YSE File Photo
McCracken County continued to show why it’s one of the top high school softball teams in Kentucky with a 13-3 home win Tuesday over Christian County. The six-inning victory marked the ninth time the Mustangs have won via the mercy rule in 14 games this season.
In Tuesday’s tilt in Paducah, McCracken used back-to-back RBI singles by Anna Kate Hawes and MiKaela Colburn, and an RBI groundout by Ellie Shoulders to jump ahead 3-0. And after the Colonels stranded a pair of runners in the top of the third, the ‘Stangs struck again in the bottom half when Raygan Rodgers lined a two-out, two-run double to make it 6-0.
Ally Hutchins hit her third home run of the season in the fourth to make it 7-0. McCracken (12-2) now has 21 total HRs in 2023, hit by seven different players. Hawes (6-2) also got the win in the circle despite some crooked numbers by the Colonels. She struck out five but allowed six hits and three runs in 4 2/3 innings.
Christian County got on the board in the top of the fifth inning after Avery Adcock’s two-run home run, Karlee Crick’s double, and Gracie Harned’s RBI single, but the Mustangs had already built an 8-3 lead. Adcock finished 2-for-2 with a run and two RBI. She maintains team leads in HRs (4) and RBI (17). Kaleigh Shaw went 2-for-3 in the loss.
Gracie Harned did claim a third straight complete game but was dealt the loss after issuing seven walks in five innings. She also allowed eight hits and 13 runs (six earned) while striking out one. McCracken’s Addley Leidecker struck out the side in order in the sixth and pitched 1 1/3 perfect innings in relief.
The Colonels (7-5) returns home Thursday for a meeting with Crittenden County and is scheduled to play McCracken County again on May 1 at CCHS.
