A battle between two of the better softball teams in the First Region came to a head on Tuesday, with a matchup between McCracken County and Ballard Memorial. What looked to be a tight game early on actually ended early, after the Lady Mustangs opened the flood gates, scoring eight runs in the fifth to seal the 12-2 win.
The Lady Bombers were the ones who struck first. Johnna Riggs led off the game with a single that turned into three bases after the ball got past the right fielder. The third pitch of the next at bat was wild, which Riggs took advantage of to get Ballard on the board early.
Bac- to-back singles in the second set up Gracelyn Glisson perfectly for a sac fly into deep center to add another for the Ballard.
Unfortunately for the Lady Bombers, they could not continue their early success after Addley Leidecker subbed in to pitch, who shut them down the rest of the way. Head coach Tony Hayden credits the junior for coming into the game in a tough spot.
Now in the bottom of the fourth down 2-1 with two runners on, Macy Butler hit a ball that got past the outfield, and with her quick speed on the base paths, went all the way around to score to give the Lady Mustangs their first lead of the game.
After a scoreless fourth, McCracken found their groove at the plate. In fact, they did not record an out this inning, with all nine batters in the inning reaching base. The play that sealed it came with the bases loaded and Lily Hamilton up at the plate. The smoked a line drive into the gap in right field for triple, clearing the bases and making it a 12-2 ball game, inflicting the mercy rule and ending it there.
This win marked the fourth straight for the Lady Mustangs, who now sit at a 6-1 record to open the season. They take the next two days off before a loaded weekend in Illinois, where they take on four opponents throughout the weekend, all from the Prairie State.
Ballard falls below .500 to 2-3 on the year, snapping their two-game winning streak, both by shutout. They now turn their attention to Graves County, a familiar, and tough, district opponent. That contest will take place this Friday at Ballard Memorial High School, with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m.
MCCRACKEN COUNTY 12, BALLARD MEMORIAL 2
BMHS1 1 0 0 0- 2 3 2
MCHS0 1 3 0 8- 12 9 1
WP:Leidecker ; LP: Bohde
3B: Hamilton, O’Brien
TB: Hargrove, Riggs, Nichols
HBP: Knight
SB: Dowdy, Butler
E: Glisson, Riggs
RECORDS: MCCRACKEN COUNTY (6-1); BALLARD MEMORIAL (2-3)