Beech Tree News Network

It has been a wet spring with a lot of cancellations and schedule changes but the Butler County Bears' Baseball and Softball teams are entering their final week of season prior to the 12th District Tournament.

Over the past 10 games, the Butler County Baseball team has gone 5-5 and currently has a 13-12 overall season record.  However, the Bears set atop 12th District standings with a 5-1 record.

According to head coach Keith Butler, the former Major League player in his first year at the helm of the Butler County Baseball team, final district standings have yet to determined.

"Grayson and Edmonson play today.  If Grayson wins we have a tie between us and Grayson," said Butler.  "We'll have to draw for first place in the district. 

Either way, Butler likes his chances. 

"I like our chances on every day we play no matter who it is," said Butler.  "Our defense and pitching have been our strong points and will need to continue to be going into the tournament." 

Butler said his team's hitting has kind of been "hit and miss" for much of the year but he's hoping to build momentum at the end. 

"Hopefully, with the 12th District Tournament closing in, the boys will get that momentum push to finish out our season strong," said Butler. 

Blake Graham has been particularly hot for the Bears lately.  Graham pitched eight scoreless innings against Grayson, allowing only two hits.  Then, he broke up a scoreless tie by leading off the 8th inning with a solo home run to right field.  In the second game against Metcalfe, Graham went 4 for 4 with a single and three home runs, including a grand slam.  He also took a perfect game until giving up a single in the top of the sixth. 

Below is a scoreboard recap of the Bears' last ten games:

4/24                Edmonson                            W                    5-4

4/25                at Edmonson                        W                    11-0

4/27                Franklin-Simpson               L                      13-1

4/28               at Trinity                               W                    11-0

5/2                  Ohio County                         L                      6-2

5/8                  Grayson County                 W                    1-0

5/9                  at Grayson County             L                      1-0

5/11                Logan County                       L                      9-1

5/13                Metcalfe County                  L                      3-2

5/13                Metcalfe County                 W                    9-0

Butler County wraps up the regular season this week with three games - all on the road.  On Tuesday, May 16, the Bears will be at Greenwood; on Thursday, May 18, the Bears will play at Monroe County; on Friday, May 19, Butler County will play University Heights. 

The 12th District Baseball Tournament will be at Edmonson County.  First-round games are scheduled for Monday, May 22, with the championship set for Tuesday, May 23.  Regional competition for the both the district champion and runner-up will begin the following week. 

* * *

The softball Bears currently stand at 12-13 overall and 3-2 in 12th District play.  Standings going into next week's district are still in a state of flux as there are two district make-up games remaining.  Butler County will travel to Edmonson on Wednesday, May 17, for a varsity-only game and Grayson will travel to Trinity on that same date. Both outcomes will impact district seeding. 

Butler County Softball is 7-3 over the past ten games and have been playing better recently. 

"We started kind of rough, rebounded a bit, and then went on a dry spell there for a while where we just weren't playing very well," said head coach John Embry. "We're not quite where we expected to be at this point in our season but we've been playing better ball lately and showing some consistency." 

With the district tournament pairing still to be determined, Coach Embry believes that any of the four teams is capable of making a run.

"Based on overall scores I guess you'd have to give Grayson slight edge but I feel like our team is as good as or better than any team in the district," said Embry.  "It will all boil down to which team gets hot at the end and turns in the best performance at tournament time." 

Speaking of hot, senior shortstop Maddie McKinney (team leading .448) has definitely been that way at the plate recently.  McKinney belted three home run blasts in a single game against Edmonson County on April 26. 

"Maddie has been good for us all year and especially good over the last several games," said Embry. 

Offensively, Amber Thacker, Autumn Proctor (8th grader, DP), Hannah Chaney, Madison Clark, and Olivia Jones all have batting averages solidly over .300, while Cheyenne White, Dixie Garnier, and Tori McKinney not too far away from that mark.  Also, pitchers Zoie Pendley and Kylee Smith have been tag-teaming most of the games recently and both have turned in good performances. 

Chaney and McKinney are battling it out in the RBI race. 

"Collectively, we have been playing better and hopefully will continue to improve as we move closer to post-season play," said Embry. 

Below is a scoreboard recap of the Bears' last ten softball games: 

4/20               at Grayson County                4-1                  L

4/24                Warren Central                    15-5                W

4/25                Bowling Green                     15-5                W

4/26                Edmonson County             13-8                W

4/28               Todd Co. Cent.                     3-2                  L

5/1                  Owensboro                         10-4                W

5/8                  Ohio County                      2-0                  L

5/9                  at McLean County           8-2                  W

5/11                at Breckinridge Co.          9-2                  W

5/15                at Owensboro                  16-0                 W

Butler County has a busy week of action this week.  The Bears are at Warren Central on 5/16, and are at Edmonson on 5/17.  Butler County returns home to host Russellville on 5/19 and Hancock County on 5/20 at 11 a.m.  The 12th District Softball Tournament will begin on Wednesday, May 24, with first round games.  The championship will be on Thursday, May 25.  Butler County is hosting this year's tournament.