Male, Assumption, Manual and Ballard advance to regional semifinals after series of shutouts
A serious look came over Male AD and interim softball coach John Kelsey's face moments after the Bulldogs' 10-0 win over Sacred Heart on Saturday. The No. 18 Bulldogs had just advanced to the Seventh Region softball semifinals, but Kelsey wasn't playing around when he told the team's five seniors to go wait in the dugout.
But as Jadyn Thompson, Lilly Davis, Kaylie Covert, Elizabeth Lampe and Isabelle Wright's backs were turned, Kelsey's face slipped into a mischievous grin while pulling out a freshly-opened can of silly string.
They never stood a chance.
Covered in a sticky combination of magnesium, silicon, and oxygen, Male was exuberant following its blowout win. After starting the year off slow and dealing with a coaching switch, the Bulldogs couldn't be happier to still be playing for a championship.
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"First and foremost it's all about them," Kelsey said. "They are a very talented group of girls and our expectations are high. I told them a month ago that we do expect to be back at U of L and I think the girls expected to be back as well."
What it means
Male (19-8) will advance to Sunday’s semifinal to face the winner of Eastern (14-23) and Manual (28-5). First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at the University of Louisville. The Bulldogs will be looking to return to the Seventh Region championship for the third-straight time since 2019 (2020's tournament was canceled due to the pandemic).
Sacred Heart's season, which included a 27th District Championship, ends at 17-12.
Key moment
After two unsuccessful trips at bat, Male senior Jadyn Thompson found her pitch at the top of the fourth inning. The Bulldogs’ best-hitter (.484 batting average) crashed a two-run triple out into right field that extended the Bulldogs’ lead to 5-0.
Thompson is one of the strongest sparks the Bulldogs offense has. When she’s swinging well the results are infectious and that was the case on Saturday. Thompson’s shot opened the floodgates and Male’s offense stormed the Valkyries for four more runs.
By the end of the inning, Male led Sacred Heart 9-0 and the win was in sight.
"I definitely think it's on me kind of start the game," Thompson said. "It's a confidence thing. Confidence is contagious, so when somebody goes up there with confidence it just spreads from there.
By the numbers
Male used three different pitchers on Saturday and none of them gave up a run. Senior ace Isabelle Wright started the first two innings and earned the win while Junior reliever Lilly Keen closed the show in the sixth.
Where the Bulldogs' defense really shined however was when eighth grade pitcher Shelby James was in the circle. Despite her age, James didn't let Male miss a beat and her pitches carried zip throughout the game. James said being trusted to deliver on the big stage did wonders for her confidence.
"It showed me that I can compete with anyone here," James said. "It gave me the confidence to keep pitching throughout the game."
Up next
Male beat a tough Manual squad 3-1 on April 26 . The bats weren't as hot but Wright threw a beautiful game over seven innings, only allowing seven hits and a run while striking out eight batters. The Bulldogs are confident they can beat their semifinal opponent again and make it back to the championship game.
"I think we're the best team in Louisville," James said. "I think that we can win it all."
They said it
Jadyn Thompson believes that the Bulldogs' late season momentum makes Male the team to beat. With so much depth in its lineup, the Bulldogs can break a game open in a instant.
"It takes one pitch and then from there, like I said 'it's contagious,'" Thompson said. "Once you have one hitter come up, it could be Lilly Davis or Izzy Wright, anyone ... once one person turns it on our entire team is going to get hot."
Male 102 601 10
Sacred Heart 000 000 0
WP- Isabelle Wright (7-2), LP – Brooke Harrod (14-8)
Assumption 15, Atherton 0
Assumption awaits Ballard in the semifinals after crushing Atherton 15-0 in three innings. The Rockets are surging, having won two straight — including their 7-5 win over Male in the 26th District Championship on May 24.
In terms of rankings, the No. 7 Rockets are the second-best team in the Seventh Region field. That doesn't mean their road will be easy. No.1 Ballard (32-0) is heavily favored to win the region and potentially the state championship.
The last time Assumption faced Ballard, the Rockets were easily dispatched 11-0. Despite the lopsided blowout from three weeks ago, Assumption could still be the Bruins toughest obstacle on its journey to a state title.
Manual 8, Eastern 0
Manual's leadoff hitter Caley Wade fired up the Crimsons' offense with the first at-bat of the game. After putting the Eagles on their heels with a triple, Wade scored on a throw out of play. Her teammates soon followed her example.
Manual shutout Eastern 8-0 on Saturday. The Crimsons (29-5) will play Male at 1 p.m. on Sunday in the semifinals and if their offense stays as explosive as it was against the Eagles, it'll be a can't-miss event.
The highlight of the afternoon was Hailey Kincaid's two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning. With pitcher Emilia Clemons keeping the Eagles in check, Kincaid's homerun was the final blow that ended Eastern's season (14-24).
Ballard 15, Portland Christian 0
No. 1 Ballard took out Portland Christian in four innings by a score of 15-0. It was the 20th time the Bruins defeated its opponents in less than seven innings this season.
Ballard's defense hasn't allowed a run in four games, but the Bruins offense was cold coming into Saturday's quarterfinal. Ballard scored only three runs in its last two games, but shook off the funk against the Eagles.
Lilli Koch led the Bruins at the plate. The sophomore finished the day 3-for-3, having driven in runs in the first, second and third innings.
Ballard now looks ahead to its rematch with No. 7 Assumption. The Bruins have had the Rocket's number the past few seasons and they'll be favored in the semifinals. None of that will matter if Assumption pulls off the unthinkable. Anything can happen in the postseason.
Follow Courier Journal reporter J.L. Kirven on Twitter @JL_Kirven for more updates on Louisville prep sports.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky HS Softball: Male, Assumption, Manual, Ballard regional semis
