LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. — WILLIAMSBURG—It appears not even Mother Nature can slow down the South Laurel Lady Cardinals’ softball team, as they put on a near perfect performance Monday in a 14-1 victory over the Williamsburg Lady Jackets in the opening game of the 50th District Tournament.

The Lady Cardinals “did everything well, including fielding, pitching, and hitting” according to Coach James Burns, despite playing through some harsh weather conditions that delayed the game at several points.

Williamsburg hit first in the opening inning. After its first two attempts were quickly sent back to the dugout by pitcher Megan Smith and company, the Lady Jackets singled and then a subsequent hit that saw South catcher Chelsea Wemes defend the home plate and obtain the third out, allowing for some Lady Cardinal offense at the bat.

The Lady Cards really got things going for themselves at the bottom of the first inning.  A single by Casie Finley and a free walk for Destinee Fisher set up the rest of the team for success.  A single by Amber Hyde and double by Hagan Burns scored Fisher and Hyde.  Shortly after Smith hit a double that allowed Burns to make it home, and Madyson Morris, who was running in place of Smith, eventually put another run on the board after three consecutive walks by the Lady Jackets pitcher. 

The Lady Cards were not done just yet though, as leadoff hitter Finley returned to smack a double that put up two more runs after teammates Haylie Burns and Bailey Miller came home, giving South a 6-0 at end of first.

Smith continued to step up big for her team in the top of the second inning, sending all three of the first Lady Jacket hitters back to the bench after two strikeouts and a caught fly ball.

Not much happened for the Lady Cards in the bottom of the second, as they too were quickly sent back to the dugout in four attempts at bat after three caught fly balls and a walk sandwiched in between.

The Lady Jackets luck did not change in the third inning, as they were shut out by Smith again in nearly the same fashion as the previous inning.

Things did pick up for South Laurel however, as Haylie Burns and Miller both walked, and a double by Laura Williams scored Haylie Burns for a 7-0 lead. The Lady Cards continued to capitalize on mistakes made by the Williamsburg pitching unit, as a walk for Finley allowed Miller to make it 8-0 and Williams would go ahead and make it 9-0 after a single by Hyde. Finley and Hyde made it 11-0 for good measure after a single by Hagan Burns.

Williamsburg seemed to have no answer for the Lady Cards pitching and fielding, as they were once again sent back after their first three bats in the opening of the fourth.

South Laurel did not let up on its offensive assault, as it put up three more runs to make the score 14-0.  Walks for Williams and Finley, a bunt by Fisher, and a single by Hyde advanced Williams to the home plate.  A walk for Hagan Burns and a single by Wemes set up another two runs by the combination of Finley and Hyde.

A streak of surging momentum hit the Lady Jackets in the top of the fifth, as two singles led to a score to cut the lead to 14-1.  Unfortunately, it was far too little, far too late, and the game was called short after the top of the fifth inning.  

Coach Burns was very pleased with the performance of Smith, as well as his entire team. 

“We gave a great team effort, everyone contributed and did well,” Burns said. “Other than that wild pitch that led to them scoring in the fifth, we played a near perfect game.”

This excellent performance will certainly be a great confidence booster for the ladies in black, as they advance forward to the championship game in Williamsburg tonight.

“Both are great teams with excellent pitching and coaching,” Burns said of his potential opponents for tonight.  “We will come ready to play, and it should be a great game.”

Whitley County faced Corbin in the other first round game Tuesday evening.