Written by Mike Graham for 10th Region.

For the second year in a row, the Harrison County Fillies and Montgomery County Indians will battle for the 10th Region softball crown.

Both teams took care of their respective region semifinal opponents in six innings Tuesday to make it back to the region championship. Game time is 6 p.m. Wednesday back at Al Rust Field at Scott High School.

Harrison County 13, Campbell County 2 (6 innings)

The Fillies set the tone scoring five unearned runs in the top of the first then scored five more in the top of the second and never took the foot off gas pedal on their way to a convincing win over the Camels.

“I felt like we brought the bats,” Harrison County head coach Chad Persinger said. “We faced a really good pitcher (Monday) in (Bracken County’s) Ella Johnson. We knew we weren’t facing that type of pitcher so we were hoping they’d get going. We hoped to take the pressure off and that’s what we were able to do.”

Shyanne Ross (12-2) pitched a complete game for the Fillies. She struck out five and walked five with Harrison County committing just one error behind her.

“I definitely have a lot of confidence in my defense when I’m pitching,” Ross said. “Scoring a lot of runs early plays a role in how loose, how confident you are with your pitches. We play a tough schedule all season so that we’re prepared for this moment. It takes a lot of mental preparation to be focused the whole time.”

Ross also led Harrison County (34-6 overall) at the plate going 4-for-5 with two runs scored. Allison Dye added three hits and scored three runs with Emma Hamm and Trista Ritchie adding two hits each.

Ritchie had the big blow in the top of the first with a three-run home run for her sixth of the season to give the Fillies the 5-0 advantage. That came after Campbell County committed an error on a play that could have ended the inning, but saw Ross score instead. Dye then singled in Hamm to put the Fillies up 2-0.

“We couldn’t get that big out in the first inning,” Campbell County head coach Sandi Kitchen said. “They plate those five runs and we have to play come from behind. That’s tough. I give credit to our girls. I don’t think they gave up.”

Harrison County wound up outhitting Campbell County, 16-4. Ross started the rally in the top of the second with a double with one out then scored when Hamm singled. After Owyn McCoy singled, Savannah White smacked a three-run home run for her seventh of the year to give the Fillies a 10-1 lead.

“Setting the tone early allowed us to get out there, relax and play the game that we know how to play,” White said. “(Hamilton) got me on her high change up the first time up. I got a little upset after it, but by the next at-bat, normally that’s all gone. Let’s make the changes and there that happened.”

Leadoff hitter Josie Feeback scored both runs for the Camels. Feeback walked then scored on a Sam Perry double to make it 5-1 Harrison County in the bottom of the first then tripled to lead off the fifth before scoring when Sam Perry hit a shallow sacrifice fly to left center in the bottom of the fifth to trim the margin to 11-2 and delay the run-ruling by an inning.

Harrison County finished things off in the sixth inning. Marissa Taylor doubled in Ritchie and Dye with none out in the top of the inning to make the final score.

The Camels did load the bases with one out in the bottom of the sixth when Addy Griffin drew a hit by pitch. Ross then struck out Bre Tate then got Feeback to line out to Lexie Highlander in center field to end the game.

“I wasn’t worried about Shy one bit,” Persinger said. “We’re making the plays right now. We’ve put ourselves in a good position here.”

Campbell County’s season ends at 16-10. The Camels still won their seventh straight 37th District championship. They graduate just one senior in Jaydin Glahn.

Harrison County has won 10 meetings in a row against Campbell County. The Camels last beat the Fillies, 7-5 on March 18, 2014 to open that season.

Montgomery County 16, Mason County 6 (6 innings)

The Indians actually just led 7-6 after four innings. They exploded for five runs in the top of the fifth inning before scoring four in the top of the sixth to pull away from the Royals.

Montgomery County (30-6) out-slugged Mason County, 14-10 at the plate. Sara Zink led the way going 3-for-5 with two doubles and three crucial runs batted in. Lilliana Hill, Reaghan Oney and Taylor Pate added two hits each.

Oney finished with five RBI including a three-run blast in the top of the fourth to put Montgomery County up 7-6. That home run marked her 23rd of the season, tying a state record for the most home runs in one season set in 2017 by Madisonville-North Hopkins graduate Kaylee Tow.

“That home run really got us going,” Oney said. “We were struggling some at the plate. That fired everyone up.”

Kenzie Gulley led Mason County at the plate going 4-for-4 with a double, two RBI and scoring twice. Reese Hardeman and Olivia Hughes added doubles for the Indians.

Montgomery County made the routine plays better. The Indians had one error to four for the Royals.

“Defense is a huge part of the game,” Zink said. “I’m the shortstop. I see the infield and the outfield. Sometimes you have to figure it out for (teammates). Locking in at the end really stood out.”

The Royals led 2-0 after two innings. Gulley led off the first with a double, took third on a Kylah Turner single and scored when Hughes hit a sacrifice fly to center field. Gulley then singled in Sydney Ullery in the bottom of the second.

“Mason County has improved all the way around,” Montgomery County head coach Matt Puckett said. “That Gulley gal is tough. She makes things happen when she gets on base.

The Indians rallied with three runs in the top of the third. Jaiden Oney doubled with one out then took third when Lilliana Hill reached on a Mason County error. Reaghan Oney doubled them both in before scoring on a Zink double to give Montgomery County the lead for good. Addison Rodgers led off the fourth with a walk before Emily Brock and Taylor Pate loaded the bases with singles. One out later, Hills singled in Rodgers to make it 4-2 Indians and set up Reaghan Oney’s home run.

Mason County scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth to make things interesting. Hayley Allison led off with a single and pinch runner Bentley Shepherd took second when Destiny Dow drew a hit by pitch. Gulley then singled in Shepherd and Dow scored on a Montgomery County fielding error in the outfield allowing Gulley to go all the way to third. Hardeman then doubled in Gulley to trim the lead to 7-5 before Hardeman scored on a Delana Rigg single.

That’s when Montgomery County made pitching change. Hill relieved starter Ryleigh Martin on the mound and left two runner son base. Hill (13-1) allowed one hit in the final two innings of work striking out four to earn the win.

“We played to use (Hill and Martin) half and half,” Puckett said. “When we brought Hill in, the goal was just to get out of the inning with no more damage. We have three pitchers that we use and we have faith in all of them.” 

Hill and Zink had two-run doubles in the top of the fifth to help extend the Indians lead to 12-6. Reaghan Oney scored Montgomery County’s final run of the inning on a Mason County error.

The Indians put the finishing touches in the game in the top of the sixth. Madison Cox singled to lead it off, stole second, took third on a wild pitch then scored when Rodgers singled. Pate then doubled in Martin and Rodgers before Emily Brock scored on a Reaghan Oney sacrifice fly to make the final score.

Hughes (17-12) took the loss for Mason County. She pitched five innings striking out one before Rigg pitched the sixth.

Mason County won the (23-12) won the 39th District Tournament for the first time since 2021. The Royals graduate two seniors in Dow and Marcella Gifford.

“We set a record for the most wins in a season in school history,” Mason County head coach Brian “Rabbit” Littleton said. “I couldn’t be more proud of these girls. This is the furthest Mason County has ever been. Of the seven other teams that made the region tournament, we beat five of them and were competitive with Harrison County and Montgomery County.”

Montgomery County has won 10 in a row in the series. The Royals last beat the Indians, 7-5 on May 16, 2016.