![](\"https:\/\/www.13thregionmedianetwork.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/img_6069-1-1024x537.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"LEXINGTON \u2014 One win away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Henderson County is the only thing standing between the North Laurel High School Fastpitch Program and their second state championship, the first one since 2000 when the Lady Jaguars defeated Owensboro Catholic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tonight\u2019s game also signifies the first time North Laurel has played in a state title game since 2008, although things were quite different 16 years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Back then, the Lady Jaguars had to win two straight games against Greenwood to clinch the state crown in the double elimination tournament. This time around, it’s a single elimination format \u2014 win or go home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
North Laurel has experience playing in fastpitch\u2019s biggest spotlight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today’s matchup against the No. 2 ranked Lady Colonels will be the Lady Jaguars\u2019 fourth appearance in a state championship game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With a state-best 19 region titles and 860 wins, North Laurel has a track record of success. However, they will face a tough challenge in Henderson County (35-5), who is fresh off a 2-0 victory over top-ranked South Warren.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To get the win, the Lady Jaguars must bring their \u2018A\u2019 game once more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFirst of all, it\u2019s an honor and a privilege to play in the state championship game,\u201d North Laurel coach Chris Edwards said. \u201cThere are a lot of high quality players throughout our state that never make it to a state tourney or get close to a championship game. Enjoy this moment and take it all in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTo have this team playing in the state championship game is amazing,\u201d he added. \u201cWe knew we had a really good team. Not a lot of people outside of our circle believed in us but we did. Of course, that\u2019s most important. We\u2019ve also been able to get a good plan in place and execute that plan. It also doesn\u2019t hurt to be playing our best softball of the year right now. The girls deserve all the credit and praise for making this run. People do not see all of the hard work at practice, extra work they down their own. It\u2019s really a grind but it is awesome to see the work pay off.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Lady Colonels enter today\u2019s game with five losses \u2014 Caldwell County (6-5), Greenwood (1-0), South Warren (9-2), Livingston Central (3-1), and Great Cross (3-1). They also posses a .69198 RPI rating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Henderson County has a team batting average of .414, and a team ERA of 1.99. The Lady Colonels are easily the best team North Laurel will have faced this season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHenderson is a really good team,\u201d Edwards said. \u201cThey\u2019ve been ranked very high in the polls most of the season. They also have some really nice players that we will have to deal with, including their pitcher Anna Kemp, she\u2019s going to Missouri and Taylor Troutman, who is going to Mississippi State. They are a very good team and will certainly be a huge challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Henderson County has two players that are hitting over .500, four players over .400, and six over .300.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mississippi State signee Taylor Troutman is batting .525 with 63 hits, 12 home runs, and 45 RBI while Hallie McCracken is batting .511 with 69 hits, 17 home runs, and 60 RBI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a team, the Lady Colonels have hit 60 home runs, and has stolen 128 bases \u2014 with more than half of those coming from two players \u2014 Saniya Shields (39), and Ayden Bennett (38).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Missouri signee Anna Kemp leads the way in the pitcher\u2019s circle with a 22-1 record and a 1.43 ERA. She has struck out 178 batters in 142.1 innings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
North Laurel (30-9) will counter with one of the youngest rosters that have played in the state title game \u2014 led by eighth grader Emma Carl, who has been more than impressive on the state\u2019s biggest stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She has posted a 3-0 mark in the pitcher\u2019s circle while garnering a 1.33 ERA. She has 15 strikeouts in 21 innings pitched while receiving a solid performance from her teammates, defensively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Carl also leads the team with a .400 batting average during state tournament play. She\u2019s batting .400 (4-for-10) with two doubles and three RBI. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Saige McClure is batting .364 with a team-best ..727 slugging percentage. She\u2019s collected four hits, and driven in two runs. Ellie Adams, Braylee Fawbush and Katie Keen are batting .333 apiece while Katie Sams, who has a home run and three RBI is batting .300. Bella Sizemore is batting .273 while Morgan Edwards and Bella Finley are betting .222 apiece.<\/p>\n\n\n\n