Lady Cols’ opening game in state tourney is Thursday
As a child, every softball player has imagined a similar scenario: pretending that the game is on the line, she digs in at the plate and hits a walk-off home run to win the championship, the sound of roaring fans in her head.
That dream became a reality for Anna Kemp on Wednesday evening as she sent her team to its 5th straight state tournament with a game-winning home run in extra innings as the Henderson County Lady Colonels defeated the Livingston Central Lady Cardinals 5-4.
“I just had this gut feeling. It’s my senior year and I just wanted to win so bad,” said Kemp of her game winner. “I looked at Braylin (Risley)…and said ‘I’m ending it right here.’ God gave me that pitch and that swing in that moment. It was just really exciting.”
The thrilling finish would not have been possible though if not for the heroics of Saniya Shields earlier in the game. The Lady Cols found themselves facing a 4-0 deficit by the third inning. Shields stepped to the plate in the bottom of the frame with the bases loaded and sent a pitch the opposite way for a grand slam to tie the game.
Mackenzie Burczyk, Ayden Bennett, and Kemp were named to the All-Region Tournament Team. Head Coach Shannon Troutman was also named the 2nd Region Coach of the Year.
Henderson County’s exciting regional championship was preceded by its fifth straight 6th district championship as well. In the title game, they defeated Union County by a score of 11-1 in just five innings.
Bennett went 3-for-4 in the game with three runs, two RBI, a triple, and three stolen bases. Kemp was 2-for-3 with an RBI, while also claiming the victory on the mound. She had 10 strikeouts over five innings of one-run ball.
Maggie Grogan joined Burczyk, Bennett and Kemp on the All-District team.
Kemp shared that it is the precedent of hard work and determination set forth by Coach Troutman and those who came before her that is the key to such success for the softball program.
“It’s the competitive spirit between the girls,” Kemp said. “My sister’s age group was really competitive and good and just kind of set a standard that they were working in here everyday. It’s just become the standard at Henderson County and what makes us such a great program.”
Henderson County is led in batting by Bennett, a junior, who owns a .508 batting average and 57 runs scored. Her 44 stolen bases and counting are a school record.
“It’s my work ethic that puts me where I’m at. Having a great support team has definitely got me to where I am today; having each other’s backs,” said Bennett. “I was hardcore determined to beat my last year record of 37 steals.”
Another important bat in the lineup is fellow junior Burczyk. Coach Troutman hoped she would become the most feared hitter on the team and she has lived up to the hype, batting .458 with 10 home runs, 61 RBI and 30 walks. She leads the team in all three categories.
“I definitely think it’s been a good season. I feel pretty confident that we’re going to be able to go as far as we did before because when we get to the postseason, a whole other different side of us comes out,” said Burczyk.
Henderson has also relied on several young players this season such as sophomores Maggie Grogan (.451) and Shields (.427) who have each been important contributors both on the field and at the plate.
Kemp is the team’s senior leader and workhorse on the mound. She has compiled a 20-3 record with an impressive 1.33 ERA and 186 strikeouts over 142.1 innings. At the plate, she is hitting .321 with four home runs and 31 RBI.
The Lady Cols will begin their title defense in the 2025 Clark’s Pump-N-Shop State Softball Tournament against a familiar foe in the North Laurel Lady Jaguars (29-6). If that sounds familiar, it is—HCHS defeated the Lady Jaguars in the state championship game last season.
The Lady Jaguars will look to avenge last year’s 11-0 five-inning loss, a game in which Kemp gave up only three hits. Kemp, who was named the tournament MVP last year, also drove in four runs to help Henderson claim its first ever softball state title.
North Laurel is led by its formidable freshman, Emma Carl. The two-way player owns a .491 batting average, 12 home runs and 25 steals—all team highs. She’s also got 41 RBI and 49 runs scored. Add to that, she’s the Lady Jags’ most reliable pitcher with a 15-5 record and 2.94 ERA.
“We can’t look past North Laurel,” Troutman said. “Very talented team and they didn’t lose a single player off last year’s team. They’re going to be very experienced and ready to come out that first game. We are going to have to lock in.”
Henderson County’s bracket draw is arguably the toughest in the tournament. Awaiting the Lady Cols should they advance to the second round is either the South Warren Lady Spartans or the Daviess County Lady Panthers.
According the KHSAA’s RPI Standings, Henderson County (31-6) is the #6 team in the state and North Laurel is #14. Daviess County (26-3) is ranked #4, while South Warren (39-4) sits atop the standings as the #1 team overall.
The Lady Cols defeated Daviess County earlier this season in an 8-7 nail-biter. A couple days later, however, HCHS was defeated by South Warren 12-3 in five innings. HCHS and South Warren also met in the final four of the state tournament last season, with Henderson prevailing, 2-0.
Kemp appreciates all the community support her team has been shown throughout this season and hopes to be able to repay them in a big way.
“Thank you for all the support you’ve already given us,” Kemp said. “We’re going to hopefully make another run this year. This team’s got a lot left. We’re still not at our peak yet.”
Henderson County’s first game of the state tournament will be 9 a.m. CT Thursday, June 5 at John Cropp Stadium in Lexington. Fans can purchase tickets online via GoFan on KHSAA.org. A live stream of the state tournament can be viewed on KHSAA.tv with a subscription.
WSON will begin its broadcast with an 8:25 a.m. pregame show and will provide play-by-play of the game.
