For the sixth time since the 2019 season, Daviess County is back in the 3rd Region Championship – this time on the back of shutting out Meade County 9-0. The Lady Panthers took a 1-0 lead just two batters into the game after Shelby Bennet singled home Sadie Morris.
After a few quiet innings offensively, the Lady Panthers found their stride in the top of the fourth when Callie Smith and Kamryn Timmons both homered to make it 6-0. Daviess County added a run in the fifth, and two in the seventh to close it out.
In the circle, Timmons was virtually untouchable, throwing a complete game shutout – allowing only two hits and striking out 12.
“Getting that run in the first and holding them in the bottom of the inning was huge for our momentum,” Daviess County head coach John Biggs said. “We had a lot of quality at-bats and made some great adjustments. Callie Smith is swinging a hot bat, and Kam was Kam in the circle. She also helped herself out at the plate. This group is playing connected.”
Awaiting the Lady Panthers in the championship game is Trinity (Whitesville), with first pitch set for 7 pm CT.
Grand slam leads Lady Raiders to Championship Game
Facing a full count with the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth and tied 5-5, Trinity (Whitesville’s) Sophie Hatfield put her stamp on the game, crushing a mammoth grand slam to lift her team to the 3rd Region Championship game.
Trinity fell behind 1-0 to Ohio County in the top of the first after an RBI single. But the Lady Raiders were able to respond and take the lead in the bottom of the inning thanks to RBI doubles by Kendall Howard and Ella Morris. Aubree McKinney scored in the same inning to push the lead to 3-1 on a dropped third strike.
In the top of the third Ohio County took advantage of a Trinity fielding error to cut the lead to 3-2 and tied it immediately after on an RBI single. The Lady Eagles took their first lead of the game an inning later on a two run single, making it 5-3.
In the bottom of the inning, Trinity exploded for six runs, capped off by the Hatfield grand slam. McKinney started the rally with a lead-off double and later scored on an Aubrey Millay single. Madison McDaniel singled to drive in Millay, setting the table for Hatfield. In the bottom of the fifth, C Preston hit a sac fly to extend the lead to 10-5.
Hatfield started in the circle, allowing two earned runs over 3 1/3 innings, striking out five. Pitching in relief, Morris threw 3 2/3 perfect innings, striking out seven. Sarah Payne, McDaniel, and Millay all had two hits, while eight different players had at least one RBI.
“What a game. These girls came to play tonight,” Trinity (Whitesville) head coach Jessica Morris said. “They didn’t let up. When we started regionals, I told them we would take it one day at a time, but the girls said they would get to that championship game. They knew they were going to have to play their best. I am so proud of the way they played tonight.”
