[ComfortEagle]

3 games, 3 no-hitters, 1 regional champion

BY TOM KOPACZ

SPORTS EDITOR

The team that worried the Pikeville High softball team the most in the 15th Region All "A" Classic had the same problem Thursday that four other teams have had this season - Shelby Valley couldn't get a hit off Natalie Gooch, either.

Gooch tossed her fifth no-hitter of the season and went through three tournament games without allowing a hit as the Lady Panthers beat Shelby Valley 5-0 for the regional All "A" championship at Myers Field.

Gooch notched her fourth no-hitter in five games and struck out eight Lady Wildcats, giving up two walks. She cruised through the Shelby Valley lineup in the middle innings, retiring 12 in a row at one point.


"She's come on this year," Pikeville Coach Elizabeth Baird-Salyers said. "At the Lady Indians Classic she and Neeley really clicked. I told her pregame, 'You pitch your game and (catcher Sam) Neeley calls the game, we win this.' She came to the mound and nothing fazes her - nothing. It doesn't matter if they do get baserunners, she still doesn't get torn up. She and Neeley were unbelievable again."

Tuesday night will see a sudden rematch between the two at the same site; the Lady Panthers host Shelby Valley at 5:30 p.m. in Pikeville's 59th District opener.

Pikeville broke a scoreless stalemate in the second inning when Shawna Howard hit a sacrifice fly to push twin sister Samantha across the plate, then added another run in the third when Kylie Schmidt doubled to left and scored on a wild pitch. The Lady Panthers scored three more runs in the top of the sixth inning to insure the victory.

Schmidt hit 3-for-3 and also walked. Neeley had a two-run double in the sixth and hit 2-for-3. Samantha Howard also hit 2-for-3.

The Lady Panthers smacked out nine hits off Shelby Valley pitcher Cortney Bentley. She struck out three Pikeville batters with only two walks, but the Lady Panthers worked her to an even 2-2 count and two straight full counts in the sixth inning as they opened up the offense, getting four base hits.



Bentley had concerned Baird-Salyers in the days leading up to the game; the Pikeville coach felt Bentley always seems to have her best games against the Lady Panthers.

"My kids got the bat on her (pitches) early," Baird-Salyers said. "That's what we had to do - get the bat on her early and not let her confidence build. We jumped on her in the first inning."


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