LEXINGTON, Ky. — South Warren completed a perfect season with a dominant pitching performance and a steady offensive finish.
Courtney Norwood threw a two-hitter, and the Spartans defeated Bullitt East 8-0 Saturday in the championship game of the KHSAA Softball State Tournament at UK’s John Cropp Stadium.
South Warren finished 45-0, won its first state championship and became the fourth softball team in Kentucky history to finish as an unbeaten state champion. The Spartans joined Greenwood in 2013, Male in 2019 and Ballard in 2022.
Norwood, a junior committed to Kentucky, was named state tournament MVP. She allowed two hits, struck out five, walked one and hit two batters while finishing the season 26-0.
Bullitt East entered the final ranked No. 3 in the state and averaging 11.1 runs per game, but South Warren held the Chargers scoreless for the first time all season. Bullitt East finished 32-5 in its first state championship game appearance.
South Warren took control in the third inning. Kalie Kuzma singled to left field and McLaine Hudson walked before Layla Ogden drew a two-out walk to load the bases. Kinleigh Russell followed with a two-run single to left-center, scoring Kuzma and Hudson for a 2-0 lead.
The Spartans added three runs in the fourth with help from a Bullitt East error. Norwood singled, Kaylee Wilson reached on a bunt single and Kuzma reached on a fielder’s choice to load the bases. After a forceout at home, Parker Willoughby reached on an error that allowed Wilson, Kuzma and Hadley Borders to score, extending the lead to 5-0.
South Warren put the game away in the sixth. Wilson and Hudson singled, and Borders followed with an RBI single to score Wilson. Willoughby added an RBI single to score Hudson, and Ogden’s sacrifice fly brought in Borders for the final run.
Russell went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, while Wilson went 2-for-3 with two runs. Hudson, Borders and Kuzma each scored twice. Borders and Willoughby each had a hit and an RBI, and Ogden drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.
Bullitt East’s only hits came late. Allie Carter singled in the sixth inning, and Kinnley Murphy led off the seventh with a double. The Chargers left five runners on base.
Makenzie Mingus took the loss for Bullitt East, allowing eight runs, five earned, on nine hits in six innings. She walked four and struck out four.
South Warren entered the championship game ranked No. 1 in Kentucky and No. 3 nationally by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. The Spartans also set a single-season Kentucky record with 565 runs scored.
Box Score
Bullitt East 000 000 0 — 0 2 2
South Warren 002 303 x — 8 9 0
WP — Courtney Norwood. LP — Makenzie Mingus.
Bullitt East hitting: Allie Carter 1-2; Kinnley Murphy 1-3, 2B; Alivia Cooper BB; Mollie Johnston SH.
South Warren hitting: McLaine Hudson 1-3, 2 R; Hadley Borders 1-3, 2 R, RBI; Parker Willoughby 1-4, RBI; Layla Ogden RBI; Kinleigh Russell 2-3, 2 RBI; Courtney Norwood 1-3; Kaylee Wilson 2-3, 2 R; Kalie Kuzma 1-3, 2 R.
Pitching: Bullitt East — Makenzie Mingus 6 IP, 9 H, 8 R, 5 ER, 4 BB, 4 K. South Warren — Courtney Norwood 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K.
Attendance: 1,932.
First pitch: 7 p.m.
Time of game: 1:43.
Weather: Sunny.
MVP:
Courtney Norwood, South Warren
All-Tournament Team:
McLaine Hudson, South Warren
Kinleigh Russell, South Warren
Kinnley Murphy, Bullitt East
Alivia Cooper, Bullitt East
Mackenzie Mingus, Bullitt East
Lilliana Hill, George Rogers Clark
Bella Guinn, George Rogers Clark
Kaitlyn Dixon, Highlands
Cam Markus, Highlands
Kamryn Timmons, Henderson County
Peyton Fields, Hazard
Kate Drury, Madison Central
Brooklyn Carmickle, North Hardin
