For the first time in 16 years, the Caldwell County Lady Tigers will play in the 2nd Region softball championship game. The Lady Tigers scored the last seven runs of the game to defeat Crittenden County 7-2 in the second semifinal game of the regional tournament Friday evening at Hopkins Central.
The Lady Rockets made a statement early in the game that Caldwell County would have to earn their way to the regional title game. Crittenden County got a run in the top of the 1st and another in the top of the 3rd to take an early 2-0 lead.
Caldwell County then took control of the game in the bottom half of the 3rd, scoring five runs to take a 5-2 lead. Madi Choate, J’Aimee Burk, and Peyton Young all had RBI singles in the inning for the Lady Tigers.
The Lady Tigers would add two more runs in the bottom of the 4th inning. Katie Franklin drove in a run with a double and Mashea Glover had an RBI single in the inning.
After the two early runs, Caldwell County pitcher Katie Franklin was dominant the remainder of the game, setting the Lady Rockets down in order in the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th inning to pick up the win. For the game, Franklin gave up two runs on two hits, striking out eight and walking only one.
The Lady Tigers move on to the regional championship game for the first time since 2002. That year they defeated Henderson County 3-1 to advance to the state tournament.
