On the same day as each team had a star player honored, the Russellville Lady Panthers and Logan County Lady Cougars learned which team they will play to start the Fourth Region Softball Tournament.
RHS senior Amiyah Collier and LCHS junior Emerson McKinnis were named First Team All-Region, based on season play. They came into the season considered to be among the best the area had to offer, and they haven’t disappointed.
Meanwhile, the Lady Cougars appear to have received a more favorable draw for the upcoming regional than did the Lady Panthers. Part of that is because district champions (Logan is one of them) get to play district runners-up (RHS fits this category.)
But the luck of the draw also makes the job more difficult for the Lady Panthers, who open regional play against the region’s top=rated team. Barren County comes into the tournament with a 28-2 record. Russellville is an impressive 20-14 and rated fifth in the region, but the Kentucky High school Athletic Association’s RPI calculations make the Lady Trojans a heavy favorite. Barren County won their lone meeting during the regular season 15-5.
You have to figure, though, that proven winners like seniors Jaylah Kees, Brinley Mason and Collier are not going to let go of their storied high school careers without putting up a battle.
The game is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the WkU Softball Field.
Lady Cougars vs. AC-S
Logan County has beaten Allen County-Scottsville twice this season. Neither was easy, but the second one showed how much stronger the team has gotten as the season has progressed. The Lady Cougars won in early March 9-8. Then about two weeks ago they outscored the Lady Patriots 12-8.
Logan is ranked third in the region with an 18-9 record. They have won nine of their last ten games. Allen County is rated eighth in the region and has a 13-16 record. Yet the Lady Patriots showed they can’t be taken lightly by their performance in the 15th District Tournament. They beat a Warren East team which had won 21 games and then lost only 3-1 to Barren County in the championship game.
Logan’s RPI is .58896 and Allen County’s .51473.
First pitch at WKU Monday is scheduled for 5:30 Monday.
The Honorees
In addition to Collier and McKinnis being named first team all-region, Logan County’s Nora Epley and Shayla Johnson were chosen second team.
Here are their statistics so far:
A’miyah Collier, RHS: .527 batting average, 48 hits, 38 runs scored, 30 RBIs, 6 doubles, 2 triples, 10 homers, 9 walks 14 stolen bases in 14 attempts; 14-9 pitching record, 2.56 earned run average, 24 games starting pitcher, 133.2 innings pitched, 35 walks 126 strikeouts
Emerson McKinnis, LCHS: .385 batting average, 30 hits, 19 runs scored, 38 RBIs, 4 doubles, 17 homers, 20 walks, 3 hit by pitches
Nora Epley, LCHS: .432 batting average, 41 hits, 29 runs scored, 27 RBIs, 15 doubles, 5 triples, 2 homers, 4 walks, 5 stolen bases in 5 attempts
Shayla Johnson, LCHS: .282 batting average, 22 hits, 14 runs scored, 23 RBIs. 3 doubles, 1 triple, 7 homers, 15 walks, 2 hit by pitches; 12-4 pitching record, 2.96 earned run average, 18 games starting pitcher, 25 walks, 105 strikeouts