Beech Tree News Network

Gabbard Branch WMA, an 809 acre site, is one of two new wildlife management areas to open for spring turkey season

Expect more eager gobblers this season

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Butler County fell in a 3-2 loss to Ohio County Eagles on Thursday. The Eagles took the lead on a single by Grayden Barnard in the first inning.

Ohio County pitchers struck out four, while Butler County sat down two.

Matt Smith led things off on the mound for the Eagles. The righty went seven innings, allowing two runs on three hits, striking out four, and walking one.

Kolton Hudson was on the hill for the Bears. He surrendered three runs on five hits over four innings, striking out two and walking zero. Clay Vincent threw three innings in relief out of the bullpen.

Butler County picked up their second softball win for the week with a 5-3 victory over Franklin-Simpson Lady Cats on Thursday. The Bears trailed 2-1 in the top of the fifth inning when Carley Jones doubled on a 0-1 count, scoring two runs.

Franklin-Simpson started things in the first inning, scoring one run when Stout doubled.

LOUISVILLE — Butler County senior Tobin Maxfield shot a 295 to finish runner-up in the Kentucky NASP State Tournament on Saturday, March 18.

Maxfield recorded 26 10s during the State Tournament. 

Butler County finished sixth out of 149 teams. The Bears scored 3,367, which included 178 10s.

Junior Brodie Vinson was the top male finisher for Butler County, placing 18th. Vinson recorded 20 10s. 

BCMS football 7th grade quarterback Brody Dockery has been nominated for the Team Kentucky Battle of the Regions team quarterback. Brody will be competing over the next few weekends with players from around the region. 

MORGANTOWN — Butler County dropped its season opener as visiting Madisonville-North Hopkins pulled away to win 13-5 on Thursday, March 16. 

Pitching out of a relief role, Madisonville-North Hopkins hurler Mackenzie Stoltz earned the win in the circle. Stoltz pitched four scoreless innings, giving up two hits and four walks while recording five strikeouts. 

Sydney Skeen started in the circle for Madisonville-North Hopkins. Skeen pitched three innings, allowing five runs on seven hits and two walks. 

Bears upend Franklin-Simpson, 3-2

FRANKLIN — Winning on the road, Butler County upended Franklin-Simpson, an opponent from the nearby 4th Region, 3-2 in an early-season high school baseball game on Thursday, March 16. 

OWENSBORO — Butler County eighth grade center/forward Ava Wilson was named to the 2022-23 All-3rd Region Girls' Basketball Tournament Team.

MORGANTOWN — Butler County freshman catcher/infielder/outfielder Parker Willoughby is tied for 10th in the Preseason 3rd Region Softball Player Rankings.  Catcher Madison Clark also received votes for the Top 10 in the region.  

The rankings were compiled following voting from coaches across the 3rd Region. 

Willoughby led Butler County as an eighth grader in the 2022 high school softball season, batting .425 with 46 runs, 48 hits, 27 RBIs, 15 doubles, one triple, one home run, 19 walks and four steals.