The Courier-Journal's 1st round recap:
After a season away from high school softball, Baleigh Bell has found her groove at the right time for Butler.
The junior right-hander tossed a four-hitter and struck out 12 as the Bearettes beat Bullitt Central 9-0 in Monday's quarterfinals of the Sixth Region Tournament at Southern.
Bell pitched at Beth Haven as a freshman but had to sit out last season because of Kentucky High School Athletic Association transfer rules. Bell pitched in Butler's 7-3 victory over Bullitt Central on March 28, but Lady Cougars coach Charles Gallemore said she was much better this time around.
"I think she had a little bit more movement on her pitches today," Gallemore said. "She was also hitting her spots pretty good. We were guessing up there at the plate."
Butler (23-13) won the only Sixth Region quarterfinal that was not cut short by the mercy rule. Holy Cross beat Evangel Christian 16-0, Bullitt East routed Presentation 15-0 and Pleasure Ridge Park ripped Doss 15-0.
Today's semifinals at the University of Louisville's Ulmer Stadium will be Holy Cross vs. Butler at 5:30 p.m. and Bullitt East vs. PRP at 7:30.
Butler came out swinging Monday, jumping to a 5-0 lead after two innings. Bell, Bekah Ellis and Krista Adams all had RBI singles in the Bearettes' three-run first. In the second, Ellis had an RBI single and Bell scored on an error to make it 5-0.
"That's what won the game," Bell said. "It got (Bullitt Central) down and got us pumped up."
Bell (10-9) took care of the rest, retiring 11 of the first 12 batters she faced. Bullitt Central (20-19) loaded the bases with one out in the fifth, but Bell struck out Hailey Szpila and Whitney Miller to end the threat.
Butler finished with 11 hits as Nos. 1-5 hitters Kelsey Hicks, Bell, Megan Cureton, Ellis and Adams finished a combined 11 for 16 with eight RBIs.
Bullitt East-Presentation: Freshman Morgan Raymer tossed a no-hitter and struck out four as the Lady Chargers (27-10) routed the Toppers (8-18).
Raymer also went 3for 3 with a double and has seven hits in her last seven at-bats.
Holy Cross-Evangel: Sophomore Madison Ray struck out 11 of the 12 batters she faced and finished with a perfect game as the Cougars (21-12) beat the Lady Eagles (9-7).
Rebecca Miller had a three-run, inside-the-park homer in the second inning for Holy Cross.
PRP-Doss: Autumn McDuffie went 2 for 2 with four RBIs as the No.16 Lady Panthers (29-7) beat the Lady Dragons (6-9). Emily Hibbs went 2 for 2 with a double and an RBI for PRP.
http://www.highschoolsports.net/local/lo...or-Butler/