THE LEDGER INDEPENDENT | WEDNESDAY, 04.4.2012 WEDNESDAY,WEDNESDAY, 04.4.201204SPOR.4.2012TS | A9 MASON COUNTY 16, AUGUSTA 1 Davis got into foul trouble in the first half. CATS Another undercurrent FROM A7 of all that one-and-done talk has been the implica- Lady Royals run-rule Lady Panthers The mark of a truly great tion of that trend some- player is his or her abil- how sullying The Game. ZACK KLEMME Fraysure said. “Today some Hamm put the ball in play Mason has scored at ity to dominate a game Paired with that is the ev- [email protected] of our kids got in the field to drive in Foister and be- least 10 runs in all but one without monopolizing the er-present mention John and got some swings that fore scoring herself on an of its victories. scoring column. Most of Calipari had never won a AUGUSTA | Mason definitely helped prepare Augusta error. “We’re excited about the the night, Davis did that. title, and his only two Final County had the luxury of us down the road. We have Another error allowed way our season is going,” Among other freshmen, Four appearances at Mas- both gaining an emphatic five seniors that we gradu- Jessica Hay and Caitlin Fraysure said. “We’re play- Marquis Teague notched sachusetts and Memphis win and getting some of its ate at the end of the year, Ross to score, and Foister ing well together as a team 14 points and hit two big were later vacated. (With less experienced perform- and at this point in the drew a bases-loaded walk and the girls that came in free throws in the final the qualifier, often in pa- ers some time on the dia- season, we need to look to plate Arthur. today substituted pretty minute, although he later rentheses like these, that mond on Tuesday evening forward.” The Lady Panthers got seamlessly. There wasn’t a missed the front end of a Calipari himself was never at Augusta. The Lady Panthers are one back in the bottom of huge drop in skill and they 1-and-1. implicated.) The visiting Lady Royals just looking to get their the first, on Kelsch’s single were still able to execute.” Michael Kidd-Gilchrist The first part of that is scored seven runs in the regulars used to game ac- through the right side to Augusta, on the other scored 11 points, and when done. Calipari is no longer first inning and eight in tion. Of Augusta’s 17 play- drive home Whiteman. hand, is still playing catch- the Jayhawks were in the one of the best coaches to the third and held the Lady ers, first-year coach Mark The Lady Royals an- up, but Litteral sees a will process of making up for a have never won a title. Panthers to two hits to Litteral estimated only five swered quickly when to improve. truly awful first half with a The second part of that, run-rule Augusta 16-1. of them have ever played Hamm scored on another “I think by district time late run, he came up with Cal addressed during For Mason (6-4), which before. error one half-inning later. we could be competitive a late block of Kansas’ the trophy presentation has won three of its last “We’re just very, very — I And Mason poured it on against the right type of Tyshawn Taylor’s layup without directly talking four, Cara Irwin drove don’t want to say young, in the top of the third — team,” he said. “They are that helped swing mo- about it. in two runs with a first- ‘cause we’re not really after a delay to retrieve a working hard.” mentum back Kentucky’s He’s said all along this inning triple and Bethany young, we’ve got a lot of garter snake from near the Both teams are sched- way. isn’t about him. Whether Foister and Katie Hamm seniors — we’re just very backstop — to invoke the uled to head east for games And the regulars who that’s showmanship or le- each racked up two RBI. inexperienced in softball, 15-run rule. Thursday. The Lady Royals didn’t jump to the draft gitimate deference doesn’t Karissa Greenhill, Kort- and this is the first year Hamm’s bases-loaded are set to travel to Lewis after last season showed matter. ney Carver and Ashley where they’ve actually had walk scored Taylor Belle County, which beat Mason the Cats are more than just Calipari doesn’t want it Batey each pitched one in- some practices and played Matheny, Carver’s fielder’s 16-3 on Saturday, while a bunch of wet-behind- to be about him. ning for the Lady Royals. a lot of games,” Litteral choice plated Kelsey Wal- Augusta is going to East the-ears young’uns. He doesn’t seem to view Jerica Kelsch drove in said. “...The girls didn’t ters, and Hamm came Carter for a doubleheader. Sophomore Doron Kentucky’s eighth title as Kaitlyn Whiteman for the play Little League and home from third on a Lamb totaled 22 points to justification of his mastery lone Augusta (0-2) run in they’re still learning the dropped third strike. Mason County 817 — 16 9 0 lead all scorers. Terrence of the one-and-done sys- Augusta 100 — 1 2 3 the bottom of the first. game. We don’t know the Carver and Hay each WP: Greenhill, LP: Weiss. Jones had nine and provid- tem. Or proof that he may The Lady Royals sent 14 basics yet, is our problem.” crossed the dish on a wild Hitting leaders: MC -- Irwin 1-1, 2 RBI, ed a solid defensive effort. be among the elite coaches batters to the plate in the Mason earned an eight- pitch, Matheny’s single R, 3B, BB; Foister 1-1, 2 RBI, R, BB; A guy from a town called in the game. first inning and 12 in the run lead before even taking scored Rachel Shower, and Hamm 1-2, 2 RBI, 3 R, BB; Matheny Maysville, Ky., Darius “It means a lot to my third. They also managed the field defensively. Billie Jo Ross came home 1-1, RBI, R; Carver RBI, R, BB; C. Ross Miller, scored five points family and my friends and with Augusta caught hold- RBI, R; Shower RBI, R, BB; Huff 2-2, R, people that care about to get 16 different hitters a Irwin’s full-count SB; Hay 1-2, 2 RR, BB, SB; Newdigate and was his usual steady- chance to bat. standup triple to left field ing the ball on the infield 1-2; Conrad 1-2; Arthur 2 R, BB, SB; ing influence, playing in me,” he said Sunday. “It’s important to win plated Aimee Arthur, who unaware for a 16-1 lead. Walters R, 2 BB; B. Ross R, BB. his school-record 152nd “I’m telling you, I’m not (but) it’s also important had walked, and Abby Batey pitched around a A -- Kelsch 1-2, RBI; Wiseman 1-2; game. He became the first worried about it. Here’s to build for the future,” Huff, who singled. Foister two-out walk in the bot- Whiteman R. player to win Kentucky’s why: If I do right by these Mason coach Meredith singled home Irwin and tom of the third to end it. Records: Mason County 6-4, Augusta Mr. Basketball and the kids, if I make sure it’s 0-2. KHSAA Sweet 16 title, about players first ... they which he did at Mason will drag us where we want County, and the NCAA to go.” championship. The big-time media ap- Even the “other” senior, parently don’t believe that. Eloy Vargas, saw some But — at least for one night Dream season falls short for gritty Jayhawks floor time when Jones and — it didn’t much matter. DAVE SKRETTA mighty Kentucky in the fi- Associated Press nal game of the season. The Jayhawks feel as though they NOW Spread the Spring Feeling NEW ORLEANS | The won just by getting there. OPEN Come find •Vegetable Seeds •Onion Sets season began with coach Bill “From start to finish, •Cabbage & Broccoli •Strawberry Plants Self telling Kansas faithful to there’s been no team I’ve •Candy Onion Plants •Rhubarb Plants chill out. It ended with the been around improved this Jayhawks one game — really, much,” Self said in the mo- Pansy Baskets READY! one late run — from winning ments following the 67-59 eadd Pr a national championship. loss at the Superdome. Hoommeessttea Proodduuccee At a school where expec- “There’s been no team I’ve H & Greenhouse tations are often unrealistic, been around that competed 5146 Old Sardis Pike • 606-763-9376 where anything less than this hard, there’s been no Turn right off US 68 on 2514, then right on Old Sardis Pike & 2 miles on left a trip to the Final Four is team I’ve been around that Monday thru Saturday 8am -8pm; Closed Sunday considered just another was able to take whatever season, a scrappy team of situation dealt them and re- overachievers led by Thomas spond to it favorably. Robinson and Tyshawn Tay- “It’s a pretty proud mo- HAUKE’S ASSOCIATED PRESS lor accomplished more than ment,” Self said, “to be able AUTOCARE, LLC Kansas’ Elijah Johnson walks off the court with teammate Travis just about anyone thought to coach a team like this and Import & Domestic Releford, left, after the Final Four championship game against possible.