The Case for the Elizabethtown Lady Panthers
In the 17th District there are the Central Hardin Lady Bruins and there is everyone else, but there could be a new face making a splash in the 5th Region Tournament this season. The Elizabethtown softball team has been one of the most consistent winners the last several seasons. Until 2012, they hadn’t gotten past the District Tournament, but that season they finally broke through with a win over North Hardin in the semi-s and actually made a deep push despite putting up a 14-19 record. In fact, they took the eventual region runner-ups to nine innings (Marion County) before finally falling, 3-2. 
After bowing out in the District Tournament the following season, they once again made a push and reached the Region Tourney before falling to Green County in the first round. This season they are strong and experienced and have put up a 15-10 record going into the District Tournament. Behind the pitching of senior Nicole Blackstone, the Lady Panthers have been consistent winning 8-of their last 10 games and with strong hitting from star shortstop Taylor Thomas, they have proven that they belong and could be a threat.
What could stop them?
The same thing that has tripped them up the past two seasons. North Hardin. In 2015, North Hardin and Elizabethtown played one of the longest and strangest semi-final games in 17th District history which ended in a 12-10 loss to the Lady Trojans with Lady Panthers stranded on base at the final at bat.
The next season, it looked like it would be a Lady Panther romp as Elizabethtown had beaten North Hardin twice during the regular season by the combined score of 17-1 while the Lady Trojans limped through with just five wins coming in. Yet, the Lady Trojans under their third head coach in three straight seasons surprised the Lady Panthers building a 6-0 lead going into the final inning and once again held off a furious Lady Panther rally to win 6-4.
Now once again, Elizabethtown finds North Hardin standing between them and another chance to make a 5th Region appearance. For two teams that match up well, this promises to be another unforgettable evening at Central Hardin and in an era of highs scoring offenses and crazy endings, this game should be the most entertaining of the day as Elizabethtown tries once again for a happy ending to their storybook season.
