Heritage Christian Academy Bids Adieu to the KCAA With State Softball Title

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In its final season in the Kentucky Christian Athletic Association, the Heritage Christian Academy Lady Warriors brought home the final state championship in the league they could – the state softball title.

Kennedy Hughes’ infield single plated Madison Warren to trigger the mercy rule and a big celebration as the Lady Warriors beat the Academy of Individual Excellence Saturday in Shelbyville.

The win capped an unbeaten season in KCAA play and came in HCA’s fifth championship game appearance since its last state title win in 2015. The state championship is HCA’s fifth for the softball program in 12 title game appearances.

The state title comes as HCA opened the school year with a state volleyball title, added a boys’ state basketball title over the winter, and capped the season with the softball title.

Heritage Christian Academy leaves the KCAA after 19 years to make the full-time move to the KHSAA for the 2023-24 year.

HCA opened the championship game with four runs in the first inning, highlighted by an RBI single by Hughes and two bases-loaded walks.

Hadlee Hayes added an RBI double in the third inning for a 5-2 HCA lead.

AIE rallied to take a 6-5 lead in the fourth inning thanks to three singles and a hit batter.

Hallie Zieg led off the fourth inning with a triple to left field. She scored on Gracey Bufford’s single.

The Lady Warriors put their foot down in the fifth inning when seven runs crossed the plate.

With two outs, Hayes stole home and Warren followed with an RBI single. Hughes plated two more runs with a single and Layton Weeks broke the game open with a two-run double to left.

In the sixth inning, Warren tripled home Zieg and then scored on Hughes’ single to invoke the mercy rule and the win.

Warren was named the tournament MVP with a 2-for-4 performance Saturday and four RBI.

Hughes added three hits and three RBI and Zieg, Weeks, and Hayes each had two hits with Weeks driving in two.

Hughes scattered eight hits over six innings and struck out three.

Joining Warren on the All-Tournament Team were Hadlee Hayes and Hallie Zieg.

GALLERY: HCA State Title

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