By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
The Simon Kenton baseball team and Notre Dame softball team won first-round state tournament games on Thursday to advance to the quarterfinals.
Simon Kenton knocked off Clark County, 3-1, at Whitaker Bank Park in Lexington behind a strong pitching performance by senior left-hander Mitchell Kreidenweis, who gave up only two hits and had eight strikeouts in six innings.
The Pioneers also turned two double plays. One of them allowed Clark County to score its only run in the seventh inning off relief pitcher Brayden Trattles.
Notre Dame scored all of its runs in the last three innings of a 16-7 win over Boyle County at Jack Fisher Park in Owensboro.
The Pandas had 12 hits in the game with Lindsey Meier getting three. Erica Huston and Serena Paterno drove in three runs each.
Simon Kenton took a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Bailey Martin’s two-out double down the left field line knocked in two of the runs. Trent Kincaid had a pair of doubles and a stolen base for the Pioneers, who had five hits.
Simon Kenton (25-15) will face Muhlenberg County (29-9) at 11 a.m. Saturday in the quarterfinals of the state baseball tournament. Notre Dame’s quarterfinal opponent in the double-elimination state softball tournament will be Owensboro Catholic (25-11) at 9 a.m. Friday.