A defensive stalemate suddenly turned into an offensive explosion in the sixth inning, but it was a perfect bunt by Lauren Whitehouse in the seventh that sealed Apollo’s 5-4 road victory over Owensboro Catholic in Monday’s 9th District softball action.
The Lady Aces (9-7, 4-2 9th District) rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth following a four-run outburst by the E-Gals (8-10, 2-1) in the top of the frame.
Apollo’s Madison Shemwell led off the seventh with a single and found herself at third with one out and Whitehouse at the plate. Whitehouse squared up and pushed the ball straight back up the middle, and Shemwell scored with ease for the winning run.
E-Gals head coach Stephen Julian said Whitehouse missed a bunt earlier in the game and he nearly let her hit away in her final at bat, but he knew she could get the job done.
“She did a fantastic job of getting it down when it mattered right there,” he said. “She executed it well. You could see the concentration level. When I called it, when she turned, you could just see it in her eyes. She focused. She stepped up right there and did a great job.”
Neither offense was able to string much together through the first five innings, as both pitchers were keeping the other team off balance.
The Lady Aces were first to strike, though, when leadoff batter Camille Conkright lined a homer over the heightened right field wall. Conkright finished the day 3-for-4 with the solo shot and two doubles, and she scored twice.
“Camille dominated at the plate,” said Catholic head coach Jeremy Phelps. “That’s what that kid can do. She had a good practice yesterday and I think it carried over. She worked on a couple things yesterday and had an outstanding day at the plate today.”
Apollo got runners in scoring position a few times but couldn’t capitalize until they loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the sixth.
Brooke Brown and Abbie Gore hit back-to-back singles and Whitehouse drew a walk to start the rally. After Hallie Wilson flew out, Madison Lowe grounded out but drove in Brown to tie the game. Madison Julian hit one in the gap to left field to plate Gore and Wilson before scoring herself on a single by Keely Eans.
The Lady Aces wasted no time getting a few runs of their own. Conkright doubled and Isabella Henning drew a walk to start the bottom of the sixth, and Danielle Henning knocked in Conkright with a single. Hannah Carter singled to load the bases with no outs, and a walk by Hadley Phelps scored Isabella Henning.
Danielle Henning scored on a fielder’s choice ground out by Brooke Simone, and two more quick outs left the game tied heading into the seventh. In a game against a district rival, Jeremy Phelps said they left a run or two on the bases during their rally.
“We know these games are going to be close,” he said. “We made that big comeback and got momentum, but then we lost it right back in the seventh inning. We let opportunities get away from us.”
Madison Julian got the win for Apollo, going six innings and giving up four runs on six hits with five strikeouts and a walk. Hadley Phelps took the complete-game loss for Catholic, allowing five runs (one unearned) on eight hits with two strikeouts and two walks.
“It was just another fun game to coach and be a part of,” Stephen Julian said. “Everybody played well all the way around. There weren’t really many errors to speak of, and it was a good pitchers duel. Then the hitters came to life towards the end a little bit.”
Catholic is finished with district play after sweeping Owensboro and splitting with both Daviess County and Apollo. The E-Gals play three more district games this week and start by hosting Owensboro on Tuesday. They’ll travel to Daviess County on Wednesday for a make-up game before hosting the Lady Panthers on Friday.
AHS 000-004-1—5-8-1
OCHS 100-003-0—4-7-2
WP: Julian. LP: Phelps. 2B: Wilson (A), Conkright 2 (OC). HR: Conkright (OC).
