Beech Tree News Network

With a 9-8 record halfway through the season, the Butler County High School softball team was at a crossroads.  Although off to a good start, the Bears were hovering at the .500 mark with several games during the second half of the season that could go either way.  After dropping two hard-fought, one-run games on April 11 (Rockcastle County 2-1, Highlands 8-7 in nine innings), Butler County regained its focus and with gritty determination went on a six-game run.  The Bears defeated Russellville 8-2 on April 16; Bowling Green 5-0 on April 17; Hopkinsville 7-0 on 4/21; Trinity 9-0 on 4/23; Logan County 8-6 (8 innings) on April 27; and Edmonson County 8-3 on April 28 in a district contest. 
Riding a winning streak, the Bears faltered on in its next two outings - unfortunately losing a pair of 12th District games.  Butler lost to Grayson 12-4 at home on April 30 and then fell on the road at Trinity 9-5 on May 1. 
The Bears got back on track on May 2 with a pair of wins over Fourth Region opponents in a round-robin format on the road.  Butler County defeated Barren County 4-1 and then beat Glasgow 8-1. 
Butler County got a little revenge on May 4 with a 11-3 win at Grayson County, followed by a 6-5 eight-inning win over Greenwood on the following day, which featured a game-ending double-play in the bottom of the eighth inning when second baseman Callie Cardwell caught a bloop fly in the grass and then threw to shortstop Maddie McKinney at second base to double up the baserunner. 
On Friday, May 8, the Bears notched a 4-0 win over Todd County Central at Elkton.  Butler County defeated Owensboro 15-0 on Saturday, May 9, at home. 
Butler County defeated Breckinridge County on Monday, May 11, by a score of 5-1.  The Bears honored seniors Kassie Phelps and Emily Rich, along with their parents, for their support and dedication to Butler County High School Softball for many years. 

Offensive stat leaders for Butler County (minimum .250 batting average, through 31 games):

Madison "Boo" Clark    .459 BA        18 RBI
Abigail Fry                  .333 BA        15 RBI
Cheyenne White         .324 BA        27 RBI
Maddie McKinney        .323 BA        24 RBI
Taylor King                .292 BA        20 RBI
Emily Rich                 .282 BA        18 RBI
Kassie Phelps            .279 BA        14 RBI
Zoie Pendley              .270 BA        14 RBI

Leading Fielding Stats for Butler County (minimum .850 fielding percentage):

Cheyenne White        .987 Fielding Percentage
Taylor King               .974
Emily Rich                 .952
Callie Cardwell           .918
Kassie Phelps            .896
Maddie McKinney        .885
Zoie Pendley              .902

Butler County (22-11) dropped a 4-2 decision to Edmonson County on Tuesday, May 12, in a game that determined the top seed in the district.  As the #2 seed, the Bears will play either Trinity or Grayson on Tuesday, May 19, in the first round of the 12th District Softball Tournament at Grayson County

To wrap up the 2015 regular season, Butler County will travel to Russellville on Friday, May 15 (5:30 p.m.) and will play Christian County (10 a.m.) and University Heights (11:30 a.m.) on Saturday, May 16. 

Team members include seniors Kassie Phelps and Emily Rich; juniors Callie Cardwell, Taylor King, Casey Lloyd, and Abigail Fry; sophomores Madison Clark, Ashlynne Brooks, Zoie Pendley, Maddie McKinney, Cheyenne White; freshmen Olivia Jones and Tori McKinney; 8th graders Kasidy Graham, Dixie Garnier, Amber Thacker, and Kylee Smith; 7th grader Hannah Chaney.