Regional Tournament Watch: Thursday
Congratulations to these regional champions, who punch their tickets to Jeffersontown...
4th Region: #3 Greenwood (d. #4 Allen County-Scottsville 2-0)
The Gators use tremendous pitching from both Brittany York and Rachel Riley and timely hitting to defeat ACS and return to the state tournament for the first time since 2003.
13th Region: #15 South Laurel (d. Middlesboro 6-0)
The Cardinals will make their third straight state tournament appearance and defeat the 13th region's best team throughout history in the process.
14th Region: Estill County (d. Hazard 6-0)
Once again, Estill County might provide a potential "hazard" to state tournament favorites. The Engineers seem poised for another surprising tournament run.
15th Region: Shelby Valley (d. Pikeville 3-0)
The 15th Region has only won three state tournament games, but Shelby Valley will look to change that this season. Watch out for Cortney Bentley, Valley's senior pitcher who now owns the state record for wins.
16th Region: #23 Russell (d. Raceland 3-1)
Russell lives up to their new ranking by taking care of business in the 16th Region. The Red Devils have won the last five 16th region titles; will that experience finally pay off?
The following regions will play their semifinal games: 6, 7, 12
The following regions will play their championship games: 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 11
The 10th region is idle.
The Top 10 Games of the Day...
10) Danville vs. Pulaski County (region 12 semifinal)
Danville has proven itself worthy against statewide competition. Pulaski County has 19 wins against regional competition. It should be a great semifinal game.
9) Grant County vs. Oldham County (region 8 championship)
Grant County took down Shelby County to get to the finals. Can the Braves finish off Oldham County and go to the state tournament? Remember, they've already beaten Ryle...
8) Christian Academy-Louisville vs. Assumption (region 7 semifinal)
As I mildly predicted, CA-L upset Manual. Now they face Assumption, but whoever wins this game will be the heavy underdog in the 7th region championship.
7) #6 Reidland vs. Heath (region 1 championship)
This Paducah battle has been seen many times before. Do the Pirates have enough guts to upset the Greyhounds?
6) #9 North Hardin vs. Central Hardin (region 5 championship)
We've been looking for North Hardin's challengers in the 5th region all year long. First it was Larue County. Then possibly it was Green County. But we should have just stayed in E-Town, where the Bruins are the only thing standing in the way of North Hardin and a regional championship.
5) #5 Owensboro Catholic vs. Muhlenberg North (region 3 championship)
For the last 80 years, it's been Owensboro Catholic and Grayson County at this stage. This year, the North Stars have replaced Grayson County; can they upset Catholic and end their reign of terror in the 3rd region?
4) #14 Lafayette vs. Woodford County (region 11 championship...pushed back from 5/31)
I've liked Woodford County's chances in the 11th region all season, and tonight, the Yellow Jackets look to become regional champions. But Lafayette, by escaping Scott County in the regional semi, will be favored and looking to get the school's fourth trip to the state tournament.
3) Pleasure Ridge Park vs. #24 Butler (region 6 semifinal)
It's a matchup between (probably) the two best teams in the 6th region. Can Butler clear this roadblock after being favored in the 6th region all year long?
2) #7 Henderson County vs. #19 Hopkins County Central (region 2 championship)
Many left Henderson County for dead after losing to Union County in the district tournament and then drawing Christian County in the first round. But here they are, ready to face the Central Storm for a chance to return to the state tournament.
1) #13 Mercy vs. #8 Ballard (region 7 semifinal)
Both teams were up and down this season in the 7th region, but it appears that both the Jaguars and Bruins are playing their best when it counts the most. The team that wins this game will be favored tomorrow night when the 7th region punches its ticket for nearby J'Town.
4th Region: #3 Greenwood (d. #4 Allen County-Scottsville 2-0)
The Gators use tremendous pitching from both Brittany York and Rachel Riley and timely hitting to defeat ACS and return to the state tournament for the first time since 2003.
13th Region: #15 South Laurel (d. Middlesboro 6-0)
The Cardinals will make their third straight state tournament appearance and defeat the 13th region's best team throughout history in the process.
14th Region: Estill County (d. Hazard 6-0)
Once again, Estill County might provide a potential "hazard" to state tournament favorites. The Engineers seem poised for another surprising tournament run.
15th Region: Shelby Valley (d. Pikeville 3-0)
The 15th Region has only won three state tournament games, but Shelby Valley will look to change that this season. Watch out for Cortney Bentley, Valley's senior pitcher who now owns the state record for wins.
16th Region: #23 Russell (d. Raceland 3-1)
Russell lives up to their new ranking by taking care of business in the 16th Region. The Red Devils have won the last five 16th region titles; will that experience finally pay off?
The following regions will play their semifinal games: 6, 7, 12
The following regions will play their championship games: 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 11
The 10th region is idle.
The Top 10 Games of the Day...
10) Danville vs. Pulaski County (region 12 semifinal)
Danville has proven itself worthy against statewide competition. Pulaski County has 19 wins against regional competition. It should be a great semifinal game.
9) Grant County vs. Oldham County (region 8 championship)
Grant County took down Shelby County to get to the finals. Can the Braves finish off Oldham County and go to the state tournament? Remember, they've already beaten Ryle...
8) Christian Academy-Louisville vs. Assumption (region 7 semifinal)
As I mildly predicted, CA-L upset Manual. Now they face Assumption, but whoever wins this game will be the heavy underdog in the 7th region championship.
7) #6 Reidland vs. Heath (region 1 championship)
This Paducah battle has been seen many times before. Do the Pirates have enough guts to upset the Greyhounds?
6) #9 North Hardin vs. Central Hardin (region 5 championship)
We've been looking for North Hardin's challengers in the 5th region all year long. First it was Larue County. Then possibly it was Green County. But we should have just stayed in E-Town, where the Bruins are the only thing standing in the way of North Hardin and a regional championship.
5) #5 Owensboro Catholic vs. Muhlenberg North (region 3 championship)
For the last 80 years, it's been Owensboro Catholic and Grayson County at this stage. This year, the North Stars have replaced Grayson County; can they upset Catholic and end their reign of terror in the 3rd region?
4) #14 Lafayette vs. Woodford County (region 11 championship...pushed back from 5/31)
I've liked Woodford County's chances in the 11th region all season, and tonight, the Yellow Jackets look to become regional champions. But Lafayette, by escaping Scott County in the regional semi, will be favored and looking to get the school's fourth trip to the state tournament.
3) Pleasure Ridge Park vs. #24 Butler (region 6 semifinal)
It's a matchup between (probably) the two best teams in the 6th region. Can Butler clear this roadblock after being favored in the 6th region all year long?
2) #7 Henderson County vs. #19 Hopkins County Central (region 2 championship)
Many left Henderson County for dead after losing to Union County in the district tournament and then drawing Christian County in the first round. But here they are, ready to face the Central Storm for a chance to return to the state tournament.
1) #13 Mercy vs. #8 Ballard (region 7 semifinal)
Both teams were up and down this season in the 7th region, but it appears that both the Jaguars and Bruins are playing their best when it counts the most. The team that wins this game will be favored tomorrow night when the 7th region punches its ticket for nearby J'Town.
posted by Ben Osborne at
10:36 AM
5 Comments:
I was expecting a better write up on the Greenwood/ACS game since you probably attended that game.
I like details...What was the crowd like, what about the umpires, any controversy over any calls...etc.
By
Anonymous, at 11:51 AM
Sorry, first anonymous, I try to keep it a little shorter on the main page, but here's some more details from my view:
The crowd was great. The stands filled up by 6:40 and it was standing room only for the rest of the way. They had to open up the bullpens to let people watch from in there. There were many smart people who watched the game from their trucks over the outfield fence.
I thought the game was well officiated. I didn't have a good angle concerning the Dunning play, but I agree with B, it was a rally killer. There was a play in the top of the 7th that was questionable. Greenwood had filled the bases. I think Green hit a comebacker to Ogles, who got the force out at home. Williams then tried to get the double play at first, but the throw hit Green's arm. This scored the second run. It appeared Green could have been running a little more to the right, but it wasn't an obvious bad no-call.
KEY PLAY: I believe it was the bottom of the 4th inning. Ogles came to bat and the wind began to blow in from right. Ogles hits a shot to deep right that went warning track. If the wind had not started then, it could have been 1-1.
I think York scored both runs for Greenwood.
In my opinion, Greenwood's SS Amanda Walden was by far the best player on the field.
By
Ben Osborne, at 12:42 PM
The crowd and atmosphere was outstanding, as it should have been. Ogles pitched a great game for ACS as she had close to 10 K's and struck out GWood's leadoff hitter 4 times. York also looked dominant as she continously threw strikes and let her defense make plays behind her (GWood had 0, maybe 1 error and that was in the bottom of the 7th with 2 outs)
The Patriots were about 5-10 feet from taking the lead in the 4th inning when Jamie Ogles hit a shot right against the strong wind in right field, which was eventually caught on the warning track and the next batter Lindsey Absher drove the ball off the fence about 2 feet from being a HR in left field. Greenwood's defense and pitching won this game as they shot down any rallies ACS started and didn't walk or hit anyone (remember GWood scored their first run right after York was walked with 2 outs)
And I agree with Ben, Amanda Walden looked like the best player on the field and was extremely deserving of tourney MVP.
By
Anonymous, at 1:00 PM
Prp bUtLer... i believe butler is out for revenge and it shouldnt be close but when it comes to regionals you never know...
By
Anonymous, at 3:32 PM
The worst call made in the Greenwood game was the one in the top of the 7th when with two outs and runners on 1st and 3rd #10 hit a hard shot that the 3rd baseman couldn't handle but kept in front and made a throw to first base, the runner appeared to beat the throw by at least a step, but was called out. If the right call is made then Greenwood goes up 3-0.
As far as Walden being the best player on the field, I don't know about that. She had the big hit in the first inning, and a swinging bunt later on. And played the best defense that I had seen her play all year. Of course, the only other time I'd seen her was up in Louisville and she was struggling defensively there, and read in the paper that she made the error that led to the lone run given up by Greenwood in the postseason.
Maybe she had the best game of anyone on the field but to say she was the best player on the field is a stretch. I saw Riley and York go from the infield to the pitcher's circle and play great at both spots, York scored two runs and Riley had probably two hits, #10 went flawlessly from playing 1st to 2nd and back to 1st, making good plays at both, I think she had multiple hits as well, along with the shot that she hit that she beat out in the 7th that I referenced earlier. Green is always solid behind the plate and also a very dangerous hitter.
In other words Greenwood has a lot of great players and all of them played well. Like I said Walden had the RBI double in the first, which was the difference in the game and she deserved the MVP, but don't know that she showed me that she was the "best player on the field."
By
Anonymous, at 11:02 AM
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