By Nick Brockman, Messenger Sports Reporter nbrockman@the-messenger.com
After losing 1-0 Friday night to Webster County in eight innings, the Hopkins County softball team won four straight games on Saturday to take home the Lady Maroon Invitational Championship led by several outstanding pitching performances including a no-hitter by Ali Austin.
Nine days after tossing a perfect game, Austin shut down Livingston Central for a 3-1 no-hit victory on Saturday in pool play.
"Our defense was really strong this game," Austin said. "We've been on. Our defense has been really good, I hope I'm not jinxing ourselves by saying this.
"They're a good hitting team and every time they put the ball in play we always managed to get an out. I remember a couple of them that were hit deep to shortstop and (Ashley) Flener was able to hurl it over there and get the out."
Livingston (14-8) plated one run in the sixth, but Central (15-6) tallied three in the same frame for the final score.
Austin struck out 12 and walked just one batter while the Lady Storm committed three errors.
When asked what's next for Austin on her list of accomplishments, the sophomore smiled and gave a response of gratitude.
Nine days after tossing a perfect game, Austin shut down Livingston Central for a 3-1 no-hit victory on Saturday in pool play.
"Our defense was really strong this game," Austin said. "We've been on. Our defense has been really good, I hope I'm not jinxing ourselves by saying this.
"They're a good hitting team and every time they put the ball in play we always managed to get an out. I remember a couple of them that were hit deep to shortstop and (Ashley) Flener was able to hurl it over there and get the out."
Livingston (14-8) plated one run in the sixth, but Central (15-6) tallied three in the same frame for the final score.
Austin struck out 12 and walked just one batter while the Lady Storm committed three errors.
When asked what's next for Austin on her list of accomplishments, the sophomore smiled and gave a response of gratitude.
"I'm just playing as I go, accepting all I can get and doing the best I can," Austin said with a laugh. "I've got the easy job. Our coaches are the ones calling the pitches, telling me what to do. All I have to do is throw the ball."
Central won its next game in the tournament semifinals to face Livingston for the championship. Austin handled the Lady Cardinals with ease once again by tossing a one-hit shutout as the Lady Storm prevailed 1-0.
Alexis Curneal provided the only offense Central would need with an RBI base hit in the first inning to plate Flener.
During the course of the game, Austin struck out five and did not walk a batter to lead Central to an unexpected achievement.
"A championship, a win of the tournament is great for any team," coach Jesse Huff said. "The girls are very happy. It was an accomplishment we had not counted on this year and was presented to us and we were able to take it.
"After last night, they came focused to play today. I have to give them the credit for getting themselves mentally prepared for the games we had to win today to get back to the championship."
Earlier in the day following the no-hitter, Austin teamed with pitchers Taylor Crawley and Chelsey Gordon to limit Hopkinsville (8-14) to just two hits in a 6-0 shutout in semifinal action.
The Lady Storm offense kicked into gear quickly with three runs in the first inning. Austin provided her own support with a two-run, bases-loaded single. Next up, Hannah Tow ripped an RBI single to left field.
In the third, Alexis Curneal scored from third on an errant throw in an attempt to double-up the runner off the base. Central added its final two runs in the fourth on back-to-back RBI doubles by Crawley and Flener.
Hopkinsville made its greatest threat to score in the fifth when the Lady Tigers loaded the bases with one out. Central's pitching induced back-to-back outs though to escape the jam. Hopkinsville went down in order during the sixth and seventh as the Lady Storm preserved the win and Crawley earned her second pitching victory of the day.
During Central's first game of pool play Saturday morning, the Lady Storm defeated Lyon County 4-1.
On the mound, Crawley held Lyon (4-6) in check for 6 1/3 innings before Austin entered for the save.
Lyon scored once in the top of the first for a 1-0 advantage, but Central scored twice in the bottom half and never looked back. The Lady Storm went on to add two more in the fifth all the while keeping Lyon off the board.
Taylor Brackett led Central offensively going 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs. Crawley and McKenzie Taylor also had multi-hit games.
Central cancelled its 6:30 p.m. Monday scheduled home contest with Lyon and will next play 5:30 p.m. Tueday at Muhlenberg South.
Livingston 000 000 0 - 0
Central 100 000 X - 1
WP: Ali Austin
Hopkinsville 000 000 0 - 0
Central 301 200 X - 6
WP: Taylor Crawley
Livingston 000 001 0 - 1
Central 000 003 X - 3
WP: Ali Austin
Lyon 100 000 0 - 1
Central 200 020 X - 4
WP: Taylor Crawley
S: Ali Austin
Central won its next game in the tournament semifinals to face Livingston for the championship. Austin handled the Lady Cardinals with ease once again by tossing a one-hit shutout as the Lady Storm prevailed 1-0.
Alexis Curneal provided the only offense Central would need with an RBI base hit in the first inning to plate Flener.
During the course of the game, Austin struck out five and did not walk a batter to lead Central to an unexpected achievement.
"A championship, a win of the tournament is great for any team," coach Jesse Huff said. "The girls are very happy. It was an accomplishment we had not counted on this year and was presented to us and we were able to take it.
"After last night, they came focused to play today. I have to give them the credit for getting themselves mentally prepared for the games we had to win today to get back to the championship."
Earlier in the day following the no-hitter, Austin teamed with pitchers Taylor Crawley and Chelsey Gordon to limit Hopkinsville (8-14) to just two hits in a 6-0 shutout in semifinal action.
The Lady Storm offense kicked into gear quickly with three runs in the first inning. Austin provided her own support with a two-run, bases-loaded single. Next up, Hannah Tow ripped an RBI single to left field.
In the third, Alexis Curneal scored from third on an errant throw in an attempt to double-up the runner off the base. Central added its final two runs in the fourth on back-to-back RBI doubles by Crawley and Flener.
Hopkinsville made its greatest threat to score in the fifth when the Lady Tigers loaded the bases with one out. Central's pitching induced back-to-back outs though to escape the jam. Hopkinsville went down in order during the sixth and seventh as the Lady Storm preserved the win and Crawley earned her second pitching victory of the day.
During Central's first game of pool play Saturday morning, the Lady Storm defeated Lyon County 4-1.
On the mound, Crawley held Lyon (4-6) in check for 6 1/3 innings before Austin entered for the save.
Lyon scored once in the top of the first for a 1-0 advantage, but Central scored twice in the bottom half and never looked back. The Lady Storm went on to add two more in the fifth all the while keeping Lyon off the board.
Taylor Brackett led Central offensively going 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs. Crawley and McKenzie Taylor also had multi-hit games.
Central cancelled its 6:30 p.m. Monday scheduled home contest with Lyon and will next play 5:30 p.m. Tueday at Muhlenberg South.
Livingston 000 000 0 - 0
Central 100 000 X - 1
WP: Ali Austin
Hopkinsville 000 000 0 - 0
Central 301 200 X - 6
WP: Taylor Crawley
Livingston 000 001 0 - 1
Central 000 003 X - 3
WP: Ali Austin
Lyon 100 000 0 - 1
Central 200 020 X - 4
WP: Taylor Crawley
S: Ali Austin
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