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HIGH SCHOOL-KENTUCKY

Holy Cross, St. Henry advance to All 'A' semifinals

Marc Hardin
prepsports@enquirer.com
Holy Cross pitcher Becca Ruschell throws the ball during the Indians' win over Bellevue.

The week-long, rain-delayed Touchstone Energy All "A" Classic Ninth Region softball tournament has been whittled down to four teams following Thursday's second set of quarterfinals at Newport Vets.

Advancing to play each other in Friday's semifinals were Holy Cross and St. Henry, two teams that are familiar with each other. The non-district rivals have met every year the last four, and clashed in the 2011 All "A" regional semifinals.

It's been all St. Henry in the series. The Crusaders have won the past four games against the Indians, who can do something about it Friday.

Both teams advanced with convincing victories. Holy Cross bashed Bellevue 15-0 in Thursday's first game. St. Henry defeated Newport, 8-2 in game two.

The Crusaders broke a 1-all tie with four runs in the third for a 5-1 lead. Gabby Stewart's run-scoring double in the fourth made it 6-2. The inning ended with St. Henry holding an 8-2 lead. Stewart went 2-for-4.

Carlie Roark and Carlie Townsend collected three hits apiece for the Crusaders (5-7) in support of starting pitcher Jordan Kramer, who threw a two-hitter and struck out 10. Newport (6-4) had base hits in the first and third innings before being held hitless by Kramer over the final four.

St. Henry, the defending Ninth Region All "A" Classic champion and 2013 state semifinalist, is scheduled to take on Holy Cross in Friday's 5 p.m. semifinal on Field 1.

The other semifinal is set, with Lloyd scheduled to play Newport Central Catholic also at 5 p.m. on Field 2. The final follows the concurrent semis, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

That's three games in 24 hours for Friday's finalists, thanks to Mother Nature and the ensuing schedule changes. Rain still could hold sway Friday, with showers in the forecast. If so, play will be rescheduled for Saturday.

VIEW FROM THE SIDELINE: "Three games in 24 hours is a little overwhelming, and a challenge, because we've only got one pitcher, and Jordan is coming off a pulled quad injury," Crusaders coach Freedom Fogt said. "If it rains, that might help, but I think our girls are up for the challenge after the way they've been playing."

PLAY OF THE GAME: Newport scored in the bottom of the third, pulling to within 5-2, but Stewart's double in the fourth put St. Henry ahead by four.

PLAYERS OF THE GAME: Kramer kept Newport batters off-balance, Stewart drilled a pair of doubles and sisters Carlie and Jessie Roark combined for five of St. Henry's 17 hits. "I'm just going with it because my leg hurts a little," Kramer said. "But once I get going out there, it's really out of the way."

St. Henry 104 300 0 -- 8 - 17 - 0

Newport 101 000 0 -- 2 - 2 - 0

WP: Kramer 5-7 (10 K's). LP: Hoeh. Leaders: S-Stewart 2-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI; C. Roark 3-4; J. Roark 2-4, 3B; Townsend 3-4. Records: N 6-4, S 5-7.

HOLY CROSS 15, BELLEVUE 0:

Becca Ruschel pitched her first varsity no-hitter, and Holy Cross made it back to the All "A" regional semifinals for the second year in a row with the 15-0 mercy-rule win over the Tigers. Ruschel, who shut down Bellevue with fastballs, curves and a drop-ball, struck out six. She was 2-for-2 at the plate with two RBI.

The Indians (5-7) scored early and often, with a nine-run first inning against the Tigers (1-5). Courtney Turner's bases-loaded triple made it 9-0. Holy Cross added two runs in the second, one in the third and three in the fourth. Lauren Newton's two-run single in the bottom of the fourth set the final score and ended it.

Turner went 2-for-3 with four RBI. Anna Clements drove in two runs for the Indians.

Bellevue 000 0 -- 0 - 0 - 5

Holy Cross 921 3 -- 15 - 8 - 1

WP: Ruschel (2-3) 6 K's. LP: Ross. Leaders: H-Turner 2-3, 3B, 4 RBI; Ruschel 2-2, 2 RBI; Clements 2 RBI; Newton 2 RBI. Records: H 5-7, B 1-5.