Madisonville-North Hopkins is the clear favorite in the 7th District softball tournament this week. The Lady Maroons are ranked 17th in the state and have captured the last six district championships.
However, Caldwell County is playing well of late and continues to chase Madisonville. The Lady Tigers (16-11) won nine straight games before finishing the regular season with a 10-inning loss to 20th-ranked Marshall County.
Caldwell’s winning streak included triumphs over No. 4 Christian County, No. 8 McCracken County and No. 15 Henderson County.
The Lady Maroons (17-9) have had Caldwell’s number despite some close calls the last two seasons.
Madisonville has won 27 straight games against its district mate and owns a 37-17 advantage all-time.
Madisonville, which will host the 2019 7th District tourney, went a perfect 6-0 against district competition this season while earning the No. 1 seed for the tournament.
Senior Courtney Patterson leads the Lady Maroons. She batted .408 with nine home runs and 26 runs batted in this season. The Campbellsville University signee is also the ace in the circle for Madisonville, going 14-5 with a 2.62 earned run average. Patterson has struck out 157 in 128.1 innings.
Junior Courtney Peyton is hitting .400 with five homers while knocking in 17. Amber Osborne, a freshman, is a .358 hitter with three home runs and 22 runs batted in.
Madisonville is just two years removed from a state championship, claiming the big trophy in 2017.
Caldwell, the No. 2 seed, has won 14 of its last 17 outings after starting the season 2-8 against a difficult schedule.
Senior Mashea Glover leads the team in hitting, sporting a .353 batting average. Glover, who is headed to Murray State, has six home runs and 20 RBIs — both best on the team. Sophomore Allie Felker is hitting .352 with a pair of homers and 16 runs batted in.
Senior Katie Franklin spearheads the Caldwell effort in the pitching circle. She is 16-10 this season with a 1.86 ERA. Franklin, who has signed with Asbury University, has struck out 189 in 168.2 innings.
The Lady Tigers dropped their two games against Madisonville this season by scores of 7-6 and 3-1.
Caldwell, which reached the 2nd Region championship game last season before falling to Christian County in nine innings, has never won a district championship as a member of the 7th District. The Lady Tigers last won a district title in 2002 — in the 5th District. Caldwell went on to claim the 2nd Region championship that season.
Hopkins County Central is the No. 3 seed after going 10-20 this season with a 2-4 district mark.
However, the Lady Storm gave Caldwell two competitive games before falling 10-3 and 2-1.
Senior Josie Menser is capable of pitching well. She is 7-15 this season with a 5.50 ERA.
Eighth grader Brenna Sherman is the team’s leading hitter. Sherman batted .411 during the regular season with six home runs while knocking in 18. Menser hit .337 with 12 RBIs.
Hopkins Central was the last 7th District school not named Madisonville-North Hopkins to win the district championship, beating the Lady Maroons 3-2 in the final in 2012.
Dawson Springs is the No. 4 seed after going 3-16 overall and 0-6 in district play.
The Lady Panthers last reached the district championship game in 2010 but fell to Hopkins Central in the title tilt that season.
Dawson Springs won the district championship in 2007, beating Hopkins Central 7-6 in the final.
Madisonville and Dawson Springs will open the 7th District softball tourney at 5:30 p.m. on Monday. Caldwell and Hopkins Central will meet in the late game at approximately 7 p.m.
Monday’s winners will then meet Tuesday at 5:30 for the district championship.
Both the district champion and runner-up will advance to the 2nd Region tournament the following week at Webster County.
