By STEVE CORNELIUS, CJ Sports Editor
Somerset — It has been a good week for the Pulaski County High School softball team, as the Lady Maroons chalked up two district wins.
On Thursday night, Pulaski exploded for 15 hits in a 11-1 six-inning, mercy rule victory over visiting Rockcastle County. Two days prior, Pulaski traveled cross-town to Somerset to pick up a hard-fought 2-1 win over the Lady Jumpers.
“This game was important and it was just as big as Tuesday night’s game (against Somerset),” Pulaski softball coach Scott Taylor said. “We are happy to start out 2-0 in the district seeding games. We still have four more games, so we still have a long ways to go. It is far from over because anybody in this district can beat anybody, but it is nice to get the first two under our belts.”
Despite the lopsided score, the game stayed competitive until the Lady Maroons broke the contest wide open with a two-out, six-run fourth inning rally.
After the first two Lady Maroons were retired, Kendra Hyden and Morgan Pike reached base on walks. Hyden and Pike both scored after Lindsey Stephens slammed a triple off the left field fence. Brandi Randolph, who was courtesy running for Stephens, scored off a Heather Katulski single up the middle. Katulski came home on a Brittany McKee double off the centerfield fence. Then, Kayla Lorman doubled off the left field fence to score McKee and Katie Duff.
Once the fourth inning had ended, Pulaski held a unsurmountable 9-0 lead.
The Lady Maroons put the finishing touches on the Lady Rockets in the bottom of the sixth, after scoring two runs and ending the game with the 10-run margin mercy rule.
In the sixth, McKee doubled to right field to score Katulski, and Duff singled to left field to score Randolph (running for McKee).
Pulaski got on the boards first with 3 runs in the third inning. Hyden scored off a Stephens infield hit, Pike scored off a double steal play and MaKayla Bryant (courtesy running for Stephens) scored off a Katulski double to left field.
As it turned out Pulaski could use all the offense they could muster, as the Lady Maroons went through three pitchers in the game. Starting pitcher McKee and her reliever Stephens left the pitching circle with nagging injuries.
“It is unusual to use three pitchers in a softball game, especially when you only give up one run,” Taylor commented. “Brittany (McKee) started hurting Tuesday night and we had to take her out of that game, and Lindsey (Stephens) is hurting a little bit. Over the next two or three weeks until we get everybody back to 100 percent, it is going to be a patchwork situation.”
“Katie (Duff) came in and did a good job pitching in that last inning,” Taylor added. “I am pleased with all the efforts my pitchers are giving me, but right now there is a lot of pain going on. It is going to be the coaching staff’s job to pitch them enough to keep them loose, but not pitch them too much to keep re-aggravating their injuries.”
The Lady Maroons were led offensively by Heather Katulski, who hit a perfect 4-for-4, drove in two runs and scored two runs.
“Heather (Katulski) and Brittany (McKee) have been hitting the ball well all year, and Carla Smith has been giving us good offensive production in the 9-hole,” Taylor said. “Lindsey (Stephens) is just now getting her swing back and she hit a couple of balls hard tonight. Katie Duff is beginning to hit the ball better and Kayla Lorman got a couple of big hits tonight. So, we are getting to the point where we are getting more offensive production.”
Pulaski (10-3, 2-0) will play in the Madison Southern Tournament this weekend, and will host district rivals Casey County on Tuesday, April 20.
RC 0 0 0 0 1 0 X — 1 3 2
PC 0 0 3 6 0 2 X — 11 15 0
2B — Katulski, McKee, Lorman, Smith (PC). 3B — Stephens (PC). RBI — Katulski 2, Stephens 2, McKee 2, Lorman 2, Duff (PC) . WP — McKee (PC).
