Saturday, June 02, 2001
Boone wins Ninth Region softball
Three-run fourth inning claims crown
By George Schutte
Enquirer contributor
Boone County players celebrate by dumping a cooler of ice water on coach Patti Oliverio.
(Brandi Stafford photos)
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Boone County waited six years but finally came through with its first Ninth Region softball title since 1995, defeating Simon Kenton 3-0 Friday at Northern Kentucky University's Frank Ignatius Grein field.
The game started as a pitchers' duel; neither Simon Kenton's Lauren Wood nor Boone County's Heather Lawrence allowed a run through three innings.
Boone County struck in the fourth inning. After a groundout, Machelle Van Cleve and Megan Reed each singled.
On Reed's single, Simon Kenton's right fielder hesitated with her throw, allowing pinch runner Nicole Gatewood to score the game's first run.
The next batter, Lyndsey Gatewood, followed with a bunt that Simon Kentondidn't field cleanly, allowing Gatewood to reach first.
Simon Kenton catcher Eliza Klaine tags out Nicole Gatewood in the sixth inning.
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Ashley Tyler entered the game to run for Gatewood and promptly stole second base, putting runners on second and third with one out. Chrissi Egan hit a fly ball to right field that scored Reed and advanced Tyler to third base.
Tyler then scored on a wild pitch by Wood.
“As soon as we scored those runs in the fourth, I knew we would beat them,” Lawrence said.
Lawrence allowed only three more baserunners.
“This is our seventh tour nament we've entered and won this year,” Boone County coach Patti Oliverio said. “We were confident coming in because of that experience.”
Heather Lawrence
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Lawrence's shutout was the 16th by a Boone County pitcher this season.
“We had high standards coming in,” Simon Kenton coach Kraig Hoover said. “We need to work on our fundamentals. Good teams make the plays they're supposed to.”
Boone County will play the Second Region winner, Madisonville North Hopkins, at 9 a.m. Friday at Skyview Park in Jeffersontown.
Simon Kenton ....... 000 000 0—0 6 3
Boone County ....... 000 300 x—3 5 2
WP—Lawrence. LP—Wood. Hitting leaders: B—
Bishop 2B; Tierney 3B. S—Wood 3B; Faehr 2B; Bonar 2-4 3B. Records: B 32-6, S 22-12.
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