Mark Maloney on Kentucky sports

The 2012 Rawlings/KHSAA Fast-Pitch Softball State Tournament will get underway at 5 p.m. CT (6 ET) at Jack C. Fisher Park in Owensboro.

With four fields surrounding the press box, I’ll do my best to keep you up to date on what’s happening. (See below!)

(Also follow on Twitter: @MarkMaloneyHL )

Today’s (Thursday’s) schedule opens with Nicholas County facing Estill County; Boyle County versus Oldham County; North Laurel against Ashland Blazer; and Christian County taking on Ryle.

Late games, scheduled for 7 CT, have Mercy against Bullitt East; Scott County versus Greenwood; Owensboro Catholic facing Johnson Central; and Lone Oak tackling Green County.

The double-elimination tournament continues Friday, starting at 9 a.m. CT (10 ET). Saturday, play begins at 9 a.m. CT, with the winners’ bracket champion taking on the losers’ bracket survivor at 1 p.m. If necessary, a second game would immediately follow.

Score updates

Scott County and Greenwood are just about to get underway.

Meanwhile, Mercy leads Bullitt East 2-1 through one inning; Owensboro Catholic leads Johnson Central 1-0 in the second; while Lone Oak and Green County are scoreless in the third.

* Greenwood leads Scott County 1-0 through three complete innings.

Johnson Central and Owensboro Catholic are tied 1-1 through five complete.

Mercy is battering Bullitt East 12-1 in the third.

Lone Oak and Green County are tied 2-2 in the sixth.

* Mercy has finished off a 16-1 rout of Bullitt East.

* Greenwood adds a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth and goes on to beat Scott County 3-0.

* Owensboro Catholic edges Johnson Central 2-1, and Lone Oak tops Green County 4-3.

Early games

Boyle County 1B K.K. Davis takes the throw for the first out in the Lady Rebels' game against Oldham County.

North Laurel is the first team to score in the tournament, taking a 1-0 lead over Ashland Blazer through one inning.

* Boyle County strikes for a run in the bottom of the second inning and leads Oldham County 1-0. The Rebels used two walks, an error and a hit to score. Hannah Chadwell drew a two-out bases-loaded walk for the RBI.

On other fields, Nicholas County and Estill County are scoreless in the fourth, as are Ryle and Christian County. North Laurel still leads Ashland 1-0.

* Ashland Blazer has rallied to tie North Laurel 1-1 on McKenzie Vanover’s RBI single in the third inning. Play is now in the fourth inning.

* Boyle County is holding on to a 1-0 lead over Oldham County in the fourth inning. Nicholas County and Estill County remain scoreless in the sixth, while Ryle and Christian County are 0-0 in the fifth. Ashland Blazer and North Laurel are still tied 1-1, heading to the fifth.

* Nicholas County pushed a pair of runs across in the top of the sixth to break a scoreless tie against Estill County. Ryle and Christian County remain scoreless in the fifth. Boyle County leads Oldham County 1-0 in the middle of the fourth. And Ashland Blazer remains tied with North Laurel, 1-1, through five complete.

* Boyle County scored three runs to increase its lead to 4-0 over Oldham County through four complete innings.

Ryle also has broken through, taking a 1-0 lead over Christian County in the sixth.

North Laurel scored twice to take a 3-1 lead over Ashland Blazer in the middle of the sixth.

Nicholas County leads Estill County 2-0 in the seventh.

* Estill County rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh, capped by Shelby Arthur’s two-run, two-out walkoff double, to edge Nicholas County 3-2.

Meanwhile, North Laurel closed out a 3-1 victory over Ashland Blazer, and Ryle claimed a 1-0 victory over Christian County.

Boyle County leads Oldham County 4-1 in the middle of the sixth.

* Boyle County closed out a 4-1 victory over Oldham County, completing the round of four early games.

Long-jump winner Michaela Hunter of Rockcastle County. (Maloney photo)

North Oldham takes the final event of the boys’ 2A State Track Meet, as well as the overall team title.

North topped Central for the team title, 73-63, and in the relay, 3:27.30 to 3:28.37. Tilghman finished third in team points with 55.

Covington Catholic’s Will Torbek won the pole vault at 12-9.

* Boyle County wins the final event of the girls’ 2A State Meet, getting its second relay victory of the meet in the 4-by-400, while Highlands wins the overall team standings.

Natalie Settle, Tabitha Evans, Kate Carman and Logan Arnold combined for Boyle’s 4:08.97 victory. Central was runner-up in 4:09.40.

Highlands, third in the relay, finished with 100 1/2 points. Central took second with 92. Elizabethtown edged North Oldham for third place, 55-50.

* South Warren’s Jared Skrabacz, who earlier won the 1,600 meters, added the 3,200 title (9:31.27).

Runner-up Colin Grandon picked up eight big points for North Oldham, though, giving his team a 63-55 lead over Central with two events left to go.

* The Highlands girls have reclaimed the team lead with 17 of 18 events completed. The Bluebirds have 94 1/2 points to Central’s 84. Elizabethtown is third with 53.

Highlands picked up seven points in the triple jump with a 5-6 finish by Lisa Patterson and Taylor Rosenhagen. Rockcastle County’s Michaela Hunter picked up her third win of the day with a distance of 36-11 1/4.

Highlands also scored six points in the 3,200-meter run with a third-place finish by Lauren Ossege. Caterina Karas of Collins, who earlier took the 1,600 title, won that event in 11:26.76.

* Tilghman’s J.D. Harmon, who won the triple jump earlier in the day, has taken the long jump (22-2 3/4).

With three events remaining, Central and North Oldham are tied for the team lead with 55 points each. Tilghman is third with 44.

* Zach Evans’ triumph in the 200 meters has pulled North Oldham into a first-place tie with Central in the boys’ 2A team standings, 55 each with four events to go.

Evans covered the half-lap sprint in 22.25, trailed by 100-meter winner Ryan Timmons of Franklin County in 22.71.

* A 3-6 finish in the 200 meters by Kayla Forrest and Maya Spalding has pushed Central into the team lead, 84-81 1/2 over Highlands, with three events remaining in the girls’ 2A meet.

Alisha Adair of Western Hills won the event in 25.90, followed by 400-meter/long jump winner Michaela Hunter of Rockcastle County.

* With 14 of 18 girls’ events scored, Highlands leads Central in the 2A team standings 81 1/2-75. Elizabethtown is third with 53.

Caterina Karas of Collins dominated the 1,600-meter run (5:17.87) and North Bullitt’s Chelsey Slayton snared the 800 (2:23.44).

Central’s Maya Spalding, who already won the 100-meter hurdles, also won over the 300-meter barriers (46.86), ahead of West Jessamine’s Abby Wiggins.

Lindsey Scaggs of Highlands won the pole vault by a foot at 9-6.

* With 13 of 18 boys’ events completed, Central leads North Oldham 49-45 in the 2A team standings. Tilghman is third with 34, followed by Lexington Catholic with 27.

North Oldham’s Jeremy Rice just won the 800 meters in 1:57.78. Central’s Keon Scott captured the 300-meter hurdles (39.48) and Bullitt East’s Trevor Troutman won the discus (164-11).

* With 12 of 18 events completed, Highlands has opened an 81 1/2-59 lead over Central in the 2A girls’ team standings. Elizabethtown is third with 48.

Rockcastle County’s Michaela Hunter, who won the long jump earlier in the day, repeated as champion in the 400 meters (58.60). She was the only competitor to break one minute as runner-up Alisha Adair of Western Hills clocked 1:00.19.

Other recent girls’ winners include: Hart County’s Lindsey Burd in the shot put (36-0); and Highlands in both the 4-by-100 and 4-by-200 relays.

The adapted (wheelchair) shot put went to Butler County’s Kayla Spurgeon (10-8).

* Central leads Paducah Tilghman 39-26, with Franklin County third with 25 points after 10 of 18 boys’ events.

Mercer County junior Isaiah Burrus successfully defended his title in the 400-meter dash. Burrus finished in 50.10, followed by Lexington Catholic’s Brian Babbage in 50.32.

Other recent boys’ winners include: Tilghman’s J.D. Harmon in the triple jump (46-5); South Warren’s Jared Skrabacz in the 1,600 (4:20.54); Franklin County in the 4-by-200 relay (1:31.48); and Central in the 4-by-100 relay (43.02).

The exhibition adapted (wheelchair) 100-meter dash went to Fleming County’s Lucas Cannon in 22.91.

* Highlands senior Ashley Collinsworth, daughter of TV personality and former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Cris Collinsworth, wins the girls’ 100-meter days in 12.60. Alisha Adair of Western Hills takes second in 12.70.

Elizabethtown’s Clayton Patton takes the boys’ 110-meter high hurdles (15.28) over Bullitt East’s Jacob Duvall (15.57).

* Elizabethtown and North Oldham are tied for first place in the boys’ team standings through five events with 18 points each. Franklin County is third with 13.

Recent boys’ champions include: Ryan Timmons of Franklin County in the 100 (11.02); Tyler Bray of Lloyd Memorial in the high jump (6-8); and Letcher County’s Dakota Cornett in the shot put (52-6 1/2).

* Rockcastle County’s Michaela Hunter won the girls’ long jump with a leap of 17-10 1/4. Central’s Kayla Forrest was runner-up at 17-8 1/2.

Other girls’ winners include Central’s Cha’Niquia Gore in the high jump (5-2), Elizabethtown’s Denisha Nichols in the discus (114-2) and Central’s Maya Spalding in the 100-meter hurdles (15.91).

Through five of 18 events, Central leads the team standings with 31 points, five ahead of Elizabethtown.

* North Oldham takes the boys’ 4-by-800-meter relay in 8:12.40, followed by Hopkinsville in 8:16.84. Taylor Sanders, Colin Grandon, Alec Horn and Jeremy Rice ran for the winners.

Now, there is a two-hour break before the next event on the track.

* The first event completed in the Class 2A State Track and Field Meet goes to Boyle County’s 4-by-800-meter relay team. Eighth-grader Nikki Coffey led off, followed by junior Maddie Kriz, senior Rachel Ditto and sophomore Logan Arnold. Time for the “metric two-mile” was 9:57.57. North Oldham was runner-up in 10:01.16.

Fleming County’s Lucas Cannon won the boys’ adapted shot put with a distance of 15-11 from his wheelchair. This is the first year for the exhibition event.

* A thunderstorm has pushed back Thursday’s scheduled 1 o’clock start for the Class 2A State Track and Field Meet at the University of Louisville.

However, the sky has cleared and athletes have now resumed warmups.

When conditions allow, the boys’ shot put, girls’ discus and girls’ 4-by-800 relays will be first to begin at Owsley Frazier Cardinal Park.

Covington Catholic’s and Highlands’ girls won the KHSAA Class 2A State Track and Field Meet Friday night.

CovCath scored 67 points, six more than Louisville Central. West Jessamine was another six points back, followed by eight-time defending champion Tilghman with 48.

Highlands eked past Lloyd Memorial, 62.5-61 for girls’ honors. Louisville Central had 53, followed by Rockcastle County with 48.

Initial post

It hasn’t taken long for some surprises at the Class 2A State High School Track and Field Championships, which are underway at the University of Louisville.

Tilghman’s Denzel Powell, the defending champion in the boys’ 100, false-started.

Tilghman’s DeAudrea Horne, defending champ in the girls’ 100, placed second to Abigail Torian of Trigg County — last year’s winner in Class A.

Torian clocked in at 12.44 seconds, Horne at 12.60.

Tilghman did pick up a 10-point victory in the boys’ 110-meter hurdles. Caric Denson, a junior, defended his title in 15.04, ahead of Louisville Central’s Diaz Bolden (15.17).

Johnson Central senior Andy Lewis took advantage of Powell’s absence to win the boys’ 100 in 10.97. Stephon Robinson of Louisville Central was second in 11.02.

Other early winners include Calloway County in the boys’ 4-by-800 relay (8:11.35), South Oldham in the girls’ 4-by-8 (9:51.46) and Nathelie Zetrenne of Central in the girls’ 100-meter hurdles (15.56). In the latter event, defending champion Sarah McKinney of Rockcastle County wound up fifth.

A West Jessamine sweep

West Jessamine seniors took both the boys’ and girls’ 1,600-meter runs.

Adrianne Shearer built a 20-yard gap on the field over the first 400 and maintained about the same gap throughout the race. Shearer finished in 5:22.93, with South Oldham’s Jessie Murner second in 5:26.11. Defending champ Helen Heines of North Bullitt took sixth.

West’s Will Stratford employed a different tactic to win the boys’ 1,600. Sitting comfortably off the pace for the first 1,000 meters, Stratford surged with a lap-and-a-half left. He held off Franklin County’s Robert Sandlin, 4:27.20 to 4:27.56.

Other boys’ winners include Tilghman in the 4-by-200 relay (1:30.22) and Calloway County’s Tyrell Willis in the shot put (50-9.25).

Rockcastle County’s Samantha Smith won the girls’ long jump (17-2.75) and Jackie Stevens of Bullitt East won the discus (111-5). Trigg County’s girls swept the 4-by-200 (1:43.68) and 4-by-100 (49.72) relays.

Late events

Anna Goetz was the only individual winner for Highlands, taking the triple jump (35-3.75).

Western Hills eighth-grader Alisha Adair won the 200 (25.26), beating defending champion Horne (25.31) and Trigg’s Torian (25.66).

Other girls’ winners included: Donnell Nocero (Lloyd), high jump (5-4); Bullitt East’s Stevens in the shot (37-9.5); Cheyenne Evans (Boyle County), 800 (2:19.83); Jessica Gabhart (Elizabethtown), 300 hurdles (45.25); Erica Mills (Boyle County), pole vault (9-0); Michaela Hunter (Rockcastle County), 400 (59.33); Tenny Ostrem, Powell County (11:42.37); and South Oldham in the 4-by-400 relay (4:06.63).

CovCath’s lone individual title came from Alex Connelly in the high jump (6-4).

Other boys’ winners included: Robert Sandlin (Franklin County), 3,200 (9:38.21); R.J. Fields (Harlan County), long jump (22-5); Greg Phillips (Knox Central), pole vault (12-6); Thomas Washington (Logan County), triple jump (45-4); Ken Holbrook (Western Hills), 129-11; Andy Lewis (Johnson Central), 200 (21.78); Stephon Jackson (Louisville Central), 400 (49.88); Thomas Canary (Lexington Catholic), 800 (1:54.94); Chip Clark (Fleming County), 300 hurdles (39.85); Tilghman, 4-by-100 relay (43.67); and Highlands in the 4-by-400 relay (3:26.16).

Thanks to Jonathan Grooms, Carlisle County coach, for providing this week’s KYtrackXC.com rankings of state high school track and field teams.

Class AAA Boys - Team Rankings                    
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   1) Male 76.5; 2) St. Xavier 66; 3) Louisville Ballard 39; 4) North Hardin 36; 5) Henry Clay 34; 6) Oldham County 33; 7) Daviess County 31.5; 8 ) Christian County 30.3; 9) John Hardin 29; 10) Owensboro 28.   

Class AAA Girls – Team Rankings                   
===============================================================================
   1) Owensboro 75; 2) Butler 56; 3) Louisville Ballard 51.5; 4) Fern Creek 45; 5) Sacred Heart 43; 6) Paul Dunbar 40; 7) Eastern 33; 8 ) Campbell County 32; 9) Male 31; 10) duPont Manual 29.

Class AA Girls – Team Rankings                   
===============================================================================
   1) Central 73.5; 2) Lloyd Memorial 71; 3) Rockcastle County 56; 4) Trigg County 53.5; 5) Highlands 43.5; 6) (tie) South Oldham and Boyle County 37; 8 ) West Jessamine 34; 9) (tie) Casey County and Elizabethtown 26.

National Collegiate rankings

MEN

WOMEN

Event rankings

Corey Thorne

Rashaud Scott

MEN

100 meters — 21. Justin Austin (UK) 10.35.

200 — 25. Jose Acevedo (UK) 20.80.

Steeplechase — 2. Corey Thorne (U of L) 8:39.19; 12. Matt Hughes (U of L) 8:47.36; 24. Stanley Mugo (EKU) 8:52.07.

4-by-100 relay — 19. UK (A. Williams, B. Austin, J. Austin, J. Acevedo) 40.03.

4-by-400 relay — 8. UK (B. Austin, J. Austin, K. Obeng, J. Acevedo) 3:05.77.

High jump — 11. Tone Belt (U of L) 7-1.

Long jump — 4. Rudon Bastian (U of L) 25-8.

Shot put — 14. Steve Hnat (U of L) 60-6 1/2; 15. Rashaud Scott (UK) 60-3 3/4; 20. Chase Madison (UK) 59-11 1/4.

Discus — 1. Rashaud Scott (UK) 212-9; 6. Chase Madison (UK) 196-7.

 

Janet Jesang

Ashley Muffet

WOMEN

5,000 — 10. Janet Jesang (WKU)15:52.22.

10,000 — 20. Janet Jesang (WKU)34:08.18.

4-by-400 relay — 20. WKU (M. Williams, S. Smith, K. Morrison, A. Brown) 3:37.43.

High jump — 10. Rachel Gehret (U of L) 5-11 1/4.

Long jump — 23. Rachel Gehret (U of L) 20-5 1/4.

Triple jump — 10. Seidre Forde (U of L) 42-11 3/4.

Shot put — 11. Ashley Muffet(UK) 53-4 1/2; 20. Khadija Abdullah (U of L) 52-2; 23. Jere’ Summers (U of L) 51-11 1/4.

Discus — 3. Ashley Muffet (UK) 187-8; 10. Jere’ Summers (U of L) 173-8; 16. Emilee Strot (UK) 171-2.

Hammer throw — 11. Jere’ Summers (U of L) 199-10; 13. Kristin Smith (UK) 199-2.

Heptathlon — 18. Ashley Trimble (UK) 5,438; 21. Danielle Sampley (UK) 5,477 (pre-season mark).