For the second straight year, the Lady Marshals are the First Region Champions after beating Graves County 7-5 Friday night in Paducah. This is also the second consecutive title under Head Coach Mallory Newton in just her second season at the helm. Last year’s championship was the first for the program since the 2009 season under Head Coach Jennifer Burnham.
A game that was scheduled for Wednesday was delayed until Friday due to weather conditions, leaving little time to rest and prepare for the Semi-State game Saturday at 4:00 at Western Kentucky University against Madisonville, a 3-0 winner over Lyon County in the Second Region title game. Both teams will have the same quick turn-around with the Second Region game also taking place Friday due to rain.
The Lady Marshals run to the championship began with a 14-0 win over Ballard Memorial and 17-7 win over Paducah Tilghman. Graves County’s trip to the title game began with a 2-0 win over Carlisle County and the 10-0 stunner over McCracken County.
With two outs in the top of the second inning, Mckenzie Elkins reached on a double, setting up the start of three runs that began on a base hit by Addie Young that brought Elkins in for the first run. With Layne Pea and Presley Jezik on base on a walk and error, Cayson Conner drove both in for a 3-0 lead.
The Lady Marshals took a 4-0 lead in the top of the third inning on a double by Kinley Edwards that scored Gracey Murt who also reached on a double. That 4-0 lead was wiped out by the Lady Eagles in the bottom of the inning, scoring five big runs that began on a two-out RBI base hit by Neely Shoulta, a bases loaded walk, two-run single by Memphis Lassiter and RBI single from Carson Travis to lead 5-4.
Wasting no time taking the lead back, the Lady Marshals went up 6-5, scoring two runs in the top of the fourth inning on a hit from Charley Pursley and sacrifice RBI by Murt. The final run of the game came in the top of the sixth when the Lady Marshals loaded the bases on singles by Jezik, Conner and Pursley with Jezik scoring on another sacrifice RBI from Murt to go up 7-5. The Lady Marshals retired six of the final seven Graves County batters for the win.
Gabbi Lovett pitched the first three and a third innings, relieved by Murt for three and a third, then back in to finish the job in the final inning for the win. Lovett surrendered three runs, four hits while striking out two, Murt allowed a run and two hits. Kristen Wimsatt pitched five and a third innings for the Lady Eagles, allowing 10 hits with five earned runs and five strike-outs.
Murt earned Most Valuable Player honors, Conner, Elkins and Pursley were also selected to the All-Tournament Team for Marshall County.
Marshall 031 202 0 7 12 0
Graves 005 000 0 5 5 1
HITTING
Marshall: Jezik 1/3, Conner 2/3 (2 RBIs), Pursley 2/2 (RBI), Murt 1/2 (2B, 2 RBIs), Edwards 2/4 (2B, RBI), Elkins 2/3 (2-2B), Young 1/4 (RBI), Pea 1/3
Graves: Wilson 1/3 (2B), Shoulta 1/4 (RBI), Harrison 1/2 (2B), Goree (RBI), Lassiter 1/2 (2 RBIs), Travis 1/2 (RBI)
PITCHING
Marshall: Lovett 3/2 (3 hits, 4 runs), Murt 3.1 (2 hits, 1 run)
Graves: K. Wimsatt 5.1 (10 hits, 5 runs), B. Wimsatt 1.2 (2 hits, 2 runs)
