The two teams that met in the 2018 2nd Region softball championship game, and two teams expected to contend for the title again this season, squared off Saturday afternoon. With Caldwell County ace Katie Franklin in left field after having pitched earlier in the day, the Christian County Lady Colonels broke out the big bats against the Lady Tigers #2 hurler on their way to a 14-3 five inning win.
The game started off in promising fashion for Caldwell County. The Lady Tigers became the first team to score against Christian County in the 2019 season as they plated three runs in the top of the first inning. The big hits were a double from Mashea Glover and a two run single from Allie Felker.
The Lady Colonels were quick to respond to being behind for the first time this season. Christian County loaded the bases on a single, a dropped third strike, and a hit batter. A bases loaded walk to Taylor Shemwell cut the Caldwell County lead to 3-1. Reni Shemwell then crushed a grand slam, her third home run in two games, as the Lady Colonels grabbed a 5-3 lead. Pickle Winkler finished the scoring with an RBI single to make it 6-3 after one inning.
After getting touched up for three runs in the top of the first inning, Christian County’s Hannah Sumner was spectacular in the circle, retiring 12 batters in a row. In fact, Sumner held the Lady Tigers without a hit for the rest of the game. The only runner to reach base for the rest of the game was on a catcher’s interference call in the top of the 5th.
Christian County extended the lead to 7-3 on an RBI double from Tyler Shemwell in the bottom of the 3rd inning.
The Lady Colonels then blew the game wide open with seven runs in the bottom of the 4th inning. Pickle Winkler had the big blow in the inning, blasting a 3-run homer over the fence in right-center. Hope Jones added a two run double, and Reni Shemwell hit a two run homer to left-center for her 4th home run in two games.
For the game, it was a monster outing for Reni Shemwell, who went 2-4 with 2 home runs, 6 RBIs, and two runs scored. Pickle Winker also had a big game, going 4-4 with a home run, 4 RBIs, and two runs scored. Hope Jones was 1-3 with a double, 2 RBIs, and two runs scored.
For Caldwell County, Allie Felker led the way, going 1-2 with two RBI’s.
Hannah Sumner pitched four innings for Christian County, giving up three runs on three hits, striking out one, and walking one.
Illysa Stallins went four innings for Caldwell County, giving up 14 runs on 14 hits, striking out two and walking five.