Childress' Walk Off Grand Slam Finishes Butler County

Lady Bears are Run-Ruled By Lady Cats, 12-0

Addie Childress (8th grade) takes a swing at a pitch against Butler County earlier this season.

Darren Doyle, story and photos:
The future of Lady Cat Softball is bright, based on the performances of the younger players on Edmonson County's roster this season. 

The Lady Cats crushed district rival Butler County 12-0 last night at home, which was capped off by a grand slam from eighth grader Addie Childress. The blast put Edmonson ahead 12-0 in the bottom of the fifth, making it a run-ruled victory for the Lady Cats.

It's the second homer of the year for Childress, who has recently earned a starting spot in the outfield for Edmonson County. While her bat got the attention last night, her defense has also been solid throughout the season. She is one of five eighth graders on the varsity roster.

Freshman outfielder Brooklyn Wilson at the plate in an earlier game this season.

Brooklyn Wilson, a freshman outfielder for Edmonson County, has also gained attention this season. Last night she hit her first career home run, a three-run shot in the bottom of the second. The Lady Cats put two more on the board in the inning after Kaylee Ann Sanders ripped a triple to the gap, putting Edmonson County up 5-0.

Wilson is the fifth new member to what is known as the "Bomb Squad" for Edmonson County, which is the exclusive club reserved for those who have hit out-of-the park varsity home runs for the Lady Cats. This season alone, along with Childress and Wilson, senior catcher Annie Kiper, senior shortstop Callie Webb, and sophomore pitcher Julie Norris have all hit homers. Senior center fielder Alyssa Doyle hit her first career home run last season. Edmonson County hasn't seen six different long-ball hitters on the same roster in years.

Kylee Williams, an eighth grader, leads the Lady Cats in stolen bases (16), and has not yet been caught stealing this season. Used as a pinch runner, she's normally put in the game as a courtesy runner for pitcher Julie Norris, who has been a batting leader (.453) for the Lady Cats this season. Jolee Vincent, a freshman, is the starting second baseman and is currently hitting .346 on the season.

Six Lady Cats notched hits last night with three of them earning multi-base hits. Norris went 5 innings in the pitcher's circle, giving up only two hits, no runs, while striking out three. She walked only two batters.

It wasn't just hot bats and solid pitching from the Lady Cats last night. The girls made multiple impressive defensive plays, both infield and outfield. Kaylee Ann Sanders made a highlight throw from third after knocking down a hard hit ball to nail a runner at first, Callie Webb made two different rocket throws from short to get runners, and center fielder Alyssa Doyle made a diving catch to save a run. First baseman Makayla Hogg impressed at first base, stretching to make multiple plays all night. While all these plays turned heads, it's become more of the norm for Edmonson County this year. Every position player has made a "highlight reel" catch at some point this season, with several making more than one.

Butler County's Tinslea Belcher gave up 12 earned runs on 10 hits, striking out 6, walking 2, while hitting two batters.

Edmonson County improves to 12-7 on the season and moves to 4-1 in district play, tying Butler County for first place standings.