The Highlands Bluebirds softball team (26-15) knew this game would be a challenge after winning their first 9th Region crown since 2016.
The 4th Region and 14th District champion South Warren Lady Spartans (37-2) came into the game ranked third in the final Kentucky Softball Coaches Association poll and are also on a roll, winning 27 straight.
But Highlands made South Warren earn its 8-0 victory in a full seven innings at the University of Kentucky’s John Cropp Stadium on Saturday.
Junior pitcher Kennedy Baioni (12-9) kept the Bluebirds within striking distance until late in the game striking out three and only walking two. Eighth grader Kaitlyn Dixon finished the game striking out one and walking none.
Highlands committed the game’s lone error. It led to two Lady Spartan unearned runs.
“We didn’t know much about them going in. Sometimes that can work to an advantage or disadvantage,” said Kelly Reynolds, South Warren Head Coach. “We scouted them pretty decently. We saw some film and video on them, talked to some other coaches. They’re not a bad ballclub. Obviously, they made it here so that’s important.”
South Warren batted 11 for 32 overall seeing four players record a multi-hit game. Senior catcher Carrie Enlow and eighth grade pitcher Layla Ogden both went 3 for 4 with one run batted in. Ogden had two doubles and Enlow had one.
“They hit the ball great,” said Milt Horner, Highlands head coach. “That’s the best hitting team we’ve faced all year. They put pressure on us every inning. I was proud of us for not giving up the big inning. We stayed in it and kept fighting. I’m proud of the girls.”
Senior center fielder Elly Bennett went 2 for 2 with a double and run scored for South Warren and eighth grade lead-off hitter McLaine Hudson went 2 for 3 with a stolen base and two runs scored. Hudson led off the game with a single and stole second. She moved to third when senior shortstop Selynna Metcalfe grounded out then scored on a passed ball for the lone run South Warren needed to win the game. Hudson is the niece of Western Kentucky University Head Volleyball Coach Travis Hudson.
Enlow then led off the top of the second with a single and Ogden doubled her to third. The two scored on ground outs to put South Warren up 3-0. The score stayed the same until South Warren pulled away with two in the fifth, one in the sixth and two in the seventh.
The Kentucky High School Athletic Association allows seventh and eighth graders to play varsity softball and both teams benefitted from it all season. Highlands starts four eighth graders and South Warren saw two pitch.
Seventh grader Courtney Norwood (11-1) started the game pitching five innings striking four including the three batters in the first inning. Norwood also retired the side in the third and fifth innings. Ogden pitched the sixth and seventh innings striking out all three batters in the sixth. South Warren played excellent defense behind them.
“That’s great,” Reynolds said. “Size-wise (Norwood and Ogden) sure don’t look like they’re in middle school. They get the job done ability-wise. We just have a really good group of girls that can play a lot of ball.”
Highlands batted 3 for 24 overall. Junior third baseman Carly Cramer recorded an infield single with one out in the bottom of the second and senior shortstop Anna Greenwell singled with one out in the bottom of the fourth off Norwood. But Highlands could not move up either runner.
“I can’t be anymore thankful for these girls I’ve had by my side even if they are seventh or eighth graders,” Greenwell said. “I still call these girls my best friends and I wouldn’t have it any other way. (Highlands softball) helped me become the person I’ve become. Now I have friends I’ll have for a lifetime.”
Baioni doubled off Ogden with one out in the bottom of the seventh. She was the lone Highlands runner to reach second. But Horner pointed out sophomore catcher Michelle Barth hit three balls hard that South Warren played perfectly.
Highlands is 2-5 all-time in the state fastpitch softball tournament. The Bluebirds went 1-2 in appearances in the state tournament in Owensboro in 2014 and 2016.
Highlands graduates three seniors in Greenwell, Eleanor Todd and Hailey Parks. Greenwell started five years starting as a seventh grader in 2017.
“Anna played great in the field like she does,” Horner said. “Carly made a couple great plays in the field. Kennedy settled down and we wanted to give Hailey and Eleanor a chance to get in the game, which they did. They’ve been great all year. They didn’t get to play a lot at the end. But they played enough to get us where we got. I’m proud of both of them.”
But the Bluebirds will return everyone else including their entire outfield and three pitchers. Some other players received some valuable experience this year.
“It’s a fantastic experience,” Horner said. “Hopefully, they’ll work hard and want to come back.”
The 9th Region winners have struggled in the state tournament in recent years with seven straight losses including an 0-3 mark since the tournament changed from double to single elimination in 2019. Notre Dame recorded the region’s last win on June 8, 2017 opening the tournament with a 16-7 win over Boyle County. But the Pandas then lost 8-0 to Owensboro Catholic and 9-1 to Central Hardin.