Saturday, May 12, 2001
Kentucky state softball tournament
Lloyd leads N.Ky. advance
By Ray Schaefer
Enquirer contributor
KENTON - Lloyd's slow-pitch softball team isn't afraid to talk tough because the Lady Juggernauts have backed it up 34 of 37 times.
Lloyd's winning ways continued in Friday's opening round of the state tournament at Kenton Lakes Softball Complex. Senior Lauren Napier's home run highlighted Lloyd's 18-3 win over Dixie Heights.
Lloyd's only losses have been a pair to two-time defending state champion Newport Central Catholic and once to Holy Cross.
“We are the best team,” Lloyd senior Hillary Rouse said. “A new season starts once you get to the state tournament.”
Lloyd's 34 wins is a school record, and Napier, Rouse and senior Beth Fields are responsible. Fields' .633 batting average leads Northern Kentucky, and Napier and Rouse are hitting .630 each.
The Lady Juggernauts scored six runs in each of the first two innings.
NEWCATH ROLLS: NewCath also had an easy first round win, a 17-4 victory over Calvary Christian.
NewCath led 6-1 after one inning. Seniors Beth Schuck and Stephanie McCarthy and juniors Olivia Lantry and Danielle Kramer each were 3-for-4, and Kramer and Lantry each hit home runs.
CAMPBELL COUNTY'S RETURN: Campbell County hasn't fielded a slow-pitch team since 1996, and Friday's return was a success. The Camels defeated Bellevue 13-2 in six innings.
Coach Troy Styer said the biggest surprise was the level of interest.
“We had 70 sign up for slow-pitch,” Styer said. “About 45 showed up for tryouts.”
YOUNGSTERS: Villa Madonna has one of the youngest teams in the tournament. The Blue Lightning scored four runs in the seventh inning to defeat Beechwood 9-6.
“We have eight players in high school and eight players in middle school,” Villa Madonna coach Laura Schuster said. “We have one starter in seventh grade. I was not worried; our young players played like seniors.”
Friday's losers-bracket games were postponed by rain and will start at 9 a.m today. The championship game is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Villa Madonna ....... 100 400 4—9 11 7
Beechwood ....... 201 001 2—6 12 6
WP-C. Pavell. LP-Hill. Records: VM 12-11, B- 4-15.
Newport CC ....... 603 120 5—17 17 3
Calvary Christian ....... 100 300 0— 4 5 9
WP-Meyers. LP-Holsinger. Hitting leaders: NCC - McCarthy 3-4, 3B, RBI; Kramer 3-4, HR, 3 RBI; Lantry 3-4 HR, 4 RBI; Schuck 3-4, 2 RBI; CC-Van Berkel 2-3, RBI. Records: NCC 31-0, CC 13-17.
Heritage Academy ....... 501 010 0— 7 7 9
Silver Grove ....... 250 116 x—15 17 3
WP-Kopp. LP-Neri. Hitting leaders: HA - Ussary HR; SG - Stortz HR, Walker HR. Records: HA 4-18, SG 3-12.
Newport ....... 203 028—15 17 4
Holmes ....... 000 200— 2 7 4
WP-Runion. LP-Herindon. Hitting leaders: Hall HR, Mills HR. Records: N 26-8, H 13-18.
Bellevue ....... 001 001— 2 7 6
Campbell County ....... 035 203—13 12 4
WP-Kuss. LP-Glancy. Hitting leaders: CC-Smith 3B. Records: B 13-12, CC 9-14.
Dayton ....... 230 020 0— 7M12M6
Holy Cross ....... 050 310 x—10M15M6
WP-Flesch. LP-Cope. Hitting leaders: D-Stamper HR, Mulla 3B. Records: D 21 11, HC 16-13.
Dixie Heights ....... 010 2— 3 7 6
Lloyd ....... 663 3—18 16 0
WP-Owens. LP-Newland. Hitting leaders: DH-Congleton 3B; Edwards 3B. L-Napier HR, Rouse 2B, Shafer 2B, Owens 2B. Records: DH 0-18, L 34-3.
Grant County ....... 004 030 0—7 8 6
Ludlow ....... 210 023 x—8 10 4
WP-Jobe. LP Jenkins. Records: GC 10-13, 17-17.
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Kentucky state softball tournament