LONDON — North Laurel remained unbeaten at 4-0 with wins over Hazard and Clinton County on Saturday.
The defending 13th Region champions were solid at both the plate and in the pitcher’s circle.
“Really good day today,” North Laurel coach Chris Edwards said. “I love these triangles early in the season. You get to play some good competition and really test your team early.
“The weather early in the week made today a little more challenging than I had planned,” he added. Four games in five days turned into four games in three days. Really pushed our pitching staff especially. But Tessa, Emma and Caylee have been really good to start the season. Other than a couple of mistakes, we have been really good defensively as well. Pitching well and playing good defense is always the best way to play.
“Offensively against Hazard, we had a good game against one of if not the best pitchers in the 14th Region,” Edwards continued. “Only six hits in the game but three were for extra bases and they were spread throughout the lineup. Nice to see the hits spread out like that. Same thing, just more of it against Clinton County. Multiple hits from Bella Finley, Tessa Monhollen, Lucy Jo Linville, Presley Griffin, and Katie Keen. It’s early and of course there is a long way to go but this first week has been good for us. Seen some really good pitching this week. Had several different game situations that will just make us better and work toward our season goals. Really proud of my girls. Go Jags.”
Game One
North Laurel 4, Hazard 1
Tessa Monhollen delivered a dominant performance in the circle Saturday, striking out 12 and tossing a complete game to lead North Laurel to a 4-1 win over Hazard.
Monhollen was in complete control throughout, allowing just four hits and one run while walking none across seven innings.
North Laurel (3-0) backed Monhollen with timely hitting, scoring four runs on six hits.
Bella Finley led the way offensively, going 1-for-3 with an RBI and a pair of doubles, while Lucy Jo Linville and Katie Keen each drove in a run. Reeselyn Garland added a hit and scored a run.
Emma Carl scored a run, a hit, and an RBI, while stealing a base.
Game Two
North Laurel 12, Clinton County 6
The Lady Jaguars scored for seven runs in the first inning and never looked back, defeating Clinton County 12-6 on Saturday to remain unbeaten.
The Lady Jaguars (4-0) set the tone early, scoring seven runs in the first inning.
North Laurel added a run in the fourth before breaking things open again with four runs in the sixth.
Chris Edwards’ squad finished with 12 runs on 15 hits in a balanced offensive attack.
Presley Griffin led the way, going 3-for-4 with three RBI, while Lucy Jo Linville also went 3-for-4 and scored twice. Bella Finley added three hits, and Katie Keen chipped in with two hits and two runs scored.
Emma Carl drove in three runs, and Tessa Monhollen added two hits and an RBI as the Lady Jaguars produced up and down the lineup.
In the circle, Caylee Singleton earned the win, working four innings while allowing four runs and striking out three. Carl allowed just one hit over three innings while striking out five.
