The hottest team in the 5th District kept its flame burning on Monday while dousing Trigg County’s record-setting season.
Crittenden County scored three first-inning runs and never looked back in defeating the Lady Wildcats 9-0 in Monday’s district semifinal at Ralph Thomas Field.
The Lady Rockets entered the postseason as winners of six straight and 10 of 11, pushing their win total to 20 and giving the district four 20-win teams for the first time.
Crittenden wasted little time getting on the board in the top of the first inning.
Andrea Federico and Anna Boone laced singles, and Brodi Rich delivered a two-run double to left field that scored them for a 2-0 lead. Brenna Kemmer added an RBI single to right field to plate Rich and make it 3-0.
Crittenden County added another run in the second inning. Caroline Martin reached on an error and later scored on a sacrifice bunt by Elliot Evans.
The Lady Rockets stretched the advantage in the fourth inning when Andrea Federico blasted a three-run home run to left field, scoring Brooklyn Lovell and Elliot Evans to make it 7-0.
Rich continued her strong pitching down the final stretch of the season. She struck out eight while allowing five hits and one walk. She kept the Lady Wildcats off balance for the game, getting eight infield pop-outs.
Trigg’s best chance to break through on the scoreboard came in the sixth inning when Evelyn Ezell and Veyda Grinols led off with singles. However, Rich settled down to retire the middle of the Trigg order with a pair of strikeouts and a pop out to end the threat.
The freshman hurler improved to 10-7 and has a 0.56 ERA in her last four starts.
Trigg County, who lost starting pitcher Tember Oliver to a season-ending hand injury on Thursday, finished the season dropping five of its final seven games.
Livia Breckel had two of Trigg’s five hits. The Lady Wildcats finish the season with a 26-10 record, establishing a new standard for wins in a campaign.
Six Lady Rockets had multiple hits, led by Federico’s three hits and three RBI. Rich helped her cause with a double and triple.
Crittenden County (21-10), the No. 4 seed, will play the No. 3 seed, Lyon County (23-14), in Tuesday’s championship at 6:00. The Lady Lyons knocked off the No. 2 seed, Livingston Central, 5-4 in the other semifinal.
