Katie Franklin’s 10th shutout of the season helped propel Caldwell County to a 7-0 win over Hopkins County Central Tuesday and a berth in the Seventh District Softball Tournament championship.
Franklin struck out ten, didn’t walk anyone and allowed only two hits in spinning the Lady Tiger win.
She was helped at the plate by a three-run homer by Emma Staples and two hits and two RBIs from Mashea Glover.
After two scoreless innings, Caldwell added single runs in the third and fourth innings off Hopkins Central’s Josie Menser, who allowed eight hits and three earned runs.
Glover’s bases loaded walk in the third scored Caldwell’s first run, and Haley Stiles’ RBI single scored a run in the fourth.
Glover added an RBI triple in the fifth inning and scored on a Madi Choate groundout to give Caldwell a 4-0 lead. Staples punctuated the win with her three-run shot to center in the sixth inning.
Caldwell County (16-10) moves on to the Seventh District title game where they will play Madisonville Thursday in Morton’s Gap. The Lady Maroons (14-8) breezed to a 14-0 win over Dawson Springs in the other semifinal. Madisonville swept a pair of close games with the Lady Tigers during the regular season.
