The Russellville High School softball team goes into its first tournament this weekend with more success to build on than the Lady Panthers did at this stage of last season.
Although the RHS girls are 0-3 in this weather-plagued season, they scored two runs in the first inning of their second game. Last year’s team didn’t score a run until the ninth game of the year. They lost their first 15 games on the way to a 3-20 season. The season ended without them getting a runner on base in an 8-0 district tournament loss to Logan County.
This year’s team scored two runs in the second game of the season at Warren Central. The Lady Dragons won the game 13-2, but those two runs were meaningful to the program’s rebuilding process.
“I've been saying since this season started that I have high hopes for these girls and I still do,” says new coach Veronica Johnson. “Although we have gotten off to a somewhat slow and rocky start, I continue to see improvements every game we play.”
Russellville began the 2009 at home against Butler County and lost 17-0 in four innings. “Most people have said that this was probably not the best team to start our season with, but I feel differently,” Johnson says. “Butler County gave us an idea of what we need to work on. We made a lot of mental mistakes, but I have the confidence that we can overcome these. Coach (John) Embry has a wonderful pitcher in Cheyenne Gaskey, who is also a tremendous hitter. She knocked one over the fence and I don't believe it has landed yet!”
After rain canceled a scheduled game, the Lady Panthers traveled Monday to Dawson Springs. “This was a game that I really thought we would be able to win,” Johnson notes. “We were playing wonderful defense and were able to keep the score 0-0 through the fourth inning. Coach (Kent) Workman stated that he was impressed with our improvement since last year ,and this could be a game determined by whoever scored first. They did manage to score first, yet we came back and scored ourselves. We only committed two errors, yet those two errors caused us to give them 4 unearned runs and we lost 7-1 when the final score should have been 3-1. However, I was very pleased with how we played.”
Dawson Springs ran its record to 4-0 with the win, including a victory over Paducah Tilghman, a much larger school.
The Lady Panthers will be competing in the Muhlenberg County tournament this Friday and Saturday. They are scheduled to play Whitesville Trinity and Muhlenberg South in a Friday night doubleheader, and then they play Hopkinsville on Saturday. After these three pool-play games, they will go into single elimination games determined by their seed.
“I feel very good about our chances and hope that we continue to stay focused!” Johnson says.
Many of the starters from Coach Pat Kemp’s squad in 2008 are back with the team this year, although some positions have changed. Junior Ashley Barbe has moved from the outfield to catcher. Centerfielder Katy Johnson, who has been on the team since seventh grade, has moved from catcher to centerfield.
Junior Tori Carnall returns as the primary pitcher and is very experienced. Classmates Lauren Peters (first base), shortstop Nakia Daniel, and Courtney Barbe are also starters. Another junior, leftfielder Callie Roche, is a transfer from Logan County High School. Roche doubles as the junior varsity catcher.
Young starters are sophomore Brittany Hampton at second base and freshman Imani Hampton at third. They were key members of the basketball team and was Daniel, who pitches for the junior varsity team.
Anna Epley has joined the team as the only senior besides Johnson. It’s her first year of softball, but Coach Johnson says she is “naturally athletic and will be an asset to the team.” Sabrina McGaugh, sophomore, and Elyse Brock, junior, play JV but also are reserves on varsity.
Filling out the JV team are Terri Cohen, Haleigh Kerr, Chelesa Miller, Chelsea Jenkins, Jasmine Riggs, Sydney Herndon, and Mallory Bush. Miller played JV before and Bush has played in the Parks and Rec leagues, but the rest have never played before.
“They are mainly 7th and 8th graders, so they are very young and inexperienced, but they are doing well and continue to improve,” Coach Johnson says. “This is the future of our softball program so I am excited that they are getting a good head start!”
Veronica Johnson’s brother, Larry, is the assistant coach. The quarterback of Russellville’s last state championship football team in 1990, Larry Johnson is also the father of senior standout Katy Johnson.
“I feel that we work very well together! Even though my title may be head coach, I am not a dictator. In my opinion, we are co-coaches,” says Veronica. “We share all responsibilities, we communicate well with each other, we have the same hopes for the girls and the team, and we love the game! I feel like the girls respond well to both of us and that is very important.”
The coaches were brought up in RHS sports. Their dad, Larry Johnson Sr., was an all-state football player for the Panthers, a starter on the first RHS basketball finalist team, and a charter member of the RHS Alumni Association’s Athletic Hall of Fame.
Although the RHS girls are 0-3 in this weather-plagued season, they scored two runs in the first inning of their second game. Last year’s team didn’t score a run until the ninth game of the year. They lost their first 15 games on the way to a 3-20 season. The season ended without them getting a runner on base in an 8-0 district tournament loss to Logan County.
This year’s team scored two runs in the second game of the season at Warren Central. The Lady Dragons won the game 13-2, but those two runs were meaningful to the program’s rebuilding process.
“I've been saying since this season started that I have high hopes for these girls and I still do,” says new coach Veronica Johnson. “Although we have gotten off to a somewhat slow and rocky start, I continue to see improvements every game we play.”
Russellville began the 2009 at home against Butler County and lost 17-0 in four innings. “Most people have said that this was probably not the best team to start our season with, but I feel differently,” Johnson says. “Butler County gave us an idea of what we need to work on. We made a lot of mental mistakes, but I have the confidence that we can overcome these. Coach (John) Embry has a wonderful pitcher in Cheyenne Gaskey, who is also a tremendous hitter. She knocked one over the fence and I don't believe it has landed yet!”
After rain canceled a scheduled game, the Lady Panthers traveled Monday to Dawson Springs. “This was a game that I really thought we would be able to win,” Johnson notes. “We were playing wonderful defense and were able to keep the score 0-0 through the fourth inning. Coach (Kent) Workman stated that he was impressed with our improvement since last year ,and this could be a game determined by whoever scored first. They did manage to score first, yet we came back and scored ourselves. We only committed two errors, yet those two errors caused us to give them 4 unearned runs and we lost 7-1 when the final score should have been 3-1. However, I was very pleased with how we played.”
Dawson Springs ran its record to 4-0 with the win, including a victory over Paducah Tilghman, a much larger school.
The Lady Panthers will be competing in the Muhlenberg County tournament this Friday and Saturday. They are scheduled to play Whitesville Trinity and Muhlenberg South in a Friday night doubleheader, and then they play Hopkinsville on Saturday. After these three pool-play games, they will go into single elimination games determined by their seed.
“I feel very good about our chances and hope that we continue to stay focused!” Johnson says.
Many of the starters from Coach Pat Kemp’s squad in 2008 are back with the team this year, although some positions have changed. Junior Ashley Barbe has moved from the outfield to catcher. Centerfielder Katy Johnson, who has been on the team since seventh grade, has moved from catcher to centerfield.
Junior Tori Carnall returns as the primary pitcher and is very experienced. Classmates Lauren Peters (first base), shortstop Nakia Daniel, and Courtney Barbe are also starters. Another junior, leftfielder Callie Roche, is a transfer from Logan County High School. Roche doubles as the junior varsity catcher.
Young starters are sophomore Brittany Hampton at second base and freshman Imani Hampton at third. They were key members of the basketball team and was Daniel, who pitches for the junior varsity team.
Anna Epley has joined the team as the only senior besides Johnson. It’s her first year of softball, but Coach Johnson says she is “naturally athletic and will be an asset to the team.” Sabrina McGaugh, sophomore, and Elyse Brock, junior, play JV but also are reserves on varsity.
Filling out the JV team are Terri Cohen, Haleigh Kerr, Chelesa Miller, Chelsea Jenkins, Jasmine Riggs, Sydney Herndon, and Mallory Bush. Miller played JV before and Bush has played in the Parks and Rec leagues, but the rest have never played before.
“They are mainly 7th and 8th graders, so they are very young and inexperienced, but they are doing well and continue to improve,” Coach Johnson says. “This is the future of our softball program so I am excited that they are getting a good head start!”
Veronica Johnson’s brother, Larry, is the assistant coach. The quarterback of Russellville’s last state championship football team in 1990, Larry Johnson is also the father of senior standout Katy Johnson.
“I feel that we work very well together! Even though my title may be head coach, I am not a dictator. In my opinion, we are co-coaches,” says Veronica. “We share all responsibilities, we communicate well with each other, we have the same hopes for the girls and the team, and we love the game! I feel like the girls respond well to both of us and that is very important.”
The coaches were brought up in RHS sports. Their dad, Larry Johnson Sr., was an all-state football player for the Panthers, a starter on the first RHS basketball finalist team, and a charter member of the RHS Alumni Association’s Athletic Hall of Fame.
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Lady Panthers making progress
By: Jim Turner
By: Jim Turner
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