No. 1 Ballard softball beats Mercy, extends Kentucky state record win streak to 51 games
The only new starter for a Ballard High School softball team that went 39-0 and won the state championship last year, junior catcher Kady Dennis admitted there have been some nervous moments this season.
“It’s been stressful,” Dennis said, “just because I’ve had to step up to the big spot.”
But Dennis showed Thursday night she’s getting more comfortable. Batting ninth in the lineup, Dennis hit the first home run of her high school career to spark a four-run third inning in the Bruins’ 5-0 victory over visiting Mercy.
No. 1-ranked Ballard (12-0) ran its state-record winning streak to 51 and is now 66-1 over its last 67 games, the only blemish coming in a 2-1 loss to Daviess County in the first round of the 2021 state tournament.
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Ballard broke the previous state record of 46 consecutive victories — set by Greenwood from 2013-14 — on a spring break trip to Fort Walton Beach, Florida, on April 4.
“It was great to set it, and the girls really wanted it,” veteran Bruins coach Alan Jones said. “But I was so glad we finally did it so we could quit talking about it.”
Dennis — who took over for Alyssa Simmons, the only Bruin to graduate from the 2022 championship squad — sparked the offense with her third-inning home run.
“Alyssa was a huge loss, probably one of the best catchers I’ve ever had,” Jones said. “But Kady’s done a great job taking over.”
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Ballard’s household names took care of the rest.
Seniors Macy McCoy and Imari Golden both had three hits to lead the Bruins’ 11-hit attack. And senior pitcher Brooke Gray was as reliable as ever, tossing a four-hitter and striking out 16.
Gray, a University of Louisville signee, said there have been no growing pains with Dennis as her new catcher.
“I have full trust in her,” Gray said, “and it’s nice to have that.”
Added Dennis: “The girls have really had my back throughout the whole season.”
No. 11-ranked Mercy (13-2) had its eight-game winning streak snapped. The Jaguars entered the game with 28 home runs — tied with Henderson County for the state lead — but managed just four singles off Gray.
Sophomore Ava Reinhart had two of the hits.
“I felt like I only had two kids tonight that got in the box and were aggressive with attacking her — Peyton Arnold and Ava Reinhart,” Jaguars coach James Brentlinger said. “Everybody else seemed like they were a little bit timid. Just weren’t aggressive like we have been.”
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Junior Maya Merrill (5-1) suffered her first loss, allowing four runs in 2 2/3 innings. Brentlinger noted Merrill just recently returned from a fractured leg that kept her out for three months.
“Her spins are a little bit off, and she left a couple of balls hanging there and she knows it,” Brentlinger said. “But once we get her back to full strength … I think this is a different ballgame. I’m OK where we’re at.”
Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @kyhighs.
MERCY 000 000 0 - 0 4 1
BALLARD 004 001 x - 5 11 0
WP – Brooke Gray (9-0). LP – Maya Merrill (5-1).
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky high school softball: Ballard wins 51st straight vs Mercy
