Shelby Trent (left) high-fives O’Brien Wilson during Warren East’s 6-1 loss to Male in the KHSAA Fast Pitch State Softball Tournament championship Saturday at John Cropp Stadium in Lexington.

LEXINGTON – Immediately after a runner-up finish in last year’s state softball tournament, the Warren East softball team had eyes on getting back in 2019.

With all but one starter returning, that goal had added pressure – with expectations from outside the program that Warren East would be back.

Warren East met those expectations head on – and while the Lady Raiders once again came up short in the title game, Warren East coach Philip McKinney said his team showed championship mettle with the way it handled the pressure of being the favorite all season.

“Before the season starts, we go to media day and everyone points their fingers at us and says, ‘Y’all are the favorite in (Region 4) and if you win (Region 4) you have a good chance of getting back to the state championship game,’ ” McKinney said. “That’s what these kids lived with before the season and throughout the season and doggone it if they didn’t get back to the state championship game.

“Kudos to those kids, because they are kids, to have a big target and that much pressure. You know what they did? They stepped up said we are the favorite, we will take it and play as hard as we can and see what happens.”

Senior pitcher Katie Gardner said having the target on their backs pushed the Lady Raiders all season. After going 33-6 in 2018, Warren East roared out the gates this season – winning its first 25 games before a nine-inning loss to Central Hardin in the final week of the regular season.

The Lady Raiders suffered another setback in the District 14 Tournament championship game to South Warren but came back to beat the Spartans for the Region 4 title.

Wins against Daviess County and Ashland Blazer set up a rematch with Central Hardin in the state semifinals. Warren East avenged that loss to advance to the title game, battling undefeated Male pitch for pitch until the Lady Bulldogs pulled away late for a 6-1 win.

“We are super proud,” Lady Raiders sophomore third baseman Shelby Trent said. “We have plenty of time to look back on it. Like (coach McKinney) said, we did a good job representing (District 14) and (Region 4). I couldn’t ask for a better team.”

Sophomore outfielder Lucy Patterson agreed this season was special.

“It’s going to be something to appreciate,” Patterson said. “These next couple of days you are going to be thinking about and you are going to cry a little bit, but once you think about it … we made it here in back-to-back years.”

And while the Lady Raiders may not have achieved their ultimate goal – winning the program’s first state title – McKinney said their legacy cannot be denied.

“The bad part is, there is nothing I can say to take the pain away from them,” McKinney said. “I can’t, but I told them this – ‘I guarantee you it might be 10-15 years from now, but last year’s team and this year’s team will go into the Warren East Athletic Hall of Fame.’ I guarantee it and I don’t have a vote.

“I’m just so proud of them. They’ve put two trophies in Warren East’s trophy case and that is something that will always be there.”{&end}