‘We all showed up.’ Douglass softball goes down fighting in district tournament.
In previous games against No. 18 Scott County this season, Frederick Douglass suffered a pair of five-inning mercy-rule defeats by a combined score of 26-1, including a 14-0 loss on April 24.
But Monday night in the first round of the 42nd District tournament at Henry Clay, the Cardinals needed 10 innings to squeak by a much-improved Broncos squad that had won nine of its last 11 games.
While Douglass sophomore pitcher Chloe Hartlep eventually gave up a walk and two singles that gave Scott County the walk-off 1-0 win, for nine innings she and the Broncos’ defense kept themselves in the game. Hartlep allowed only six hits, walked seven and struck out 12.
“All year long we were growing and getting better, but no one outside of Douglass softball thought we could do this,” Douglass interim coach Omar Shalash said. “We all showed up and we all knew deep down inside if we played and Chloe brought the heat that we’d be here.”
Shalash, who earned the 11th Region’s coach of the year honors on the soccer pitch last fall, took over the softball team one week into the season after the abrupt departure of Larry McCullough.
Douglass lost eight of its next nine games but turned a corner midseason to finish 11-12 with a lineup that had no seniors, two juniors and started three seventh-graders.
“We learned how to practice effectively and how to show up to games and be prepared and most importantly holding each other accountable,” Shalash said. “Ultimately, it’s about believing in yourself.”
The Broncos had a chance to take the lead in the top of the 10th inning Monday after Jorden Bowman hit a one-out triple to right field. It was the Broncos’ first hit against Scott County pitcher Ada Little, who had allowed only two walks and struck out 20. The hard-throwing Little struck out the next batter after two failed bunt attempts and fielded a sharply-hit grounder to end the threat.
Scott County advanced to Thursday’s finals where it will face the winner of Wednesday’s game between Henry Clay and Bryan Station.
Shalash acknowledged his time with the softball team is over, but he’s excited for its future.
“Whoever takes over this program is going to be a lucky guy or gal,” Shalash said. “Because what they’re inheriting is all heart and determination.”
Monday’s other game
Lexington Christian 7, Paul Laurence Dunbar 4: Back-to-back RBI singles by Hadley Dunn and Lily Evans capped a five-run third inning that gave the host Eagles the lead in their 43rd District tournament opener.
LCA freshman pitcher Sabrina Sizemore allowed two Dunbar runs in the first and two more in the third but shut the Bulldogs out the rest of the way for her eighth win of the season. Sizemore led the team with three runs scored at the plate, including a solo home run in the fourth inning, to go with a pair of walks.
LCA (10-12) was scheduled to play Lafayette (22-4) in Wednesday’s semifinals at Lexington Christian.
