Third-inning explosion dooms Lady Rebels

The Henry County High School softball team erupted for eight runs in third inning in a 12-1, five-inning victory over visiting Owen County on April 16.

Owen County jumped out to an early lead in the first inning before the Lady Cats took control.

Following a leadoff single from Hannah Howard and a walk by Abigayle Dempsey, Rachel Howard drove in the Rebels’ lone run of the game with a double to leftfield.

Henry County had a chance to even the score in the bottom of the first inning with a single from Madeline Lay and a walk by Micah MaGruder. Yet, Owen County caught a pop-up at shortstop and retired Lay at third base to end the frame.

The Lady Cats settled in, though, as Sophia Lay struck out all three batters in the second inning.

Henry County’s offense picked up in the bottom of the frame to allow the Lady Cats to take the lead.

A fielder’s choice, an error and a hit batsman helped Henry County to load the bases before Kennadie Hamby launched an RBI-single to centerfield to bring in Peyton Smith and Katie Smith for the tying and go-ahead runs.

Owen County had another three-up, three-down outing in the top of the third. Sophia Lay sandwiched a pair of strikeouts around a flyout to keep the margin at 2-1.

Meanwhile, the Lady Cats’ offense found its groove and erupted for eight runs in the bottom of the third to break open the game.

Following a pair of walks, Kennedy Brown ripped an RBI-double to leftfield to bring in Madeline Lay and Kylie Hornback, giving Henry County a 4-1 advantage.

Aubree Kirk kept the momentum going with an RBI-single to centerfield to push the lead to 5-1.

Sophia Lay added a single to centerfield, and Katie Smith drew a walk to load the bases before Kirk came home on an error to extend the margin to 6-1.

Kerragan Bowles chipped in a run with Hamby at the plate on the following play, and MaGruder blasted an RBI-single to centerfield later in the inning.

Finally, Hamby scored on a pickoff attempt at second base that was off the mark to create a 10-1 margin at the end of the high-scoring frame.

Sophia Lay continued to dominate in the circle and struck out two batters around a groundout to keep the Lady Rebels off the board in the top of the fourth inning.

The Lady Cats added two runs to their lead in the bottom of the inning to push the margin to double digits.

Henry County loaded the bases with three walks, and Katie Smith and Peyton Smith scored on wild pitches to push the Lady Cat advantage to 12-1.

Sophia Lay capped off the game with three consecutive strikeouts to bring her final total to 12 for the evening.

• Then, Owen County suffered a 12-0, five-inning loss to visiting Henry County in the two teams’ rematch two days later.

Dempsey and Shaylee Glacken had the lone hits for the Lady Rebels.

The Lady Cats took advantage of nine base on balls.

• However, Owen County bounced back last Friday with a 4-2 victory over Boone County.

Hannah Howard picked up the complete-game victory, allowing two unearned runs on seven hits. She issued one base on balls and struck out six hitters.

The Lady Rebels managed just four hits but took advantage of five walks.

Dempsey, Hannah Howard and Hallie Tirey all singled and drew a walk, and Howard scored two runs. Dempsey scored a run and drove in a run, and Tirey also scored.

Both Glacken and Kaileigh Gibson drove in runs.

• Then, Owen County improved to 5-7 with a 13-3, six-inning victory over Williamstown on Saturday.

The Lady Rebels overcame an early 3-0 deficit by scoring in each of their final five at-bats, pounding out 13 hits while limiting the visitors to two hits.

Gibson singled, doubled twice and drove in three runs.

Rachel Howard scored there runs, and she had two hits, as did Dempsey and Tirey.

Both Glacken and Lexie Chappell scored two runs, and Tirey, Dempsey and Rachel Howard all drove in two.

Hannah Howard picked up the win, allowing just one hit over 4 2/3 innings. She walked one batter and struck out six.