Lady Rockets fall in 9 innings to Anderson - Girls still advance to 8th Region Tournament

A controversial call in the first inning led to extra innings and a 1-0 Anderson County win in Tuesday's 30th District Championship game.

The Lady Rockets dropped a chance to win the school's fifth straight 30th District Title when Anderson scored one run in the top of the ninth and then used a double play to end Shelby County's title bid in the bottom of the inning.

However, it was a play in the first inning, a botched call by the first base umpire, that had SCHS head coach Kelly Cable bothered after the game.

With two outs and Dee Dee Davis on third, Hannah Abbott struck out, but the Anderson catcher dropped the ball. Abbott took off to first and when Anderson threw to first for the force out, Davis took off to home. The Anderson first baseman dropped the ball, but the umpire said she picked it up before Abbott reached the bag, rending Davis' score void.

"It definitely wasn't the right call," Cable said. "But we don't look for excuses or to blame anyone for a loss. We're not going to blame the loss on that call, but if it goes our way, we win."

The game remained tied at 0 through eight innings, proving that one run would have held up for the Lady Rockets.

However, Cable said she thought her team responded well to the adversity.

"I didn't think it affected how we played the game," she said. "But obviously it affected the outcome. But we stopped thinking about it and went on playing."

Both teams had opportunities with runners in scoring position throughout the game, but both defenses stepped up big.

Davis made a leaping grab at short and doubled up a Lady Bearcat runner with a throw to second to squelch an Anderson opportunity in the fifth.

The Lady Rockets also kept a threat at bay in the sixth when Anderson County led off with a double, but the runner tried to stretch it to a triple, and a perfect Courtney Tinsley to Davis to Jessica Williams relay nabbed the runner at third. The next Anderson batter singled, so the out at third saved a run.

The Lady Rockets stranded a runner at third in the second, and runners at second in the eighth and ninth, but came up empty.

Cable said she thought her team played outstanding, but she believes her team can improve.

"I still think we're better hitters than we showed," she said. "Even though we had six hits (the same number of hits Anderson County had), I know we can hit the ball better than that."

Despite the loss the Lady Rockets still advance to the 8th Region Tournament, which will begin Monday at Oldham County High School. The parings will not be set until Sunday, so the Lady Rockets won't know which district winner they'll face until then.

Cable said she knows her team will be ready.

"I think this loss makes us hungrier because we definitely want to see Anderson County again," she said. "Our only chance will be in the (8th Region) championship game, so I think it's going to make each game leading up to that even more important."

8th Region tourney

Since the teams won't draw for the 8th Region Softball Tournament until Sunday, the teams won't know who they play until the day before the games. Both the district winners and runners-up advance to the 8th Region Tournament.

But some of the winners and runners-up have been decided. In the 29th District Oldham County beat Trimble County 7-2 in the championship.

Henry County advanced to the title game, but because of the weather that game is being played tonight. They will face the winner of Owen County and Carroll County.

Simon Kenton advanced to the 32nd District title game, but weather changed the schedule there as well. Walton-Verona will play Grant County tonight in the second first-round game, and the winner will face Simon Kenton.

Anderson and Shelby won't be able to meet in the first round or semifinals of the regional.

All-District team

Jessica Williams, Shauna Gramig and Hannah Stucker of the Lady Rockets were named to the 30th District All-Tournament team.