A mere run away from finding victory via mercy rule and picking up its first two-game winning streak of the season, the Hopkinsville High School softball team must wait to finish off host Fort Campbell after building a 16-2 advantage.
The Tigers appeared poised to go up by 15 runs, which would have all but ended the contest via run rule, but the potential game-ending base runner was thrown out at home on a passed ball in the top of the fourth inning. And after the Falcons failed to score in the bottom half, the game was halted due to lightning.
Eventually, the delay of game turned into a postponement, with both head coaches agreeing to finish the 8th District matchup at a later date. With the likely victory, Hoptown would have improved to 2-1 in district games, with FCHS falling to 0-4. No timetable was made available for rescheduling.
Before the game was brought to a halt, Hopkinsville came out hammering on the road. The top of the order was sensational, as Jakayla Grubbs, Kaitlyn Kaetzel, and Hannah Thorson were a combined 8-for-10 with seven runs and eight RBIs. Leadoff hitter Grubbs tripled and drove in four runs.
Hannah Thorson, who was also Hoptown’s starting pitcher, doubled, tripled, and helped herself out in a big way at the plate. In addition, Thorson had scattered just two hits and struck out eight in four innings of work in the weather-shortened contest. The sophomore has already had a big week after giving her squad a walk-off win on April 29 against Warren Central.
The third head of Monday’s monster was Kaetzel, who had doubles on both her hits. Her RBI two-bagger brought home Grubbs in the top of the first inning to give Hopkinsville its first lead of the game. The Tigers scored in all four offensive frames they played, including a seven-spot in the fourth to take complete control.
Fort Campbell, which was actually seeking its third straight victory overall, pulled within 2-1 in the bottom of the first on Hope Balzeski’s RBI double. The FCHS senior had one of the Falcons’ two hits. Katelyn Griffy had the other on a two-out single after Balzewski’s run-scoring hit but was stranded when Thorson got Jordan Wilkerson to strike out looking. Hailey Herron had added two runs, two stolen bases, and a walk despite not having an official plate appearance.
Kiley McCrary is currently the pitcher of record for the Falcons. She surrendered four hits, four earned runs, and a pair of walks in two innings. Carrie McCrary took over in relief and gave up eight hits and seven earned runs in her two innings in the circle, and the game was stopped while she was facing the Tigers’ Shaniyah Straight with a 2-1 count to start the fifth.
