For the sixth consecutive season, the Henderson County Lady Colonels reign as the Second Region Champions.
Henderson moved to 27-8 and continued its dominance by defeating Crittenden County, 8-3, on May 28 in Eddyville. A combination of quality pitching, timely hitting and championship poise proved why the Lady Cols remain the standard of excellence in the region.
“They played their hearts out. They wanted it bad. I’m proud of them,” head coach Shannon Troutman said. “Not all of them had great games, but they all picked each other up and played well as a team.”
In the region championship, Timmons picked up the win, throwing four innings of two-run baseball, one earned, on two hits. She struck out seven and walked two.
Lilly Bennett came in to pitch in the top of the fifth and retired the first six Lady Rockets that she faced. Crittenden County threatened to come back in the top of the seventh, scoring one run, but Bennett got a ground ball for the final out, leaving two runners on base. She picked up her 12th save of the season, pitching three innings, allowing one run on no hits.
“She (Bennett) is a really good mix with Kamryn,” said Troutman. “They’re a good complement to each other. Lilly’s been playing varsity now for a couple of years. She’s experienced, and I trust her.”
Saniya Shields was 3-for-4 with two triples and a double, scoring three runs. Ayden Bennett was also 3-for-4, with a double, two RBI and two runs. Lilly Bennett collected an RBI, while Jersey Gardner added a solo home run.
Timmons, Shields and Ayden Bennett were named to the All-Region softball team.
HCHS will be heading to the state tournament for an unprecedented sixth time in a row and is coming off three straight championship game appearances. Last season ended with a runner-up finish to Assumption, while the 2024 season produced a state championship for the Lady Cols.
Leading Henderson at the plate is Shields, who is hitting .467 with 12 doubles, 30 RBI and 37 steals. Two other hitters top the .400 mark, with Ayden Bennett hitting .459 and Maggie Grogan batting .407. Ayden Bennett leads the team with 38 steals, while Grogan has a team-high 38 RBI.
A trio of quality pitchers continues to deliver solid performances in the circle. Veteran Kamryn Timmons is 16-3 with a 2.42 ERA. Lilly Bennett owns a 1.92 ERA with 12 saves, while seventh-grader Kenley Evans has posted a 6-2 record with a 2.28 ERA.
The Lady Cols will face the champions from the 12th Region, Pulaski County. The Lady Maroons beat Southwestern, 3-1, to reach the state tournament. They own an 18-15 record and have won their last seven games.
“We’re going to have to find our bats. We’re going to have to put up some runs. Pulaski County’s got a really good D1 pitcher going to SEMO, and she’s been dominant all year, so it won’t be easy right out of the gate,” Troutman stated.
Pulaski County is led by senior Brooklyn Thomas both at the plate and in the circle. The latest stats from KHSAA show that she is batting .478 with seven home runs and 22 RBI, with 38 stolen bases. She is also 13-5 with an impressive 1.13 ERA and 213 strikeouts. She is committed to continue her career at Southeast Missouri State. Backing her up is fellow senior Ryann Sowder, who is hitting .448, with a team-high 12 doubles and 31 RBI.
Awaiting the Lady Cols if they win would be Ashland Blazer or the winner of the 10th Region, George Rogers Clark or Harrison County. All three teams are ranked in the top 13 of the KHSAA RPI rankings. Henderson County currently sits at 21st.
The overwhelming favorite to win the state tournament is undefeated South Warren who is one of the top teams in the country. HCHS would only face them should it reach the state championship.
The Lady Cols will begin their quest for a state title at 4 p.m. CT on Friday, June 5, at John Cropp Stadium in Lexington. Troutman has been appreciative of the support that the community of Henderson has given his team, not just this season, but throughout his tenure.
“It’s funny how we’re so far from there, but we almost always have one of the biggest crowds at the games at state,” Troutman said. “That just tells you about our community.”
