[Stardust]

Mercy Academy’s athletic teams will be switched to the Sixth Region for the 2012-13 school year, but the Jaguars will be leaving the Seventh as a regional softball champion for the seventh time in 10 years.

“It’s great to leave with the trophy,’’ Mercy coach Josh Bloomer said after the Jaguars — No. 4 in the state coaches’ poll — broke open a close game with four runs in the seventh inning to beat defending champion and No. 2 Ballard 6-1 in the Seventh Region final Saturday at the University of Louisville’s Ulmer Stadium.

With freshman Jordan Vorbrink and seniors Morgan Ellington and JJ Francis providing the big hits, Mercy (32-8) advances to the Rawlings-KHSAA state tournament that starts Thursday at Jack C. Park in Owensboro.

Mercy, the state runner-up in 2009 and 2010, will play Sixth Region titlist Bullitt East (28-9) at 7 p.m. Thursday in first-round play. Bullitt East won over Butler 8-2 earlier Saturday at U of L.

In avenging a 2-1 loss to Ballard in last year’s regional semifinal, Mercy pounded out 11 hits off Ballard sophomore Jessica Adell, who limited Assumption to one hit in a 3-0 semifinal win Friday.

“We kept knocking at the door, but Ballard made some big (defensive) plays,’’ Bloomer said. “Our team played unbelievable ball. They were loose all day.’’

Leading 2-1 going into the seventh, Mercy clinched matters when Aubrey Meiners singled to open the inning. Adell got the next two batters out, but Morgan Meyer singled and Vorbrink was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Ellington, a left-handed hitter, singled to right field to score pinch runner Randi Hawksley for a 3-1 lead. Meyer ran home when Ballard catcher Alexis Hull threw to second to try and pick off Vorbrink. That made it 4-1.

Francis, who pitched the first four innings before being relieved by Leigh Ellen Thomas, singled up the middle for two more runs and a 6-1 bulge.

“We were up one run and I was relaxed,’’ said Ellington, whose fifth-inning single gave Mercy a 2-1 lead after Vorbrink’s single tied the game at 1. Vorbrink drove home pinch runner Morgan French after Tori Lasley was hit by an Adell pitch.http://saxo.highschoolsports.net/article...er?Avis=B2