Sophomore catcher Emerson Morman lined one toward the left center gap appearing to lead off the top of the seventh with the tying run at second at the minimum.
But Campbell County sophomore left fielder Jayci Kremer bolted to her left and dove at the right angle to pick off the ball for the important first out of the inning. That play may have saved the streak of consecutive 37th District softball championships as the Campbell County Camels (19-5) kept the momentum and held off the host Scott Eagles, 7-6 to win their sixth in a row in front of a nice crowd.
“As soon as that ball was hit, I was like, ‘No way I’m getting to this,” Kremer said. “But I started running and I had to dive for it because it was the tying run if it landed. As soon as I dove for it, I just snow coned it barely into my glove. Any catch could be a game changer.”
Campbell County has beaten Scott (15-11) 13 times in a row dating back to a 7-6 Scott win on April 26, 2014 in Taylor Mill. But this marked the closest the Eagles have come to breaking the streak.
Scott qualified for the 10th Region Tournament for the first time since 2019 holding off Bishop Brossart, 5-4 on Monday in the 37th District semifinals. The Eagles came into the game determined to win their first district championship since 2010, especially after longtime head coach Lisa Brewer announced her retirement when the season concludes last week.
“We told the girls (Scott) has a special incentive,” said Sandi Kitchen, Campbell County head coach. “It is on their field and they hadn’t won it in a while so I knew they’d be hungry. I told the girls this would be a different team than the first time we played them. They were. It was the best hitting I’ve seen out of Scott. They have some outstanding hitters and their pitcher did well. It was a great game all the way through. Both teams played great defense with a couple star-stunners out there.”
Scott actually outhit Campbell County 10-7 and drew three walks compared to two walks and one hit batter for the Camels. The Eagles also had three extra-base hits and the Camels had one.
“They played their hearts out,” Brewer said. “Campbell County made some plays at the end. We made some great plays and we just fell a little short.”
But the errors made a huge difference in this one. The Camels scored six unearned runs off six Eagles errors while Campbell County committed none, so the Eagles earned all six runs.
Sophomore right fielder Bre Tate led all hitters going 3-for-3 with four runs batted in. She broke a 5-5 tie in the bottom of the fifth with a clutch hit with two outs. She lined one to right allowing freshman catcher Lilly Phirman and freshman shortstop Sam Perry score on a Scott error putting Campbell County up for good at 7-5. Phirman scored twice in the game.
“I think the coaches do a really good job spreading us out and we just do a really good job making sure we pump each other up,” Tate said. “It was definitely nerve-racking. But I made sure to look for the kind of pitch I know I can drive.”
Campbell County senior Paige Stewart allowed four runs and five hits in four innings of work in the circle and went 2-for-4 at the plate. Stewart started a Camels rally in the bottom of the first and made two routine plays at third base then second base.
“I think that we came out strong,” Stewart said. “But then we started taking our feet off the gas. Once it started getting close, we just came up with big hits. I think it was exciting and the team stayed in the game the whole time.”
Freshman Hope Hamilton (4-3) took over in the fifth inning to earn the win striking out one for the Camels. Senior Alex Leicht finished the game recording her third save this year.
“She no-hit the first (37th District semifinal against) Calvary game,” Kitchen said of Leicht. “But then she came in a very tight situation and certainly had most valuable player written all over her to go out there, be steady and close them out. She did a great job.”
Scott had three hitters record multi-hit games. Sophomore center fielder Elise Manhardt went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run, three RBI and scored twice. Junior second baseman Ivy Cochran went 2-for-4 with a double, RBI and scored once.
Junior Emma Scribner (7-4) pitched a complete game for Scott striking out three Camels. Scribner also went 2-for-4 at the plate batting in two.
Stewart singled with one out and took second on a Scott error. After Scribner struck out Hamilton, Campbell County senior first baseman Emily Nadeau doubled to right scoring pinch runner Phirman giving the Camels a 1-0 lead.
The Camels then loaded the bases and the inning appeared to be over when Perry hit a grounder to third. But a bad throw let Nadeau score to make it 2-0 Campbell County. Tate then singled home Kremer and freshman pinch runner Addysen Griffin to give the Camels the early 4-0 lead.
Scott cut the lead to 4-3 in the top of the third. With one out, Scott senior right fielder Mesa McQueen singled and stole second. With two out, Manhardt belted her first home run of the season off Stewart, who is her cousin to make it 4-2 Camels. Sophomore third baseman Addyson Riley doubled and Scribner singled her in to close the gap to a run.
But the Camels earned one back in the bottom of the third. Senior catcher Izzy Whisman singled with one out. Perry lined out to Scott senior shortstop Audrey Griffin. Griffin tried to double up Whisman at first. But the throw hit her and skipped to the fence allowing her to advance to second. Whisman had to come out with an injury and Phirman took her spot scoring when Tate singled and Scott committed an error to put the Camels up 5-3.
“That’s unfortunately what has happened with a few close games,” Brewer said. “We just have to practice, get better with it and try to make sure that we don’t have those errors in our next game. I think everybody counted us out in this game except for us because the first time we played them, we lost 16-2 in five innings (on April 18 in Alexandria). For Campbell County to go out and throw three pitchers showed how resilient this team was and how much they battled to win the game.”
Cochran singled to start the top of the fifth prompting Campbell County to bring in Hamilton to pitch. But Manhardt singled in Cochran. Cochran moved to third when Riley grounded out and scored when Scribner singled to tie the game 5-5.
Scott’s final run came in the top of the sixth. Junior designated player Paige Shepherd singled then advanced all the way to third on a wild pitch before Cochran singled her in. But Leicht came in and coaxed a fielder’s choice. She left runners at second after walking Riley coxing Scribner to pop out to Hamilton at third.
Leicht ended up retiring the side in the top of the seventh. After Kremer’s web gem, Audrey Griffin lined out to Kremer, who did not have to go as far that one and struck out senior first baseman Kayla Overman to end the game.
The 10th Region Tournament takes place at Bourbon County. Possible quarterfinal opponents for Campbell County are Nicholas County, Mason County or George Rogers Clark. Possible opponents for Scott are Harrison County, Montgomery County or Bracken County.
37th District Baseball Championship at Scott
Campbell County 8, Bishop Brossart 0
One might have assumed this one would be as close as the regular season game that the Camels (27-9) won 3-2 over the Mustangs (17-17) on May 4, especially with Brossart senior lefty Evan Moore on the mound.
But that did not turn out to be the case in front of a great crowd. The Camels scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the first then added three more in the bottom of the second to win their second straight district championship.
“Our guys executed the game plan,” said Scott Schweitzer, Campbell County head coach. “We want to see pitches. We want to have good at-bats. We had a lot of quality at-bats early. Evan is as good as it gets in the state of Kentucky. He has a good curve ball and he’s really tough on lefties. Our approach was to stay within, look for singles and we’re going to be as aggressive as we can on the base paths.”
Campbell County freshman pitcher Tyler Schumacher (5-1) pitched a complete game, striking out seven, walking two and hitting two more. He held the Mustangs to two hits, both singles. The Camels had no errors behind him.
“I wouldn’t have believed it. It’s crazy,” Schumacher said when asked if he’d have believed he’d be in this spot before the season. “I stayed positive with a good defense behind me. It’s about pitching to contact. With help, I’m getting better.”
Moore lasted four innings, striking out five and walking three. The Mustangs used four different pitchers in the game. They struck out a combined six and walked seven.
Campbell County had seven hits, all singles. Sophomore lead-off hitting left fielder Zach Franzen went 2-for-3, scoring twice and batting in one. Senior second baseman Jake Gross batted in three with junior catcher Parker Schweitzer batting in two and senior third baseman Evan Clark scored twice.
“It just gave us momentum,” Gross said. “(Moore) has good velo and movement. His off-speed is good as well. You play small ball and do what you can.”
Franzen scored the game’s first run when Brossart committed an error on a wild throw. Clark then scored when senior first baseman Brady Kramer hit an infield single to put Campbell County up 2-0.
Parker Schweitzer started the second inning with a walk and junior pinch runner Spencer Voss took second on a wild pitch. After sophomore center fielder Carson Clark walked. Voss scored when Franzen singled. Franzen and Carson Clark moved up one base on a Brossart error. Gross then singled both home to go up 5-0.
“You play relaxed. I have a senior-laden team,” Coach Schweitzer said. “We play all seniors on the infield. Parker has been back there for three years and you put a freshman on the mound. He threw strikes and our guys made plays. You can’t ask for anything more than that.”
Coach Schweitzer was not happy that senior right fielder Brayden Wells missed a sign before striking out in the second inning. But Wells came back, made a web gem in the field in the third inning then singled and walked in his next two at-bats.
“It’s baseball. You’re going to fail more than you succeed,” Wells said. “You just have to live through it and try to be better the next play. That’s all you can do.”
The Camels scored their final three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Evan Clark singled and Kramer walked before Schumacher landed the sacrifice bunt to move them up one base before Parker Schweitzer singled them home to put the Camels up 7-0. Pinch runner Voss moved to second when Wells walked, took third when Carson Clark grounded into a fielder’s choice and scored when Gross walked with the bases loaded.
The 10th Region Tournament takes place at Harrison County. Possible quarterfinal opponents for Campbell County are Nicholas County, Bracken County or Bourbon County. Possible quarterfinal opponents for Bishop Brossart are Harrison County, Mason County or Montgomery County.
Other Softball Scores
32nd District Championship at Grant County
Grant County 11, Simon Kenton 1 (6 innings)
34th District Championship at Dixie Heights
Dixie Heights 10, Villa Madonna 0 (6 innings)
35th District Semifinal at George Bowman Park
Beechwood 7, Holy Cross 5
36th District Semifinal at Dayton
Highlands 18, Bellevue 0 (3 innings)