The Webster County softball team powered its way to three big wins last week, including a double-header sweep of Crittenden County and a come-from-behind win over Trigg County on Monday.
The Lady Trojans complete regular season play this week, hosting University Heights Academy Friday afternoon in Dixon. Webster will then tangle with Henderson County in the first round of the Sixth District Tournament scheduled Monday night at Union County High School. First pitch is at 7:30.
Webster County 4
Trigg County 3
Trailing 3-0 after three innings, the Lady Trojans scored a single run in each of the final four frames to rally past Trigg County Monday night in Dixon.
The Lady Wildcats took advantage of three WCHS fielding errors in the top of the second to score three runs on just one hit. But that was the only offense TCHS could muster against Bailey Townsend as she held the Trigg bats in check on just two hits while striking out seven.
The WC girls returned the favor in the fourth, using a Trigg error to put a single run on the scoreboard. A grounder from Kelsey Mays was misplayed, allowing her first base. One out later, courtesy runner Hadlee Carter raced from second to score on an RBI-single from Macye Davis to make 3-1.
Townsend helped her own cause in the bottom of the fifth with a lead-off single. She was replaced by pinch runner Kayla Yates and she moved to third on a single from Madison Townsend and scored on a sac fly from Kayleigh Wood.
Webster tied the game in the sixth when Davis reached on another TC error then scored on a single from Kristin Jones. That set the stage for Webster’s “walk off” winner in the bottom of the seventh.
It just took two hitters to get the job done as Kayleigh Wood led off with a single. She sprinted to third on Christian Papineau’s single and then was awarded home on an ‘interference’ call against the Lady Wildcat third baseman.
Papineau led the Trojans’ seven-hit attack going 2-for-4.
Webster County 16
Crittenden County 10
After sub-par performances earlier in the week against Union County and Owensboro, the Lady Trojans responded Saturday with a strong offensive showing and a twin-bill sweep over Crittenden County in Dixon.
In Saturday’s opener, the Lady Trojans raced out to a commanding 11-3 lead and held on in the final innings for the victory.
Webster put three runs on the scoreboard in the top of the first as Christian Papineau singled and scored on a bunt from Georgia Keeney. Kelsey Mays, who had walked earlier in the inning, raced home on an RBI-single from Macye Davis. She then scored on another run-scoring safety from Kristin Jones.
The Lady Rockets tied the game 3-3 in the bottom of the inning on three hits and one WCHS error.
But the WCHS squad rallied with four runs in the top of the second to gain control of the contest. Madison Townsend and Kayleigh Wood opened the inning with singles and Papineau brought them both home with a line-drive single to left. She moved to third on a CCHS throwing error. Jerrica Jones jumped aboard on another Crittenden error and both runners sprinted home on a single from Mays to make 7-3.
Webster put together another four-run rally in the third to extended the lead to 11-3. Jones and Bailey Townsend opened the uprising with singles and Kayleigh Wood slapped a sacrifice fly to plate Jones. Papineau, who went 4-for-5 at the plate, smoked a double to the left field gap to bring in pinch-runner Kerstin Braden. An RBI-single from Jerrica Jones and a run-scoring double from Mays completed the rally.
Webster’s third four-run rally of the game pushed the lead to 15-3 in the sixth. Mays, Davis, Bailey Townsend and Papineau all had singles while Georgia Keeney delivered an RBI-double.
Looking for a quick half inning and win via the 10-run rule, WCHS head coach Greg Sutton then replaced his starters, sending several freshman to the field for the bottom of the sixth. A bit of jitters hit the young Lady Trojans as they committed five errors in the frame and CCHS stroked four hits to score seven runs and trim the lead to 15-10.
WC got one run back in the top of the seventh when Keeney reached on an error and then scored two outs later on another Rocket fielding miscue.
Macye Davis also enjoyed a big day at the plate with three hits, two RBI and two runs scored. Jones, Bailey Townsend and Mays all had two hits in the 16-hit attack.
Townsend picked up the pitching victory, allowing just one earned run on 10 hits while striking out six.
Webster County 9
Crittenden County 5
The Lady Rockets fought back in the second game of the Saturday’s twin bill, taking a 3-0 lead into the fourth inning.
Webster was limited to just two hits in the first three innings but that all changed in the bottom of the fourth. The Lady Trojans played a little ‘small ball’, putting down four bunts in a row and Crittenden didn’t handle the pressure very well, committing two errors. An RBI-single from Bailey Townsend made it 3-1 and then Kristin Jones scored on a bunt by Kayleigh Wood. With the bases loaded, Kelsey Mays delivered the hit of the game, a double to left field that cleared the sacks and gave the Lady Trojans a 5-3 lead.
Kayleigh Wood silenced the Crittenden bats the next three innings while WC picked up a single run in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI-single from Madison Townsend.
Crittenden sliced the lead to 6-5 in the sixth with two runs on two hits and two WCHS fielding errors.
But the Lady Trojans responded in the bottom of the frame with a three-run rally to set the final score. Consecutive doubles from Jerrica Jones, Kelsey Mays and Georgia Keeney made it 8-5. Keeney then scored the final run on a ground out from Davis.
Mays led Webster at the plate with a 2-for-4 performance including four RBI. Jerrica Jones and Madison Townsend also had two hits each. Wood picked up the pitching win, allowing five runs on four hits while fanning four.
Webster County 16
Caldwell County 0
A much-needed offensive explosion from Webster turned into a rout of Caldwell County last Thursday in Princeton.
Christian Papineau led a 16-hit attack with a 3-for-5 day at the plate including her fifth homer of the season along with three runs scored. Georgian Keeney also had three hits and three runs scored. Kristin Jones added two hits and four RBI while Bailey Townsend was 2-for-5 with three runs-batted-in. Macye Davis was 2-for-3 with three runs scored and one RBI.
WCHS grabbed a quick 4-0 lead in the first as Papineau, Jerrica Jones, Keeney and Kristin Jones all singled.
A three-run rally in the fourth stretched the lead to 7-0. Madison Townsend bunted safely and scored on a double from Kayleigh Wood. Papineau then rifled a line-drive over the left field fence for a two-run homer.
The Lady Trojans put the finishing touches on the dominating win in their final at-bat with a nine-run outburst.
Jerrica Jones, Madison Townsend and Kayleigh Wood all had one hit in the victory. Bailey Townsend earned the pitching victory, allowing just three hits while striking out five.
• Webster’s freshman softball squad posted a double-header sweep of Union County last Thursday.
In the opener, Alison Knight and Savannah Jones had two hits each to lead Webster to the 11-4 win. One of Knight’s hits was an RBI-triple.
Hadlee Carter added a run-scoring double while Kerstin Braden and Kelseay Shelton also had hits in the win. Knight, Kayla Yates, Rylee Warford and Jones all scored two runs apiece to lead the WC offense.
WC seventh grade hurler Karlie Keeney limited Union to just two hits while striking out four.
Webster’s Grace Scott was very impressive from the mound in the nightcap, firing a three-hitter while striking out seven in the 14-1 victory.
Leading 1-0, the Lady Trojans exploded for eight runs in the top of the second thanks to six walks, a hit batter and singles from Sydney Lewis and Grace Scott.
Grace Scott led the 10-hit attack with three hits while Lewis and Kari Wood added two hits each including a double from Wood. Alison Knight added a triple while Hadlee Carter and Maylay Blue had one single apiece.
Webster also six stolen bases in the victory, three from Kerstin Braden, two from Hadlee Carter and one from Rylee Warford.