For many, this could be a great matchup between the 5th Region representative North Hardin, who hadn’t been to a KHSAA State Softball Tournament since 2009 and powerful 3rd Region Representative Apollo.
Although it started quickly, the Trojans showed the state of Kentucky they weren’t here to just smell the Roses, pick up their complimentary Goody Bag and go home after one game as they went out used a marvelous pitching performance by sophomore Brooklyn Carmickle and some timely hitting to squeeze out a 4-3 win over the Eagles.
Carmickle got 21st win this season and although she did scatter seven hits over seven innings, she was really in control much of the game with seven strikeouts and actually only allowed just two ground ball outs, both in the 4th inning when Carmickle fielded a bunt attempt and 3rd baseman Haylee Martin fielded a grounder for the third out.
The Trojans struck early after Kaylee Johnston walked, TK Davis singled and Carly Everhart sacrificed bunted moving the runners along. Carmickle walked to load the bases and tworuns scored on Jacie Cain knocked two runs in with a single. Martin walked and NH tried a double steal scoring a run although Cain was caught stealing at second.
Apollo finally broke through aftera Arianna Ramirez single and after two outs,Tyler Hall singled and Liza Page doubled them both home to make it 3-2 early in the top of the third. The Eagles tied it up at 3-3 in the top of the 4th after Hannah Holder is hit by a pitch and after two outs, scored after Ramirez singled to tie it up.
NH responded in the bottom of the 4th when Addy Vinton was hit by a pitch to leadoff and was replaced Cockriel as a runner. After Zoey Rogers walked with one out, Johnston singled scoring Cockriel to put them ahead for good, 4-3.
Mollie Julian got the loss despite only allowing four-hits and struckout six batters and Apollo ends the season with a 24-12 record.
Meanwhile, North Hardin moves on to play Highlands on Saturday at 10:00 am with a chance to play in the Final Four. For the Trojans, who when they last played in a state tournament game, none of these girls were even born yet, it will be a chance to move on and continue a magical season that four years ago didn’t seem possible.
