The Trenton Lady Bulldog softball team’s fantastic season came to an early end Thursday night in Maysville. The Lady Bulldogs fell 2-1 in nine innings to the Hamilton Lady Hornets in the semifinals of the district tournament.
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Trenton fell behind early giving up one run in the top of the first inning. Trenton’s defense stepped up, shutting down Hamilton for the next three innings. Going into the bottom of the fourth, the Lady Bulldogs still trailed 1-0.
Trenton threatened in the bottom of the fourth. Emily Anderson doubled and Kylie Russell followed with a walk. With two on and only one out, Trenton looked poised to tie the game. A strikeout and a pop-up ended the threat, however.
Trenton fought past the blown opportunity with another chance in the bottom of the sixth. Senior JaNea Whitney beat out an infield single to give the Lady Bulldogs a base runner. Lindsey Derry laid down a sacrifice bunt that moved Whitney to second. With one out, Anderson grounded out. On the throw to first, Whitney made a break for third. When the Hamilton first baseman got the ball, she fired to third in an attempt to get Whitney. The throw sailed, however, allowing Whitney to score and tie the game.
Trenton’s pitching and defense continued to be stellar, but the Lady Bulldogs could not get a run across the plate.
It came as no surprise to Trenton fans when the game reached the end of regulation in a 1-1 tie and headed for extra innings.
Neither team threatened in the eighth, but in the ninth Hamilton was able to push a run across the plate. Trenton got two base runners on, but could not score as the Lady Bulldogs fell, 2-1.
Whitney, Derry, Anderson and Crystal Pash each had a hit to lead Trenton’s offense. Whitney scored the team’s lone run.
Aubrey Utley pitched, giving up two runs on five hits and one walk. Utley struck out nine Lady Hornets to finish the season with a new Trenton High School record of 269 strikeouts.
“I don’t want this loss to be what the season was about,” Head Coach Steve Richman said. “We had a good softball team. I feel the season was a success. We won 18 games and set a lot of records.”
Trenton finished the season with a record of 18-6 and Richman is excited for the future.
“We had two quality seniors on this team, but we also started seven freshmen and sophomores,” Richman said. “We also had some solid players on the bench that will be back, so the future looks good.”