WORTH THE WAIT

Williamsburg will be making its first trip to the All A State Softball Tournament for small schools this week at Skyview Park in Jeffersontown. The Lady Jackets will open the 16-team tournament against St. Henry at noon.

Williamsburg defeated Middlesboro, 4-3 and Pineville 4-0 to make its first ever state appearance in softball.

We’re really excited,” said Ashley Taylor. “First of all, we beat Middlesboro for the first time. They thought they were going to come in and kill us, so it was like the best win I have ever had, even bigger than Corbin.”

“It’s great knowing it happened our senior year,” said pitcher Cecily Sears. “It’s really awesome.”

“I think it helped all the girls come together more as a team,” said Ashley Stephens. “I think it has made us work harder since those Middlesboro and Corbin games. It shows that we can push through and win some games instead of losing and not playing together.”

“For our senior year it means a lot beating teams like Corbin and Middlesboro,” said Sears. “It’s a big step for our program.”

“Everyone always over looks us because we are so small,” said Taylor. “We have never been all that great and now they have to prepare for us.”

As leaders, Taylor said, “I try to keep my teammates up.”

“It’s not just us as senior leaders, it’s us as a team this year,” said Stephens. “We constantly try to get each other up through everything.”

But, the three agree they are more intense now as seniors than they were as freshman. “Because we are expected to know everything. They look to us when they do something wrong,” said Taylor. “You feel more pressure but I think it is good they look to us.”

Sears said the defense has come to play this year. “I don’t feel as much pressure to do it all from the mound,” she said. “I know all eyes are not on me as much.”

Williamsburg Coach Andrea Ellis will look to the three to lead the Lady Yellow Jackets against St. Henry Saturday morning.

“Cecily is our starting pitcher and can be very intimidating on the mound,” said Ellis. Her intimidating factor really helps.”

“Ashley Taylor is a solid infielder, she is pretty much the heart of our defense and our team at shortstop,” said Ellis.

“Ashley Stephens is a great motivator,” said Ellis. “She comes out and works hard and helps keep everybody up.”

“All three of them have done a great job of being leaders this year,” said Ellis. “They have stepped up and been leaders when I wasn’t around and even when I am they are outstanding leaders.”

“It’s pretty exciting,” Ellis said of Williamsburg’s first trip to a state tournament in softball. “It’s our first trip ever for myself and the girls. They are ready to go up there (Louisville) and hopefully win some games.”

Williamsburg (8-10) will take on ninth region champion, St. Henry (12-6), a surprise entry themselves. St. Henry knocked off Newport Catholic in the region finals, 1-0. “They have to be pretty good to beat Newport Catholic,” said Ellis.

The Crusaders are led by freshman pitcher Mamee Salzer and freshman catcher Riley Cantrall.

“Our team is young, and going into this season, somewhat inexperienced,” said St. Henry Coach Kyla Brady. “We have a freshman pitcher and a freshman catcher, and both have been working very hard on learning the game by understanding what pitches to throw and when.”

“We have great senior leadership, and the defense is anchored by seniors Candice Otrembiak and Elise Wigger,” said Brady. “We are a team that is learning on a daily bases.”

Heath, a class 2A team from Paducah, is the tournament favorite, ranked 17^th. They are the only All A state tournament team ranked in the Kentucky Coaches Softball Poll. Henry County, Williamsburg, Green County, Hancock County and Glasgow all received votes in the latest poll.