SOFTBALL CONTROVERSY

Hannah Hart lays down the perfect bunt against South Laurel Monday 

You can expect the unexpected when Corbin and South Laurel lock horns in any sport. That was the case Monday night in London as the Lady Cardinals edged the Lady Redhounds, 7-4 in a district seed game.

There was plenty of action and even a controversial situation that was reversed and reversed again.

Corbin out hit the Lady Cardinals 12-11, but committed five errors and left 12 runners stranded.

South Laurel (14-5) jumped out to a 2-0 lead but saw the Lady Redhounds battle back in the top of the third when Calli Hendrickson led off with a single to left field. Hannah Hart hit into an infield error. Back-to-back groundouts by Morgan Brock and Savannah Smith allowed Hendrickson to score as Hart moved to third.

Kayla Kuhl followed with a single up the middle that sent Hart home for the tying run. Kuhl was left stranded when Sarah Woolums popped out to short.

The Lady Cardinals answered with three runs in the bottom half of the inning. Freshman Bailey Miller had a two-run double with two outs. Miller scored the third run on a hit by Alex Miller.

In the top of the fourth Corbin (8-12) loaded the bases with two outs, but came up empty. Lindsey Barton hit a single up the middle to reach base followed by Hendrickson and Hart, who also hit singles to load the bases. Brock hit into a fielder’s choice to end the inning.

South Laurel added two runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 7-1 lead, but Corbin tried to get back in the game in the top of the fifth when controversy hit.

Kuhl and Woolums drew back-to-back walks before Sarah Hill hit a single up the middle. As Kuhl rounded third coach Chris Hart tried to hold up his runners, Kuhl got in a run down and was tagged out. Hart appealed the play because the defender tagged Kuhl with her glove hand with the ball in the other hand. The home plate umpire reversed the call and put Kuhl back on third, which would have loaded the bases with one out.

South Laurel Coach James Burns appealed that call, saying Hart touched and assisted Kuhl back to the base. After a discussion of the umpires Kuhl was called out.

However, there should have been a dead ball after the field umpire called Kuhl out initially therefore Hart’s appeal should have been the correct call.

The incident was key to the game because Hill followed with a single and Sarah Ashley followed that with a double. Corbin scored just one run in the inning after loading the bases.

Still Corbin had their chances in the top of the sixth when Hendrickson led off with a double. Hart’s sacrifice bunt sent Hendrickson to third. Brock drew a walk but was thrown out trying to steal second. Smith followed with a double to left field scoring Hendrickson. Smith was left stranded when Kuhl flew out to deep center field.

In the seventh, Corbin left two runners stranded. With two outs, Ashley drew a walk and Barton had a hit to the second base side of the field. That sent lead off hitter, Hendrickson to the plate, who eventually popped out down the first base side of the field.

The Lady Redhounds are scheduled to take on the fast improving Whitley County Lady Colonels Thursday before playing in the Boyle County Invitational Friday and Saturday.

Corbin will take on Franklin County and Mercer County in pool play Friday night with the single elimination portion of the tournament beginning Saturday morning. The games will be played at Danville’s Millennium Park.

South Laurel 7, Corbin 4

Corbin              002  011  0- 4  12  5

South Laurel            113  200  x- 7  11  1

Megan Smith, Hagan Burns and Amber Hyde. Morgan Brock and Sarah Ashley. W-Smith, L-Brock. 2B-Baker (SL), A. Miller (SL), B. Miller (SL), Ashley (C), Hendrickson (C).