Saturday, June 09, 2001
Boone Co. advances in Ky. softball tourney
Lawrence gains 16th shutout
By Ray Schaefer
Enquirer Contributor
JEFFERSONTOWN, Ky. — Boone County's softball team is treating the state fast-pitch tournament as if it's just a couple more games.
The Lady Rebels advanced to the winners bracket semifinals Friday at Skyview Park with a 6-0 shutout of Madisonville-North Hopkins and an 9-2 victory over Madison Central.
They meet Owensboro Catholic at 9 a.m. today.
Boone County's players were relaxed. They spent a couple minutes arguing who would shave assistant coach Steve Oliverio's head to pay a bet made before the Ninth Region tournament, and they talked his wife, head coach Patti Oliverio, into a promise of coloring her hair navy blue for a state title.
“This doesn't feel like a state tournament,” sopho more shortstop Amber Janneck said. “It feels like a normal tournament.”
Boone County (34-6) is in the winners bracket because it is doing several things: taking advantage of opponents' mistakes; applying a defense that has not allowed more than four runs a game in the last 10; and junior Heather Lawrence's pitching.
Lawrence's shutout against Madisonville and the seven strikeouts against Madison Central put her earned run average at 0.61, and she has 174 strikeouts.
“I use my changeup to set up hitters,” Lawrence said.
But Patti Oliverio said her team wasn't convinced it could compete with the top teams in the state until it won the Louisville Southern tournament three weeks ago.
“We've always had the physical talent,” she said. “... They try to keep things simple, do the little things.
And, they're having fun.”
Madisonville had not committed an error in the Second Region tournament last week and just one in the District 7 event before that. But in Friday's third inning, Boone County's Emily Tierney's sacrifice bunt scored senior Jessica McCormill, who reached second on Maroon pitcher Amber Crowley's throwing error and sophomore Amber Janneck's infield single.
Two wild pitches and a fielder's choice later, Janneck and Bishop scored for a 3-0 lead.
Lawrence (who struck out four for her 16th shutout of the season) and the defense took care of everything else.
Lawrence surrendered just two base hits the rest of the way.
“I thought I got ground balls,” Lawrence said.
Boone County rode a 7-run fourth inning to the Madison Central win. Three Indian errors and Janneck's two-run double to right were the keys.
Boone County ....... 003 002 1—6 6 1
Madisonville ....... 000 000 0—0 6 2
WP—Lawrence (4 Ks.). LP—A. Crowley). Hitting leaders: B—Bishop 2-4; L. Gatewood 1-3, 2B, 2 RBI. Records: BC 33-6, M 26-11
Madison Central ....... 000 010 1—2 5 6
Boone County ....... 001 701 x—9 7 2
WP—Lawrence (7 ks). LP—Oakley. Hitting leaders: M—
Lasslo 2-4; Terry 2-3, RBI. B—Bishop 2-4; Janneck 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI. Records: MC 32-9, B 34-6.
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