Johnson Central punched their ticket to the girls’ state tournament with a 10-0 win over Pikeville in the 15th Region softball championship game played at soggy East Ridge on Monday night.
The Lady Eagles, now 33-6, will play Boyle County at John Cropp Stadium in Lexington at 2 p.m. Friday.
Pikeville saw its season end at 29-11.
Winning pitcher Chloe VanHoose struck out 13 batters, walked one and allowed only one hit.
Randi Delong set the pace with a two-run homer in the second inning to give Johnson Central the lead for good. She added a grand slam home run and finished with six RBIs.
Kendall Hall added two hits, including a double. She scored two runs and drove in three. Abigail Williams had three hits, one a double, and scored two runs. Mayson Delong added a pair of singles, walked twice, and scored two runs. Clara Blair finished with three hits.
Olivia Hall singled for the Lady Panthers. Junior hurler Emily Ford took the loss.
At Lick Creek
(Championship)
SCORE BY INNINGS: R-H-E
PK (29-11)……000 000 – 0- 1-1
JC (33-6)…..….002 251 – 10-13-0
Pitching:
WP – Chloe VanHoose
LP – Emily Ford
Hitting: Olivia Hall 1b, Pikeville; Randi Delong 2-HR, bb, 6 RBI; Kendal Hall 2b, 1b, 2r, 3 RBI; Abigail Williams 2b, 2-1b, 2r; Mayson Delong 2-1b, 2-bb, 2r; Clara Blair 3-1b, Johnson Central.