Looking for a third consecutive First Region title, the Lady Marshals had to first get past McCracken County in Sunday’s semi-final. Since 2014 when McCracken County consolidated, the Lady Marshals have yet to beat the Lady Mustangs, losing 16 straight coming into Sunday’s game.
The last six region champions have been McCracken County or Marshall County. The Lady Mustangs from 2014 to 2017 and the last two have been won by the Lady Marshals but a third straight escaped their grasp – the 2021 season ending in a 6-4 loss and the quest for their first win over the Lady Mustangs continues.
McCracken County will meet Calloway County, a 5-2 semi-final winner over Hickman County, in Monday’s championship. The Lady Lakers are the only First Region team to beat McCracken County this season, winning 6-5 on May 26.
A solo home run by Cayson Conner in the bottom of the first inning gave the Lady Marshals the early lead. The senior finished off her softball career on a high note – following the homer, she hit doubles in the third and sixth innings and a single in the fifth along with three RBIs.
McCracken tied the game 1-1 in the top of the second on a bunt by Annie White that scored Ellie Shoulders while the Lady Marshals put runners on base, leaving two stranded in the bottom of the inning.
In the bottom of the third, Conner led off with a double, a sacrifice by Presley Jezik sent her around to third and she scored the Lady Marshals second run on Kinley Edwards’ ground out to first.
In the top of the fourth, a sacrifice by White scored a run for McCracken to tie the game again at 2-2.
Continuing to put runners in position to score, the Lady Marshals left the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth, not able to get any across the plate.
White hit an RBI double in the top of the sixth to put the Lady Mustangs up 3-2 which led to a pitching change for the Lady Marshals, switching Gabbi Lovett from second base for pitcher Gracelyn Darnall with one runner on base. Three more runs scored on singles by Ashby Murt and Ariel Fox for a 6-2 McCracken lead and Darnall returned to the circle for the final two outs of the inning and finished out the game.
The Lady Marshals cut the lead to 6-4 in the bottom of the sixth that began on a one out single by Lovett. A two out bunt by Charley Pursley, who reached on an error, sent Lovett over to third and Conner’s second double of the game brought both across the plate.
Three up and three out for both teams in the seventh gave the Lady Mustangs the win and a chance at their fifth region title.
In her seven innings on the mound, McCracken’s Abigayle Duren allowed 10 hits, two earned of four runs and struck out one. In Darnall’s six and two thirds innings, the freshman struck out three, allowed seven hits and three earned of four runs.
It was the final game for nine seniors, all finishing out tremendous careers in the Lady Marshals uniform – Cayson Conner, Kinley Edwards, McKenzie Elkins, Presley Jezik, Gabbi Lovett, Layne Pea, Riley Piercefield, Sarah Stokes and Sarenna Tomassi.
McCracken 0 1 0 1 0 4 0 6 9 3
Marshall 1 0 1 0 0 2 0 4 10 1
McCracken: Murt 2/4 (2 RBI), Fox 2/4 (RBI), Walker 2/4 (2B), Smithson 2/4 (2B), White 1/3 (2B, 3 RBI)
Marshall: Conner 4/4 (2-2B, HR, 3 RBI), Edwards 1/3 (RBI), Tomassi 1/4, Pea 1/4, Lovett 2/2, Elkins 1/3
McCracken: Duren 7.0 (10 hits, 4 runs, 1 SO)
Marshall: Darnall 6.2 (7 hits, 4 runs, 3 SO), Lovett 0.1 (2 hits, 2 runs)
Record: Marshall 25-13, McCracken 29-6
Lady Marshals vs McCracken County – 1st Region Tournament semi-final
