OWENSBORO, Ky. – After a big victory over Anderson County in its debut Thursday night, the Holy Cross High School softball team ran into a pair of strong pitchers Friday and was eliminated from the Worth/KHSAA State Tournament at Jack C. Fisher Park.
Kennedy Sullivan and CeCe Wittry combined on a one-hitter as Scott County defeated Holy Cross 11-0, sending the Cougars to the consolation bracket. There, Holy Cross fell 2-1 to East Carter and its star sophomore pitcher Montana Fouts, who tossed a four-hitter and struck out 13.
“We obviously just didn’t hit today,” Cougars coach Tony Young said. “I’m not taking anything away because we faced two really good pitchers. … It was a tough draw for our first time out, but I’m not making any excuses.”
Scott County pounded 15 hits against Holy Cross in a game that was called after six innings because of the 10-run mercy rule. Halie Fain finished 3 for 4 with three runs, and Taylor Ricketts was 1 for 4 with a three-run home run that gave Scott County a 10-0 lead in the sixth inning.
Sullivan pitched four innings, allowing just one hit to Allie Just and striking out nine. Wittry pitched two perfect innings of relief.
Against East Carter, Natalie Bodenbender’s squeeze bunt scored pinch-runner Kaelynn Goatley from third to tie the score at 1. But with two out and the bases loaded in the top of the sixth, Laura Green delivered an infield single to give the Raiders a 2-1 lead.
Holy Cross committed seven errors over its two games Friday, including three against East Carter.
“Our defense has let us down more times than not in the games we lost,” Young said. “We have some room to improve next year, no doubt about it.”
Shelby Atzinger went 2 for 3 to lead Holy Cross’ offense against East Carter. She was one of five seniors on the Cougars’ roster.
“I couldn’t be any more proud of my teammates because we made a huge, huge history at Holy Cross,” said Atzinger, an Eastern Kentucky University signee. “I’ll rep Holy Cross on my chest proud. … I don’ think this is the last time Holy Cross is going to be here. They’re not going to stop succeeding.”
Jason Frakes can be reached at (502) 582-4046 and jfrakes@courier-journal.com.
CONSOLATION BRACKET
EAST CARTER 000 011 0 – 2 4 2
HOLY CROSS 000 010 0 – 1 4 3
WP – Montana Fouts. LP – Kameron Bowling.
WINNERS BRACKET QUARTERFINALS
SCOTT COUNTY 130 304 – 11 15 0
HOLY CROSS 000 000 – 0 1 4
WP – Kennedy Sullivan. LP – Allie Just. HR – Taylor Ricketts (SC). 2B – Hannah Davis (SC), Grace Mullins (SC).