WARMING TREND: Lady Raiders’ offense stays hot on cold day
Published 10:20 am Tuesday, April 1, 2025
Franklin-Simpson junior Lilly Ferguson (6) slides home during the Lady Raiders’ 10-4 win over Franklin-Simpson on Monday, March 31. (JACK DOBBS / Daily News)
Franklin-Simpson seventh grader Hester Blanckenberg (21) pitches during the Lady Raiders’ 10-4 win over Franklin-Simpson on Monday, March 31. (JACK DOBBS / Daily News)
Warren East sophomore Ada Childress (14) pitches during the Lady Raiders’ 10-4 win over Franklin-Simpson on Monday, March 31. (JACK DOBBS / Daily News)
Franklin-Simpson Lady Cats head coach Todd Caudill watches as Warren East sophomore Tristen Lindsey (18) gets ready to swing during the Lady Raiders’ 10-4 win over Franklin-Simpson on Monday, March 31. (JACK DOBBS / Daily News)
Warren East Lady Raiders head coach Jennifer Brooks watches her team during the Lady Raiders’ 10-4 win over Franklin-Simpson on Monday, March 31. (JACK DOBBS / Daily News)
Franklin-Simpson juniors Abbey Cook (7), Lilly Ferguson (6) and senior Jasmine Grover (4) run toward the ball during the Lady Raiders’ 10-4 win over Franklin-Simpson on Monday, March 31. (JACK DOBBS / Daily News)
Warren East senior Lydia Jones (1) throws to first during the Lady Raiders’ 10-4 win over Franklin-Simpson on Monday, March 31. (JACK DOBBS / Daily News)
Warren East senior Kennedy Lawson (11) runs home during the Lady Raiders’ 10-4 win over Franklin-Simpson on Monday, March 31. (JACK DOBBS / Daily News)
Warren East sophomore Jordan Brooks (4) runs to second during the Lady Raiders’ 10-4 win over Franklin-Simpson on Monday, March 31. (JACK DOBBS / Daily News)
Warren East senior Ashley Parson (8) slides home during the Lady Raiders’ 10-4 win over Franklin-Simpson on Monday, March 31. (JACK DOBBS / Daily News)
Not even the cold weather could cool down Warren East’s red-hot offense Tuesday against visiting Franklin-Simpson.
The Lady Raiders thumped for 13 hits in a 10-4 victory – the fourth straight game of double-digit runs for the squad – despite the blustery weather at Phil Burkeen Field.
“Cold weather comes with spring sports,” Warren East coach Jennifer Brooks said. “Not as fun, but the atmosphere in the dugout and with the girls is a lot of fun. A lot of chatter, a lot of silliness in their attitudes that keeps their spirits up so that they don’t have to think about the cold weather.”
Warren East (8-1) entered Tuesday’s game coming off an impressive two-game showing in the Kentucky 2A Section 2 Tournament on Saturday, with wins lopsided wins against Allen County-Scottsville and Edmonson County earning the Lady Raiders a spot in the upcoming 2A state tournament in Owensboro.
Early on, Franklin-Simpson (5-5) was swinging the hot bats. The Lady Wildcats jumped out to a three-run lead before East came roaring back with a four-run rally. From there, the Lady Raiders built onto their lead to pull away for their seventh straight win.
“I think this lineup is working really well,” Warren East senior third baseman Addison Lee said. “We’re starting to hit together. We started changing a few things after the first few games and it’s working.”
Franklin-Simpson jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a two-run double by Addison Shelton. The Lady Wildcats tacked on another run in the top of the second with Ava Holland’s RBI double.
Lee got the Lady Raiders going with a leadoff single before Kynleigh Barrick followed with another single and Tristen Lindsey reached on an error to load the bases with no outs. Franklin starting pitcher Hester Blanckenberg nearly escaped the jam, getting a comebacker to the circle to start a force out at home plate and then tallying a strikeout for the second out of inning.
Jordan Brooks salvaged the rally for East, delivering a two-run single. Then Autumn Brooks and Lydia Jones followed with back-to-back RBI singles as the Lady Raiders grabbed a 4-3 lead.
East struck for three more runs in the bottom of the fourth. After scoring one on an error, the Lady Raiders got another run off Jordan Brooks’ RBI single. Four batters later, Lee capped the rally with an RBI single to center.
The Lady Raiders piled on three more runs in the bottom of the sixth, scoring the first on a wild pitch before getting a two-run single from Kennedy Lawson.
Lindsey, East’s starting pitcher, shook off the rough start to sail through the middle of the game before running into a bit of trouble again in the top of the seventh.
Franklin’s Kynleigh Scott and Addison Marr led off with back-to-back singles, then Abbey Cook drew a one-out walk to load the bases. Holland lofted a fly ball to center to plate a run, then Jasmine Glover drew a walk to load the bases again. Lindsey finished it off by inducing a ground ball to third for an easy force out.
Lindsey picked up the complete-game win, allowing four runs (three earned) off six hits. She struck out five batters.
Autumn Brooks led East’s 14-hit attack with a 3-for-3 performance that included a double and an RBI. Jordan Brooks was 2-for-4 with three RBIs, Kennedy Lawson was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs, Lee went 2-for-4 with an RBI, Kenzie Upton was 2-for-4 and Lydia Jones tallied a double and an RBI.
“The first of of the season we had really struggled getting our bats going,” Jennifer Brooks said. “This past weekend it really has started turning on and clicking. Lots of good hits, lots of bunting and moving runners in key situations. When we have runners at second base in scoring position, our batters are coming up and putting the ball in play to score them. Tonight eight of our 14 hits came from the seniors, so they’re really stepping up and taking the lead.”
Warren East was set to host Greenwood on Tuesday. Franklin-Simpson was slated to visit Barren County.
FSHS 210 000 1 – 4 6 3
WEHS 040 303 x – 10 14 1
WP: Lindsey. LP: Blanckenberg.
