ASHLAND —
How good is Ashland’s softball start this season?
So crazy hot that after five games, the 20th-ranked Kittens own twice as many home runs as their opponents have hits — 4-2 to be exact.
Tuesday night, coach Dave Miller’s team continued its steamrolling ways by flattening West Carter 11-1 in five innings.
Senior Kelsee Hammonds provided more brilliant pitching, while Emily Preece blasted a three-run shot off the light pole to the left of the Kittens’ scoreboard.
“We’re getting great pitching and great offensive production,” Miller said. “It’s been fantastic.”
After back-to-back top eight finishes in the State Tournament, Ashland’s big question mark entering the season was how the team would cope with the loss of All-State pitcher Katelyn Miller.
But Hammonds threw two of the Kittens’ three no-hitters on opening week, and Tuesday she tossed her second one-hitter in as many nights.
“She looked really good,” said West Carter Greg Reynolds, whose Lady Comets returned several starters from last year’s 16th Region semifinal team. “You can tell she’s worked hard on her pitching. She was tough.”
Hammonds’ only problems came at the outset, when she walked the first two batters. Isabella Gearhart followed with a slow roller to short that she beat out for an infield single. The throw went off the glove of Ashland’s first baseman, allowing Brooke Adkins to score the first run yielded by the Kittens this season.
West Carter (2-2) had a chance for a big inning with runners on second and third and no outs, but Hammonds quickly put out the fire with three strikeouts.
“That was huge,” Miller said. “After a rocky start, she settled down and got on a roll. When Kelsee spots up really well like that, she’s hard to handle.”
Hammonds struck out the side in the second inning and went on to retire 14 batters in a row.
“She got in a groove,” Reynolds said. “I thought we were lackadaisical. We stood and watched too many pitches.”
Hammonds also continued her blistering pace at the plate. She singled and doubled in three at-bats and now is 15-for-18 — about half of the hits going for extra bases.
In the fifth inning, Hammonds doubled off the block “A” on the center-field fence. The Kittens’ leadoff hitter took third on an infield out and hurried home on a wild pitch to complete the mercy-rule victory.
Reynolds credited Ashland for a strong performance but would like to have seen more energy from his own squad. West Carter lost 10-5 at Boyd County the previous night and the bus didn’t arrive back in Olive Hill until almost 11 p.m.
“I thought we looked like a tired team tonight,” the coach said. “Leatha (Reynolds) was sore.”
Reynolds, one of the region’s top pitchers, worked on back-to-back days for the first time this season. She pitched four innings against Ashland, allowing three runs in the first and seven in the fourth when the Kittens batted around.
Preece provided the highlight, playing longball with Kat Jackson and McKenzie Vanover aboard. Preece became the fourth different Ashland player to hit a home run this season, joining Hammonds, Jordan Hensley and Vanover.
“I think we are swinging it well for this time of year,” Miller said. “We still have to work on decision-making at the plate, but we have already shown power and an ability to play a little small ball when we need to.”
Jackson, who bats No. 2 in the order behind Hammonds, had bunt singles in each of the first two innings.
“She laid down two perfect bunts,” Miller said.
Vanover and Jordan Hensley also contributed two hits apiece. Hensley, a senior first baseman, did not play softball last spring but has returned to make a large impact. She’s 11-for-17 at the plate so far this season.
“When I first saw her, it was like the kid has not missed a beat,” Miller said. “Jordan is really driving the ball.”
The Kittens travel to Greenup County on Thursday. West Carter has a home game Thursday against Russell.
WEST CARTER 100 00 — 1 1 2
ASHLAND 300 71 — 11 10 1
L. Reynolds, Shelton (5) and Adkins; Hammonds and Preece. W—Hammonds. L—L. Reynolds. 2B—Hammonds (A). 3B—M. Hensley (A). HR—Preece (A).
Local Sports
Kittens pummel West Carter
Ashland putting up big numbers in hot start
- Local Sports
-
-
Boyd’s Fraley commits to Herd
Boyd County sophomore basketball player Logan Fraley has announced her commitment to Marshall University.
The 5-foot-11 shooting guard informed Marshall women’s coach Matt Daniel of her decision on Monday morning, which was confirmed by Boyd County coach/father Pete Fraley via text message. -
63rd softball: Greenup leans on bunting, baserunning; Russell wins
Immersed in another district contest with little breathing room, Greenup County softball coach Eric Keeton resorted to the strengths of his lineup: bunting and baserunning.
Two bunts and a swinging bunt helped the Lady Musketeers scratch across three runs in the fifth inning of a 6-2 victory over Raceland in the 63rd District Tournament opening round on Monday night at Russell High School. Top-seeded Russell defeated Lewis County, also 6-2, earlier in the evening. -
Boyd pounds out 11 hits to go along with Grimm’s shutout, 14-0
Robbie Shivel might be a little sore after Monday night, but it was Fairview that left the game battered and bruised.
Boyd County belted out 11 hits to go along with Dylan Grimm's complete-game gem as the Lions roared past Fairview, 14-0, in the opening round of the 64th District Tournament at Ashland's Alumni Field. The game lasted five innings. -
Different look, same results for Lady Lions
A longtime fixture in the 64th District softball championship game, Boyd County looked different this return trip.
The Lady Lions defeated Fairview 10-5 in Monday’s district semifinal, which doubled as an Autism Awareness Night. Boyd County players wore light blue shirts and colorful, jigsaw puzzle socks for the event, which had to be rescheduled more than once due to weather problems. -
Musketeers explode in final 2 innings to beat Raceland; good times continue for Lewis
Through the first four innings of its 63rd District Tournament opener, Greenup County found itself hitless. The Musketeers made up for it over the next two innings.
Greenup County scored eight runs on eight hits in the final two innings to defeat Raceland, 9-1, at Russell High School on Monday. -
The will to win
Opponents get the same look from Emily Stewart whether it’s softball, basketball or soccer season.
Steely eyed and lips pursed, the Boyd County senior is keenly focused and all business between the lines. -
THE WEEKLY CYCLE: Holding the key to upset city?
It takes only one game. Few are more firm believers in that fact than the small schools that find themselves in underdog roles year after year.
-
Locals struggle to make impact
Some days you are the windshield and some days you are the bug.
It is a saying that proved to be all too true for Rowan County on Friday night at the KHSAA Class 2A State Track and Field Championships at the University of Louisville’s Owsley Frazier Cardinal Park. -
Womack eliminated in state semis; Rose Hill, Russell doubles also ousted
Fairview senior Kennedy Womack wasn’t her consistent self in Saturday morning’s state tennis semifinals at the University of Kentucky’s Hilary Boone Tennis Complex.
As a result, the top seed fell to Lexington Sayre sophomore Madeline Rolph 6-1, 6-0.
Womack was obviously disappointed with her finish, especially after losing in last year’s state finals, but she was happy for her good friend Rolph. -
FLYING HIGH
If Fairview could have fielded a combined track and field team at Saturday’s Class A State Track and Field Championships, the Eagles and Lady Eagles would have had a record day. Instead, the Fairview girls had to “settle” for fifth, while the boys’ claimed 10th.
- More Local Sports Headlines
-
Boyd’s Fraley commits to Herd
Looking for Love? Take the Prague Metro
Crews Race to Find Survivors of Okla. Twister
First Person: Baby Falcons on a New York Bridge
Oklahoma: Images of Devastation, Reunion
Reunited Dad, Son: 'We Just Praise God'
Slow Pokes: Acupuncture Helps Sick Turtles
Moore, Okla. City of Reunions, Tears After Storm
Former IRS Chief: Can't Say How List Happened
Gov. Fallin: Okla. Facing Horrific Disaster
Tim Cook Defends Apple's Tax Accounting
AP Photograher: 'It Was a Miracle' They Got Out
Raw: Crews Search for Survivors of Okla. Tornado
Raw: Tearful Reunion After Okla. Tornado
OKC Hospital Describes Treating Tornado Wounded
Obama Pledges Urgent Aid for Tornado Victims
Raw: Massive Funnel Clouds in Oklahoma
