OWENSBORO, Ky. – Dani Walls and Taylor Childress had big hits as the Male High School softball team beat North Laurel 5-1 on Friday morning in the Worth/KHSAA State Tournament at Jack C. Fisher Park.
Walls had an RBI triple and came home on a throwing error to give Male a 2-0 lead in the first inning.
After North Laurel pulled within 2-1 in the top of the fourth, Childress had a two-run single in the bottom of the fourth to give Male a 4-1 lead. Morgan Zuege followed with an RBI single for a 5-1 edge.
“We took their punch and came right back,” Male coach Josh Bloomer said. “The biggest part is that once they scored we came right back and scored.”
Male (31-8) – ranked No. 7 in the state – advanced to face No. 3 Scott County (33-2) at 4 p.m. EDT Friday in the semifinals of the winners bracket. Scott County beat Holy Cross 11-0 on Friday morning.
Olivia Suski got the victory for Male, allowing two hits and striking out five over four innings. Bloomer was pleased Suski got some rest, as eighth-grader Jaelyn Sanders pitched the final three innings. She allowed two hits and struck out one.
“Jaelyn threw well. She came in and kept them off-balance and did her job and helping save Suski,” Bloomer said.
Bloomer said he was concerned about his team’s mind-set Friday morning after a huge 3-1 victory over No. 1-ranked and defending champion McCracken County on Thursday night.
“I think we were able to get by with a little less of a motivational drive,” Bloomer said. “That’s tough. Emotions play huge roles in sports. … We had a big win, and it’s hard to stay up after that. To the credit of our kids, they did what they needed to do.”
No. 21 North Laurel (24-13) dropped into the consolation bracket and will face the Clark County-Central Hardin winner at 2 p.m.
NORTH LAUREL 000 100 0 – 1 4 3
MALE 200 300 x – 5 7 2
WP – Olivia Suski. LP – Mikayla Vires. SV – Jaelyn Sanders. 3B – Dani Walls (M). 2B – Kailin Yantz (NL), Olivia Miller (NL).