PREVIEW – Lady Colonels Look to Return to Regional Title Game

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The last we saw the Christian County Lady Colonels, they were just a key hit away at a key moment from upsetting Henderson County in the 2nd Region softball championship game. The Lady Colonels figure to be among the teams at the top of the region again in 2023, but there are some key pieces that need to be replaced and a couple of issues that need to be addressed as the new season gets up and rolling.

For the first time since 2016, the Lady Colonels will not find themselves ‘in a Pickle’ or we should say with a Pickle on the roster. Pickle Winkler, who was on the Christian County roster as a 7th grader in 2017, is now off playing college softball for the Louisville Cardinals. Winkler was the team’s leading hitter in 2022 and was always a threat to get things going at the top of the order.

Gone also is the #1 pitcher from last season Riley Hancock. Hancock went 17-5 last year with an ERA of 2.48 and struck out 113 batters.

Chole Craft graduated last spring after playing in all 37 games for Christian County in 2022 and 71 games over the past two seasons.

All three played important roles in the success of the Lady Colonels last year and will make for big shoes to fill in 2023.

But, while there are some holes to fill, there is returning talent and there is young talent on the way up.

If Saturday’s scrimmage at Butler County is any indication, sophomore shortstop Avery Adcock appears to be Winkler’s successor in the leadoff spot in the batting order. Adcock, who is among the best shortstops in Western Kentucky, hit .451 in 2022, with 2 homers and 41 RBIs. She also finished with 24 stolen bases. Adcock also picked up 17 walks from opposing pitching. Her reaching base and making things happen looks to be a big key for the Lady Colonels in 2023.

If you are looking for ‘pop’ in the batting order, look no further than senior Karlee Crick. Crick, who figures to rotate between catcher and first base, led Christian County with 8 home runs and 51 RBIS last season. Both of those numbers could climb this season. Crick is one of only two seniors on the roster this season.

Junior Gracie Harned came into her own at the plate last season, finishing the season with 6 home runs and 30 RBIs. If she can bring her average north of the .300 mark, the lineup for Christian County will not be an easy one for opposing pitchers to deal with.

The same holds true for Allie Houchens and LaiLai McGregor. Both have shown that they can be effective at the plate. McGregor ended up with six home runs last season and both McGregor and Houchens had 20 or more hits at the plate.

A couple of other players to keep your eyes on as the season gets started will be Brittan Joiner and Kaleigh Shaw.

With the returning lineup, it would appear that scoring runs should not be a problem for the Lady Colonels. They will however be looking to add depth to pitching this season.

Riley Hancock is gone after pitching since the 2017 season. Gracie Harned steps up into the #1 slot for the Lady Colonels. Harned pitched 88 1/3-innings last season with an ERA of 3.80. She finished 10-5 with 72 strikeouts.

The question for the Lady Colonels is who steps up into the #2 spot in the rotation. Allie Houchens saw brief time in the circle last season with just 2.2-innings pitched. 8th grader Jordan Turner pitched the final 1 1/3-innings of the scrimmage Saturday at Butler County. Contending in the 2nd Region for the Christian County Lady Colonels could very well depend on the development of that #2 pitcher during the early part of the season.

As is usually the case for Christian County, the schedule is loaded with opportunities for this team to be tested and develop against some top competition. Opponents for 2023 include Daviess County, Madisonville-North Hopkins, Racine Lutheran, Marshall County, Henderson County, Calloway County, Madison Southern, Christian Academy of Louisville, McCracken County, South Oldham, Highlands, and Russellville.

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