness and injuries,” Feebeck said. “It’s basically about playing the game. I just do what I’ve done every other time I’ve played and use what I have to my advantage. The mindset and the mentality always stays the same. Just hustle and give it your all.”
Junior first baseman Emily Nadeau socked a solo home run in the top of the fourth to put Campbell County up 7-2. She finished 2 for 2 with two walks, one RBI and two runs scored.
“We did the best we could,” Kitchen said. “Just getting a district game and getting this under our belt is a big thing for us.”
Freshman left fielder Jayci Kremer went 2 for 3 with a double, triple, one RBI and two runs scored. She also noted the importance of focus until a catch is made in the field. The light rain made it more challenging.
“I think we all did well. Alex did a great job pitching,” Kremer said. “The ball was wet with the rain. But the outfield did fine. Overall, it was a good game. You have to make sure you’re down and ready and make sure it gets in the glove with both hands.”
Scott made two errors. They did not lead to any unearned runs.
Scott managed just a .167 batting average (4 for 24) in the game. Junior shortstop Audrey Griffin led Scott going 2 for 3 with a double and three RBI. Senior left fielder Morgan Chalk scored twice and sophomore Emma Scribner added a double.
“We did battle to the end,” said Lisa Brewer, Scott Head Coach. “We just didn’t string enough hits together. We didn’t stop the ball in the outfield and let them get extra bases. We just can’t do that. The conditions are the same for both teams and they played better than we did. We had some base running blunders. But we’re young. We’ll bounce back from it as long as we learn from it and just keep getting better.”
Freshman Addyson Riley (2-2) started the game pitching four innings. She struck out three and walked two. Scribner came in and kept Campbell County off the scoreboard the last three innings. She struck out four and walked two.
Scott took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Sophomore second baseman Ivy Cochran walked and Griffin doubled her home.
But Campbell County came back to take the lead for good in the top of the second. Junior catcher Isabella Whisman singled and Kremer bunted her to second. Feebeck then singled her to third and took second on the throw. After Leicht walked to load the bases, eighth grade shortstop Samantha Perry singled to score Whisman before junior third baseman Paige Stewart grounded into a fielder’s choice scoring Feebeck.
Campbell County increased the lead to 6-1 in the top of the third. Nadeau and freshman second baseman Moriah Price singled. With one out, Kremer doubled scoring Nadeau before Feebeck’s triple scored Price and Kremer to put the Camels up 5-1. Leicht then singled in Feebeck.
Scott earned one run back in the bottom of the third. Cochran singled and moved to third when senior third baseman Riley Reeves grounded out. Chalk hit a grounder to Stewart at third and wound up at second after the Camels cut down Cochran on a rundown. Chalk scored when Griffin singled to right making it 6-2 Camels.
After Nadeau’s home run in the top of the fourth, Kremer tripled with two out. Feebeck then doubled scoring Kremer to put the Camels up 8-2.
Scott scored its final run in the bottom of the fifth. Chalk wound up at second on a fielder’s choice then stole third. Chalk scored when Griffin grounded out.
Campbell County is slated to play host to Bracken County (12-9) on Friday at 5:30 p.m. Scott plays in the Beechwood Invitational on Saturday. The first game is against Villa Madonna (9-6) at 9 a.m.
Dixie Heights 3, Simon Kenton 2:
The Colonels (13-4) won their ninth in a row on the road against the Lady Pioneers (11-10).
Dixie Heights strung three runs together in the top of the third. Senior Bri Patsel singled and moved to second when junior shortstop Ella Steczynski singled. Patsel then scored on a Simon Kenton error. Sophomore Riley Hopkins then singled in Steczynski before sophomore center fielder Taylor Ingram grounded out scoring sophomore first baseman Skylar Mitchell.
Hopkins (11-4) pitched five innings to earn the win. She struck out one and walked two. Patsel pitched the last two innings striking out one and walking one.
Dixie Heights batted .233 (7 for 30) overall. Steczynski led the way going 2 for 4 with a run scored.
Simon Kenton sophomore pitcher Landrey Dance (6-8) pitched a complete game. She struck out five, walked two and allowed no earned runs.
Simon Kenton made three errors in the loss to one for Dixie Heights. All three Colonel runs were unearned. The Lady Pioneers had one unearned run.
The Lady Pioneers batted .174 (4 for 23) in the loss. Eighth grade first baseman Adreena Barton hit her first home run of the season in the bottom of the fifth and freshman second baseman Larkin Mitchell had a double.
Dixie Heights travels to Conner (9-6) on Friday at 5:30 p.m. Simon Kenton travels to Walton-Verona (11-9) on Friday at the same time.
Grant County 6, Boone County 0:
The Lady Rebels (8-14) lost the rematch against the Lady Braves (10-10) in Florence.
Boone County batted just .120 (3 for 25) against Grant county freshman Brianna Knochelman (9-6). Knochelman struck out 12 and walked two.
Senior KB Irwin (5-10) also pitched a complete game. She struck out two, walked four and allowed eight hits and five earned runs. Boone County had two errors to one for Grant County.
Boone County travels to Carroll County on Friday. Game time is 6 p.m.
Baseball:
Cooper 4, Simon Kenton 1 (8 innings):
The Jaguars (9-17) scored three times in the top of the eighth to knock off the host Pioneers (14-10) in non-region action.
Simon Kenton had three errors to two for Cooper. All three Jaguar runs in the eighth were unearned.
“It’s all about at-bat approaches,” said Scott Buckler, Cooper Head Coach. “We knew it was raining. We knew they had a hard time with the precipitation on the ball. Trevor Ollier laid a great bunt down. With two strikes, we tried to put the ball in play and they did. We bust tail down the line and it puts a lot of pressure on the defense. It just sailed a couple times. It could happen to anybody. We were fortunate it happened to them and we made the plays. I can’t say enough about it. The guys battled.”
Cooper batted .133 (4 for 30) overall. Sophomore shortstop Mark Nowak went 2 for 4 to lead the Jaguars.
Senior pitcher Justin Delph earned the win pitching seven strong innings. He struck out six, walked two and allowed just two hits and one earned run. Junior James Crowe pitched the eighth to earn the save walking one.
“(James) Crowe and I learned the umpire’s strike zone and we pitched around that and the hitters weaknesses,” Delph said. “We just made plays and let our defense do it. (Senior infielder) Emmitt Sipple had a diving play. Our team had us.”
Senior Ethan Breadon pitched six innings for Simon Kenton. He struck out nine, walked two and allowed one earned run and three hits. Senior Riley Cross pitched the last two innings striking out one, walking one and allowing just one hit. Senior Tom Lind led the Pioneers at the plate with a double.
Simon Kenton plays host to St. Henry (13-10-1) on Friday at 7:30 p.m. Cooper travels to Newport Central Catholic (13-9) on Monday at 5:30 p.m.
Walton-Verona 6, Bishop Brossart 5:
The Bearcats (17-8) won on Senior Day celebrating Nick Allen, Aiden Brown, Landon Willis and Maddox Moffett. Junior first baseman Lance Coleman hit a walk-off bomb to center field in the bottom of the seventh to win the game for Walton-Verona.
“When (Bishop Brossart) tied it I told my coaches, ‘That’s alright. That just means we get to walk it off on Senior Day of course not knowing what Lance was going to do,” said Clint Coleman, Walton-Verona Head Coach. “Lance has been clutch for us all year. He leads the team in doubles. It just seems like whenever we need that big hit, he comes through for us.”
Moffett started for Walton-Verona walking two. Sophomore Bryce Corpus (3-1) finished the game striking out three.
Walton-Verona batted .259 (7 for 27) overall. Allen went 2 for 4 with a triple and three RBI. Junior designated hitter Jimmy Shields went 2 for 4 with Willis singling and scoring the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth to put the Bearcats up 5-4.
“We’ve got some great guys on the team,” Willis said. “We’ve got the closest guys here. We’re all friends. There is no hate between anybody. We just play well together.”
Bishop Brossart (15-11-1) batted .370 (10 for 27) in the loss. Senior Adam Bezold went 2 for 3 with a home run, one RBI and two runs scored. Junior center fielder Evan Moore went 2 for 3 with a double. Junior shortstop Logan Meyer went 2 for 3 with one RBI and one run scored. Senior Andrew Beck went 2 for 4 with two RBI. Senior second baseman Ryan Ebert added a double. Beck (1-2) took the pitching loss.
Walton-Verona travels to Campbell County on Friday for a 5:30 p.m. game. Bishop Brossart travels to Campbell County (15-9) on Saturday for a 1:30 p.m. game.
Other May 5 NKY Softball Scores:
Lloyd Memorial 1, Newport 0 (forfeit)
Bishop Brossart 3, Bracken County 2
Holy Cross 15, Holmes 0 (4 innings)
Bishop Brossart 13, Calvary Christian 3 (5 innings)
Other May 5 NKY Baseball Scores:
Grant County 10, Bellevue 0 (6 innings)
Pendleton County 18, Newport 3 (3 innings)