The Lyon County Lady Lyons bid to repeat as All A state softball champions came up just a little short Sunday, with the team they beat in the title game last year upending them in the semifinals Sunday afternoon at Jack Fisher Park in Owensboro. A tough start to the game and a couple of missed opportunities were a bit too much for the youthful Lady Lyons to overcome as Owensboro Catholic took an 11-3 win and advanced on to the state championship game.
Catholic would then go on to win the championship with a 13-0 six-inning win over Louisville Holy Cross.
The semifinal game got off to a tough start for the Lady Lyons. An outfield error opened the door in the top of the first and the Lady Aces more than willingly walked through, scoring three runs to take an early 3-0 lead. That lead grew in the second inning when Camille Conkright blasted a two-run shot over the fence in right to move the lead out to 5-0.
Lyon County trimmed a run off the lead in the bottom of the third when Hadlie Butler doubled to left to score Lauren Davis.
A big missed opportunity for the Lady Lyons to get back in the game came about in the bottom of the fourth. With the score still sitting at 5-1, Jenna Coursey and Emma West led off the inning with base hits, giving Lyon County runners at 2nd and 3rd with nobody out. Lady Aces pitcher Alexis Hatchett then honed in and set the next three down in order. The inning ended with Calista Collins in the on-deck circle. Had any of the three previous batters reached bases, Collins would have come to the plate as the tying run in the game.
Catholic getting out of that jam in the fourth appeared to stunt any momentum the Lady Lyons may have built. The Lady Aces scored a run in the sixth and then put the game away with five in the top of the seventh.
Lyon County would score two runs in the bottom half of the inning, but the deficit was too much for the way O-Cath was playing on this afternoon.
Hadlie Butler, Jenna Coursey, Emma West, Ryan Graham, and Lauren Davis had one hit each for Lyon County. Calista Collins did not register an official at-bat as Catholic walked her three times in the game. Hadlie Butler added two RBIs for the Lady Lyons.
The day began for Lyon County with a slugfest win over Knott County Central. The Lady Lyons pounded out 18 hits in taking the 16-7 win over the Lady Patriots. The game played back and forth until the Lady Lyons rang up seven runs in the bottom of the 6th inning.
Knott County took a 1-0 lead after the top of the first, only to see the Lady Lyons come back with two in the bottom half of the inning. Calista Collins led off the bottom of the first with her fourth home run in as many games in the tournament.
Knott County Central battled back with three in the third to cut the lead to 5-4.
Lyon County pushed the lead back out with four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a 9-4 lead. The inning got started with Calista Collins, Hadlie Butler, Lilly Perry, and Courtney Collins connecting for four straight singles.
The Lady Patriots plated three runs in the top of the 6th and looked to be in position to make one last push in the top of the 7th. However, the Lyon County bats cranked up and ended hopes of a comeback.
Twelve batters came to the plate for Lyon County in the bottom of the sixth as the Lady Lyons used seven hits and two Lady Patriot errors to score seven runs and put the game away.
Lilly Perry was 4-5 with a double and three RBIs. Courtney Collins finished 4-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Calista Collins went 3-5 with a home run, two RBIs, and four runs scored. Jenna Coursey ended the game 2-5 with two RBIs and a run scored.
Lilly Perry went six innings in the circle to pick up the win, her third of the tournament.
Two Lyon County players were named to the All A State Tournament team. Calista Collins and Lilly Perry were honored after the Lady Lyons loss to Owensboro Catholic.
