Beech Tree News Network

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. 

OWENSBORO — Butler County sophomores Ty Price and Lawson Rice were selected to the All-3rd Region Boys' Basketball Tournament Team. 

OWENSBORO — Butler County sophomore guard Ty Price has been named the ESPN Owensboro Player of the Year. 

OWENSBORO — Butler County faced a deficit at the end of each quarter as Owensboro prevailed 95-77 in the semifinals of the 3rd Region Boys' Basketball Tournament at the Owensboro Sportscenter on Saturday, March 4. 

The Bears pushed the Red Devils throughout the first half of the region tournament game. 

Owensboro led 20-16 at the end of the first quarter but managed to add to its advantage. 

The Red Devils led 42-33 at halftime, forcing Butler County to continue to play from behind midway throughout the postseason matchup.

OWENSBORO — Butler County led at the end of each quarter on the way to defeating Hancock County 67-56 in the opening round of the 3rd Region Boys' Basketball Tournament at the Owensboro Sportscenter on Thursday, March 2.

BRANDENBURG — Butler County won the NASP Region 3 Invitational at Meade County High School on Saturday, Feb. 25.

Thriving throughout the NASP Region 3 Invitational, Butler County shot a 3,381 to finish first in the team standings and take the tournament title. 

Among the area's top high school archery teams, Butler County featured several standouts during the tournament. 

OWENSBORO — Butler County fell behind early and couldn't battle back as Owensboro Catholic pulled away to win 71-29 in the opening round of the 3rd Region Girls' Basketball Tournament at the Owensboro Sportscenter on Monday, Feb. 27.

The loss eliminated Butler County from the 3rd Region Girls' Basketball Tournament. Butler County exited the 2022-23 girls' high school basketball season 19-11. 

Owensboro Catholic set the tone during the first quarter of the region tournament game, outscoring Butler County 21-9.