And now we can finally say farewell to Lone Oak High School (and Heath and Reidland). The Lady Purples were eliminated late last night in the rain-delayed Rawlings/KHSAA Fast Pitch Softball State Tournament in Owensboro. In the last two games played at Jack C. Fisher Park--both games ended after midnight--First Region-champ Lone Oak lost, 5-2, to Boyle County, and Second Region-champ Smithland Livingston Central lost, 4-2, to Owensboro Catholic. So, today at 9 Central, we'll have Boyle and OweCath playing in an elimination game while Bowling Green Greenwood and 2012-state-champion Louisville Mercy duel in the last meeting of teams unbeaten in this tournament. Greenwood, in fact, is unbeaten all season and aiming to become the state's first undefeated state softball champ. The top-ranked Lady Gators are 42-0, and they've won their games in this tournament so far by scores of 7-1, 13-0 and 9-0. The Greenwood-Mercy loser is scheduled to then meet the Boyle-OweCath winner at 11 a.m. Central, and then that game's winner plays the Greenwood-Mercy winner (scheduled for a 1 p.m. start). If the winners-bracket survivor goes down in that game, then the same two teams will play for the state championship in an immediate rematch later this afternoon.
It's a significantly simpler scenario in Lexington today, where Mercer County and Louisville Pleasure Ridge Park play at 6 Central in the final of the Forcht Bank/KHSAA State Baseball Tournament. Mercer County beat Henderson County, 7-2, and PRP beat Elizabethtown Central Hardin, 10-3, in Friday's semifinals.
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ReplyDeleteJeff Woods @jwoods_wbko
ReplyDeleteGreenwood now just one game away from state title and perfection. Lady Gators beat Mercy 5-3. Championship game at 1 pm. Opponent TBD
10:47 AM - 8 Jun 13
Zach Greenwell @zach_greenwell
Greenwood making its fourth state title game appearance. Lost to Manual in 1997, won consecutive titles in 2007-08.
10:48 AM - 8 Jun 13
Meanwhile, Boyle County and Owensboro Catholic, the teams that had to keep winning through the losers bracket beyond midnight, have are in extra innings, tied at 2. Winner gets a swig of water and an elimination game with defending state-champ Mercy ...
ReplyDeleteOldham Era sports editor ...
ReplyDeleteGreg Waddell @Grgw2121
I hate Owensboro. Why are there so many one way streets? This isn't downtown Louisville.
11:07 AM - 8 Jun 13
Jason Frakes @kyhighs
ReplyDeleteMercy getting some valuable rest as this OCath-Boyle County game goes on and on and on ...
11:25 AM - 8 Jun 13
Mark Mathis @markmathisMI
ReplyDeleteOver the last 16 hours roughly, Owensboro Catholic has played 28 complete innings of softball. Still tied 2-2 in top 10th.
11:26 AM - 8 Jun 13
All the BG/WKU-connected sportswriters are now musing about the timing of scooting away from a venue like this softball tournament and back for non-pressbox food. Consensus appears to be that C-J's Jody Demling was most adept at this.
ReplyDeleteAppears as though C-J's Jason Frakes successfully got out to Old Hickory and back for barbecue lunch before Louisville Mercy elimination game. Helps that Boyle County and OweCath are at 11 innings and counting in determining Mercy's foe.
DeleteOweCath scores in the top of the 11th, but Boyle ties in bottom--and it's on to the 12th at the Jack!
ReplyDeleteBut then OweCath homers in the top of the 12th, and this time Boyle can't answer.
DeleteOweCath subsequently beat Mercy, the 2012 state champ. But then ...
ReplyDeleteJason Frakes @kyhighs
ReplyDeleteMore dominant this season: Marion County girls' basketball team or Greenwood softball team? Just throwing that out there.
4:33 PM - 8 Jun 13
KHSAA Events @khsaaevents
2013 Rawlings/KHSAA Softball State Tournament:
Greenwood 8, Owensboro Catholic 0:
G30 - Championship
#khsfp
4:53 PM - 8 Jun 13
Jeff Woods @jwoods_wbko
First undefeated fast pitch season in KHSAA history. Quite a feat.
4:53 PM - 8 Jun 13
Brandon Phillips @BPhillips83
Safe to say this is the first time Kentucky has had an undefeated girls basketball and softball state champ.
4:53 PM - 8 Jun 13
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Brad Shuffett @Shuffcard
@BPhillips83 Both public schools as well
5:07 PM - 8 Jun 13
Mark Mathis @markmathisMI
What Oboro Catholic did to stay alive Friday night & Saturday showed grit, toughness & talent. 2nd to this Greenwood club is real strong.
5:03 PM - 8 Jun 13
Coon @Cooniferrr
Greenwood girls making Warren Co proud. I don't go to greenwood but I'm proud of y'all.
6:20 PM - 8 Jun 13
Ethan Shutt @Little_Shutt
This @GWood_Sftball team deserves their own section of the Greenwood Athletics Wall of Fame
#Undefeated #Championship
6:44 PM - 8 Jun 13
Meanwhile, through three innings in Lexington, PRP and Mercer County are tied at 1 for the state baseball championship.
ReplyDeleteWowwee! The baseball championship goes an extra inning ... PRP scores on a squeeze bunt in the top half, and then Mercer gets two runners on in the second. But PRP turns a 5-4-3 double play to end the game and claim the school's fifth baseball state championship!
ReplyDelete