CORBIN — The defending 13th Region champion South Laurel Lady Cardinals wasted little time in earning themselves a spot in Wednesday’s semifinal action by routing host Lynn Camp, 13-1.
The Lady Cardinals (27-9) asserted themselves early by taking advantage of three errors that led to four unearned runs in the second inning. Emmie Rice also added a three-run home run (10th of the season) during the inning, allowing South Laurel to take a 7-0 advantage, and never look back.
“It’s always important to get an early lead and being able to apply game pressure,” South Laurel coach Carly Mink said. “The two swings by Emmie and Bailey were big, but we were able to hit it consistently throughout the lineup. When you’re able to put the ball in play and have good at bats, good things tend to happen.”
Freshman pitcher Kenzie Williams took care of business in the pitcher’s circle, notching her 19th win of the season, allowing only two hits and no earned runs. She also struck out five batters.
“Kenzie was great again tonight and defensively we made plays behind her,” Mink said. “When we can combine the two, we give ourselves a good chance.
“We have to continue to be the best version of ourselves,” she added. “There’s a lot of good teams in this region and we have to remain focused each day.”
The Lady Wildcats managed to push a run across home plate in the bottom of the second after a bases loaded walk to Chelsea Hendrickson.
But the run didn’t seem to faze the Lady Cardinals, who answered with three more runs in the top of the third to take a comfortable 10-1 advantage.
Williams helped her own cause by connecting with a two-run single that scored Amara Horn, and Audrey Likins while Bailey Frazier’s single scored Morgan Jackson.
Frazier added another big hit in the fifth inning, this time connecting with a three-run homer, her second of the season, scoring herself, Jackson and Williams to give the Lady Cardinals a 13-1 cushion.
Williams recorded the final three outs in the bottom of the fifth inning, allowing South Laurel to move two wins away from repeating as regional champions.
Jackson turned in a perfect 3-for-3 effort at the plate while driving in two runs and scoring twice. Frazier had two hits, four RBI, and two runs scored while Williams was 3-for-4 with three RBI. Rice finished with a hit, three RBI, and one run scored while Horn, Likins, and Ryleigh Bretz finished with a hit and a run scored apiece. Addison Baker collected a hit and scored once while Skye Lawson scored once.
Jorja Carnes took the loss for Lynn Camp (23-12), allowing 12 hits and nine earned runs. She struck out five batters.
Hendrickson finished with a hit and an RBI while Carnes had a hit and scored once.
