LEXINGTON — Chris Edwards’ North Laurel Lady Jaguars will have to get past a very good Assumption team if they want to advance to Saturday’s KHSAA Fastpitch State Tournament championship game.
The Lady Jaguars (29-9) will enter the contest as slight underdogs to the Lady Rockets (30-11), if you go by the KHSAA RPI ratings.
Assumption possesses a .62494 RPI rating while North Laurel’s is .59304.
But at this point of the season, numbers and records can be thrown out.
“Assumption has been really good for several years now,” Edwards said. “They play in the brutal seventh Region and they have lost in the region in one run games to the eventual state champions three of the last four years. They are battle-tested and on a mission of their own. They have a Western Kentucky commit that plays shortstop and is one of their better pitchers. They are a really good team.”
Assumption enters the contest with a six-game win streak while collecting wins over Highlands and Daviess County to move into Friday’s semifinal action against the Lady Jaguars.
The Lady Rockets are solid at the plate with a team batting average of .392. They have six batters batting over .400, and seven batters hitting over .300.
Lauren Satterly leads the team with a .475 batting average. She has nine home runs, 58 hits, and 39 RBI while Lauren Campisano has a .413 batting average with four home runs, 31 RBI, and 43 hits. Tia Ice possesses a .412 batting average while delivering eight home runs, 38 RBI and 47 hits. Paige Crane is batting .402 with five home runs, 31 RBI, and 43 hits.
Assumption has 33 home runs along with 96 stolen bases, which includes Maleya Giddens’ 29. She has only been thrown out once this season.
The Lady Rockets have a team ERA of 4.23. They are led by Ava Lou Mattingly, who has a 19-6 record and one save. Her ERA is 4.71. Satterly is 11-4 with one save. She has an ERA of 3.20.
Edwards said his team knows the task at hand while speaking on the keys of the game.
“Of course and as always, we have to pitch and play defense,” he said. “Everyone probably gets tired of hearing me say it but if we don’t do those things well then it could be a long night. We also have to execute on offense. Bunts, take the extra base, all of the little things.”
Friday’s game is scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. start at the University of Kentucky’s John Cropp Stadium.
