Softball squad snaps 5-game losing skid, win over Clarksville Academy
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| Bailey Townsend |
By CHARLIE HUST
The Webster County softball team picked up a ‘much needed’ victory last Monday at Fort Campbell, snapping a five-game losing streak with a dominating 18-0 win. Webster then won two games in the Play It Again Sports Tournament held in Clarksville, TN. last Saturday.
WCHS pounded out 10 hits and took advantage of some sloppy infield play by the Lady Falcons as they committed five errors. Webster was also issued a season-high nine walks in just four innings of play.
WCHS head coach Greg Sutton surely liked what he saw in Karlie Keeney’s performance on the pitching mound. The hard-throwing seventh grader tossed a four-inning ‘no hitter’ while striking out six and walking just one. Fort Campbell’s only base runners came in the bottom of the fourth on a pair of WCHS fielding errors along with the lone walk.
Webster junior Christian Papineau led the offensive charge from the lead-off spot in the order, going 2-for-2 with four runs scored. She also had two of Webster’s season-high seven stolen bases. Karlie Keeney and Kelsey Mays were both 2-for-3 while Jerrica Jones was 2-for-4 with three runs scored.
A lead-off walk and stolen base by Papineau jump-starting the WCHS offense, followed by an RBI-bunt single from Jones putting the Lady Trojans on the scoreboard 1-0 in the first inning. Jones later scored on a hit from Kelsey Mays. Courtesy-runner Kerstin Braden took to the base paths for Mays and she promptly swiped second and third but was left stranded.
Webster took complete command of the game in the top of the second with an eight-run outburst. Kayleigh Wood and Madison Townsend were issued a one-out walks and then Fort Campbell misplayed Papineau’s bunt single to allow both runners to score for a 4-0 lead. Jones reached on another FCHS throwing error and she, along with Papineau easily scored on a booming double off the bat of Kelsey Mays. Georgia Keeney was safe at first on FC’s third fielding miscue of the inning, allowing pinch runner Braden to score.
The inning continued as Alison Knight and Karlie Keeney were give ‘free passes’ via walks. Webster eight grader Kaci Wood then smashed a double to left field to drive in two more runs. The Lady Falcons then misplayed the relay throw back into the infield allowing Wood to circle the bases for the 10-0 lead.
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| Jerrica Jones |
WCHS added three more runs in the third on a leadoff walk to Papineau and an RBI-single from Jerrica Jones. Mays was hit by a pitch and Jones along with pinch runner Braden advanced a base on a passed. Georgia Keeney’s groundout allowed Jones to score and Braden later scored on a Fort Campbell throwing error, pushing the lead to 13-0.
A five-run fourth inning completed Webster’s day of work on the diamond. The rally was fueled by four Fort Campbell fielding errors along with two walks. Kayleigh Wood blasted a double in the uprising while Papineau and Mays had RBI-single while Karlie Keeney delivered an run-scoring double.
Georgia Keeney, Kayleigh Wood and Madison Townsend all scored two runs in the victory while pinch runner Hadlee Carter had one stolen base.
Webster takes this week off for ‘Spring Break’ and will return to action next week hosting McLean County on Monday and Hopkinsville on Tuesday. WCHS will get another shot a Region 2 favorite Henderson County next Thursday at Lady Trojan Field.
Webster County 15
Clarksville Academy 1
Another strong pitching performance from Karlie Keeney and a big day at the plate from big sister Georgia Keeney, Christian Papineau and Kelsey Mays gave the Lady Trojans their second straight win in the first game of the Play It Again Sports Tourney held in Clarksville.
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| Ashleigh Wood |
Karlie Keeney limited Clarksville Academy to just one run on four hits while striking out five. She was also 2-for-3 with the bat, including two runs batted-in.
Webster took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first with a two-out rally. Mays singled and Georgia Keeney reached on a error which allowed pinch runner Kerstin Braden to score. After a walk to Alison Knight, Carlie Keeney belted a two run double.
Clarksville got its only run in the bottom of the inning on two hits and a WCHS fielding error, cutting the lead to 3-1.
Webster took control of the game in the second with a five-run outburst. Kayleigh Wood, Madison Townsend and Christian Papineau stroked consecutive singles. Two runs then scored on back-to-back errors from the Academy defense. Georgia Keeney then highlighted the rally with a three-run homer, her first ‘bomb’ of the season, stretching the lead to 8-1.
An RBI-double from Papineau and a single off the bat of Mays that drove home two more runs in the fourth pushed Webster’s lead to 11-1.
The Lady Trojans then used three walks, a hit batter and two Clarksville errors to plate four runs in the fourth.
Webster County 6
Montgomery Central 10
A very strong Montgomery Central, TN., squad ended Webster’s two-game win streak Saturday afternoon in the finale of the Play It Again tourney.
MC pitching ace Whitney Bumpus limited the Lady Trojans to just four earned runs on eight hits. Karlie Keeney suffered the loss, allowing just three earned runs on 10 hits as she couldn’t work around six WCHS fielding errors.
Montgomery grabbed a quick 1-0 lead in the first on a solo homer from Hannah Biter.
Webster grabbed a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the frame when Papineau led-off with walk, moved to third on a single from Jerrica Jones and scored on Kesley Mays safety. Mays then scored on a passed ball.
MC tied the game with a single run in the second but the Lady Trojans answered with a run in the bottom of the frame on a single from Madison Townsend and a triple from Jerrica Jones.
But the game got away from the Lady Trojans in the third when Montgomery erupted for eight runs on five hits and four WCHS fielding errors.
Trailing 10-3, Webster rallied for three runs in its half of the third when Georgia Keeney was hit by a pitch to open the frame. Kari Wood walked and Karlie Keeney sent pinch runner Hadlee Carter home with an RBI-single. Kaci Wood then ripped a double to score Webster’s final two runs.
Jones led Webster at the plate with a triple and single while Wood and Papineau added a double each.
Webster County 4
Lexington Christian 1
Two-run rallies in the first and third innings was all the Lady Trojans needed to down Lexington Christian Academy in the Play It Again tourney on Saturday, giving WC two wins in the prestigious event.
Karlie Keeney continued her dominance from the pitching mound, limiting LCA to just two hits while walking three and striking out four.
WCHS took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first with a two-out rally. Kelsey Mays was plunked by a pitch followed by consecutive singles from Georgia Keeney and Alison Knight. A Christian Academy error also aided in the rally.
LCA cut the lead in half, 2-1, in the top of the third on one hit and one Webster fielding error.
But the Lady Trojans came right back in the bottom of the stanza with another two-run surge. Christian Papineau led off the inning with a solo homer, her third of the year. Two outs later, three straight singles from Georgia Keeney, Alison Knight and Karlie Keeney pushed the lead to 4-1.
Knight led Webster at the plate with a 2-for-2 day including two RBI. Georgia Keeney also had two hits with two runs scored.