By Terry Boehmker
NKy Tribune sports reporter
It was all part of the plan. Walton-Verona softball coach Marlin Gregg said he put together a challenging early-season schedule to prepare his team for the 8th Region All “A” Classic and it worked out perfectly.
The Bearcats scored a total of 36 runs in three regional tournament victories to claim the title for the second time in three years and advance to the Kentucky All “A” Classic small-school state tournament on April 30 and May 1 in Owensboro.
“The goal from the beginning of the year was to be prepared for the All ‘A’ (playoffs),” coach Gregg said. “We scheduled as many games as possible and played teams that we knew we would struggle with. I had to set up situations where my girls had to work and have a reason to (improve) their play both defensively and offensively.”
Walton-Verona entered last week’s 8th Region All “A” Classic with a 4-9 record. Six of the losses came in two previous tournaments against downstate teams from larger schools.
Gregg said injuries also played a role in the Bearcats’ shaky start. Senior pitcher Lexie Rouse was slowly recovering from a back injury and junior center fielder Abri Anderson missed the first four games due to a sprained ankle.
With everybody back in the lineup for the 8th Region All “A” Classic, Walton-Verona whipped Owen County, 16-5, in the opening round last Friday. After knocking off Williamstown, 9-5, in the semifinals on Saturday morning, the Bearcats defeated Trimble County, 11-1, in the championship game that afternoon.
Coach Gregg said senior left fielder Jennifer Brauer “started the weekend off with a bang” by hitting home runs in her first two at bats on Friday and the team’s offensive attack never let up.
“The rest of the team starting hitting right along with her,” the coach said. “We took advantage of the opponent’s (fielding) mistakes, created runs by being aggressive on the base path and hit the ball well.”
The team’s most consistent hitter during the tournament was senior shortstop Olivia Dezarn, who had a .714 batting average along with six stolen bases and five runs scored in three games. She was named most valuable player on the all-tournament team that also included Rouse, Brauer and Anderson.
Dezarn was also a defensive standout for the Bearcats. Gregg said she turned two double plays, threw a runner out at home plate and made a strong throw from deep in the hole at shortstop to get a big third out in the championship game.
Having Rouse back in the pitching circle also helped the Bearcats. She had pitched a total of 11 innings in the team’s first 13 games due to her back problems, but she picked up all three wins over the weekend.
“Senior leadership is a major component for this team,” Gregg said. “When my seniors are on, we are a very good small-school competitor. Our senior leadership keeps the chemistry at a high level in the dugout and on the field.”
Walton-Verona is one of three local teams that will compete in the Kentucky All “A” Classic state tournament that begins with pool play on Saturday, April 30 at Jack Fisher Park in Owensboro.
The other state qualifiers are 9th Region champion Newport Central Catholic and 10th Region champion Bishop Brossart, who are both in Pool A. Walton-Verona is in Pool C. A complete state tournament schedule is available on the allaclassic.org website.