After not being able to take the field last season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was going to be hard to get a feel for this year’s Christian County Lady Colonels’ softball team.
The Lady Colonels lost a trio of talented seniors in Hope Jones, Hannah Sumner, and Kelsey O’Daniel, and the rest of the players returning to the field in 2021 had not seen any high school game action in nearly two years. Add in the four graduating seniors from the 2019 class, and Christian County is taking the field with seven fewer experienced players than when they last took the field.
One thing has become obvious in the first week of the new season, that being that the Lady Colonels can score runs, and can score them in bunches when they get hot. Through the first three games, Christian County has scored 32 runs, and those runs have come against Madisonville, Lyon County, and Daviess County, two of which are ranked in the latest coaches poll.
Leading the power parade will be senior Reni Shemwell. As a sophomore in 2019, Shemwell tied for 2nd on the team in home runs with 13 and already has two in the opening week of the season.
Karlee Crick, who saw limited action two years ago, has come out of the gate swinging. Crick, who has moved into the starting catcher’s role, has nine RBIs in the first three games, including 7 in the opening win over Madisonville.
University of Louisville commit Pickle Winkler, who roams center field for the Lady Colonels, hit .424 in 2019. If Winkler continues her hot start out of the first week in the leadoff slot, the Lady Colonels will be a handful for any team. Winkler is hitting .750 with 7 RBIs, two doubles, and a home run.
The quintet of Tenley Gilbert, Riley Hancock, Gracie Harned, Chloe Craft, and Avery Adcock will likely be key for the success of the Lady Colonels offensively. If this core develops potency over the course of the season, Christian County will be among the teams battling for a state tournament berth.
As it is for most teams every season, pitching will also be a big key for Christian County in 2021. If the Lady Colonels can get solid performances inside the circle, their offense should be enough to carry the load the rest of the way.
Riley Hancock and Gracie Harned are expected to see much of the action for Christian County. Hancock saw action in 15 games two seasons ago, while Harned saw action in six. Through the first week of the 2021 season, Harned has a slightly better ERA, while Hancock has a slightly higher strikeout rate.
The Lady Colonels will be tested by the time the postseason rolls around. Their schedule includes matchups against #2 Male, #3 South Warren, #7 McCracken County, #9 Assumption, #10 Lafayette, #11 Daviess County, #13 Marshall County, #16 Henderson County, #25 Greenwood, and #25 Lyon County.
The schedule includes big softball events at Great Crossing, Greenwood, Meade County, and Grayson County.
