The road to a 19th consecutive high school softball district championship began in convincing fashion for Christian County High School, as the top-seeded Colonels defeated No. 4 seed University Heights Academy 15-0 Monday in the 8th District semifinals.
CCHS, which has won every district crown since 2005, got a three-inning no-hitter from Jordan Turner and five-RBI performance by Gracie Harned to set up a district tournament final Tuesday between County and Fort Campbell.
Turner walked just one and struck out seven in a sensational victory in the circle. The Christian County eighth-grade pitcher improved to 12-6 in 18 starts and increased her 2023 team lead in strikeouts to 114 in 121 innings. Turner only threw 41 pitches and faced 11 batters in the run-shortened contest.
At the dish, Harned set the tone. After her RBI single put the Colonels ahead 3-0 in the first inning, Harned — a CCHS junior — launched a three-run home run in the second inning to give her squad a 7-0 lead. She added an RBI single in the third and finished 3-for-3 with three runs scored.
Avery Adcock, Saniya Shields and Karlee Crick also joined the party toward the top of the County order. Adcock went 2-for-3 with three runs and belted her 15th homer of the season — tied for fourth most in the state. Batting leadoff, Shields finished a perfect 4-for-4 with three runs, three stolen bases, and two RBI. Crick doubled, scored twice and drove in a run, as CCHS earned its ninth mercy-rule win of the year.
Christian County has now socked 31 home runs in 32 games, which is tied for 10th most of any team in Kentucky. Kaleigh Shaw (2-for-2, run) and Jada Miller (1-for-3, two-run double, run) also turned on strong performances at the plate Monday.
The Blazers (4-9), who won four of their final six regular-season outings, were held to just two base runners in the district semifinal loss. Olivia Oakley reached on one of two Colonel errors in the second inning, but was stranded at second base. Kritsta Keller drew the lone UHA walk in the third.
In her final career game, University Heights senior Mallory Ladd capped a strong career in the complete-game loss. She surrendered 13 hits and seven earned runs in 2 2/3 innings, but did strike out three Colonels. Ladd is one of five Blazer seniors who will graduate later this week.
Christian County (18-12) will take on Fort Campbell in the 8th District softball final at 6 p.m. Tuesday at CCHS. The Falcons (7-13) pulled an upset in the other district semifinal Monday, defeating Hopkinsville 11-0 in five innings. FCHS is making its first appearance in the 8th District title game since 2006.
