Lady Cats Fall To Butler In District Finals: Will Play in First Region Tourney Since 2016 on Saturday

Makayla Hogg hits a triple in the top of the second inning for the Lady Cats.

Darren Doyle, story: Madison Doyle, photos:
Things didn't go as well as planned last night at James Woodcock Field at ECHS, as the Lady Cats fell 11-5 to Butler County in the District 12 Championship finals, but Edmonson County is already looking to make the best out of it with more softball to play in the Region 3 Tournament that will be held at Grayson County on Saturday.

It will be the first region play for the Lady Cats since 2016 and this year is the first winning season for Edmonson County since that time. This season has had many firsts for members of this team, and winning is on the top of the list.

The 2023 Lady Cats with the district runner-up trophy.

"We didn't play our best tonight, I'm not going to make any bones about that. I'm not going to try to act like we did, we just didn't," said Head Coach Alex Jane Massey. "We came on a little too late and it gives a team like Butler County, well, you just can't do that. You got to come out fighting from the very beginning and we waited a little too long to do that. I think the nerves were still on. We got a lot of young kids out there, and honestly, none of these kids have ever played in a district championship softball game. Some of them have played other sports, you know we have some basketball kids that got to experience a district championship, and Alyssa (Doyle) has played in some volleyball (championships), but softball-wise, this is the first for all of these kids and it's a different pressure they put on themselves and I just think it got the best of us."

Alyssa Doyle prepares to make a catch in center field.

Brooklynn Wilson slides in safely at home against Butler County.

Annie Kiper catches a pitch against Butler County.

Butler County was effective on both offense and defense, scoring early and maintaining control from the pitcher's circle. Avery Gleason for the Lady Bears pitched 7 innings, gave up 8 hits and struck out 8 while walking only 1, as she earned 2 runs. Their offense was able to generate 13 hits, 10 RBIs, and they hit .393 as a team that included 6 doubles, a triple, and a home run.

For the Lady Cats, Makayla Hogg went 2-3 with a triple, Addie Childress was 2-3, and Annie Kiper went 2-4 with a double. Callie Webb and Brooklynn Wilson each went 1-3.

Julie Norris pitched 6 innings for Edmonson County, giving up 8 earned runs on 13 hits. She walked 4 and struck out 2.

While taking home the runner-up trophy wasn't really the plan, it's still a move in the right direction for Edmonson County, who had seen nothing but losing records for the last 6 seasons until now. In Coach Massey's first interview with the Voice after she was hired, she said wanted to break the culture of losing.

"I think that we've busted through that," she said last night. "These kids finally have a taste for what it is like to win and that's contagious. I think these kids, the youth, the great senior leadership, they're going to continue the desire to win and that's how champions are born."

Alyssa Doyle was named to the All District 12 Academic Team.

Julie Norris (L) and Callie Webb were named to the All District 12 Season Team.

Annie Kiper (L) and Callie Webb were named to the District 12 All Tournament Team.

Multiple players were named to All District 12 Teams: Alyssa Doyle was named to the All Academic, Julie Norris and Callie Webb were named to the All Season, and Annie Kiper and Callie Webb were named to the All Tournament team.

The drawing for the Region 3 bracket will be held today. Games are scheduled from 10AM up to 5:30PM at Grayson County  on Saturday.