Beech Tree News Network

The Warren Central Dragon softball team (0-4) made the short trip up the Natcher Parkway on Monday and returned to Bowling Green a few hours later later with a 13-0 loss to Butler County.  The Bears (3-3) exploded for nine runs in the second inning and four runs in the third to secure the 5-innning win. 

Butler County had 12 hits for the game, including three each by Morgan Manning and Kassie Phelps; and one each for Madeline Drake, Amy Rogers, Natoshia White, Jazmin Reynolds, Alex Embry, and Hannah Peach. 

Drake had three RBIs; Embry and Peach had two apiece. Manning, Embry, and Peach all had sacrifice bunts. 

Sophomore third baseman Lynsie Clark made her first rehab appearence since breaking her foot at the beginning of basketball season.  She walked and grounded out in limited action.  Clark is considered "day to day" as she continues to recover from her injury. 

Pitcher Morgan Manning had a season-high ten strikeouts, allowed two hits and walked one in five innings. 

WC    0  0  0  0  0        0    2    8
BC     0  9  4  0  x       13  12    0

On Tuesday night, the varsity Bears were back in action at Meade County, one of the top teams in the Third Region.  Scoreless through three innings, Meade plated a single run in the fourth.  The Bears threatened to score early in the game but couldn't come through with a well-timed RBI hit.  The home team scored two more runs in the sixth to take the 3-0 win.  Shortstop Madeline Drake made an nice diving play in the bottom of the sixth to limit the damage.

Butler County (3-4) managed only two hits for the game - both singles by Amy Rogers and Madeline Drake. 

"Overall we didn't play bad, especially against a quality program like Meade County, but our mistakes really cost us in this game and we spent too much time watching the pitches instead of trying to hit them," said BCHS head coach John Embry, referring to 11 total strike-outs and three of those looking. 

Morgan Manning turned in her best pitching performance of the season thus far.  She allowed five hits, two earned runs, walked one, and struck out three. 

"Morgan pitched a solid game, hit her spots, worked her change well, and stayed down in the zone against a strong offensive team.  She helped put us in a good position to win the game," said Embry.

BC    0  0  0  0  0  0  0        0    2    5
MC    0  0  0  1  0  2  x        3    5    0

* * *

In junior varsity action, Butler County defeated Warren Central 9-1 but fell 4-3 to Meade County.  The JV Bears had five hits against Central, including singles by Naomi Cade (2-RBI), Abigail Fry (3-RBI), Hannah Peach (RBI), Candace Ibarra, and Allie Howard.  Alex Embry had an RBI and Fry had an inside-the-park home run.

Pitcher Kassie Phelps struck out ten batters, allowed five hits, and no earned runs. 

Against Meade County, Butler County managed four hits - all singles - Alex Embry, Sarah Johnson, and Callie Cardwell with two.  Hannah Peach picked up an RBI.   

Phelps allowed four hits, two earned runs, and struck out two batters. 

* * *
On Wednesday, March 28, Butler County spilt a JV-doubleheader with Allen County Scottsville.  The Bears won the first game 4-3 in extra innings.  AC-S took the second game 3-2.

In the first game of the night, Butler's Allie Howard stole second and scored on a Hannah Peach single in the bottom of the 7th inning for the win. Peach also had a double.  Naomi Cade, Alex Embry and Emily Rich also singled.  Abigail Fry had two sac bunts and Candace Ibarra had one. Emily Rich made a pair of nice defensive plays in right field.

Pitcher Natoshia White allowed only two hits, no earned runs, struck out three batters, and walked two. 

In the second game, the Bears were limited to four hits but Butler County defensive errors actually proved to be the difference in the 3-2 loss.  Cade, Peach, Embry, and Sarah Johnson all singled.  Peach had an RBI and Fry had a sacrifice bunt, as well as a much-improved defensive game at third base.

Pitcher Kassie Phelps allowed three hits, one earned run, struck out two batters and walked one.