Thacker, Butler provide huge lifts in Kenton’s shutout win at St. Marys

By SEAN BLEVINS

Times sports editor

ST. MARYS — Seniors Brailyn Thacker and Brynn Butler provided huge lifts in Kenton’s 4-0 win over St. Marys at K.C. Geiger Park on Tuesday to put the Wildcats in the driver’s seat of the Western Buckeye League softball league title race.

The Wildcats (10-5, 7-1 WBL) are one of two teams with one league loss, along with Defiance. They are a win away from clinching a share of the program’s first WBL championship in its 37 years of existence. It would also be the first Kenton girls team sport to win the WBL since the volleyball team won it in 1983.

“Our defense was on today,” first-year Kenton coach Brooke Austin said. “I don’t think we had an error. They backed up Brynn really well today.”

Kenton had yet to shut out an opponent this season, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

Brynn Butler pitched a gem of a complete game, only giving up four hits and a walk with nine strikeouts. She even had two hits, two runs and an RBI at the plate to help her cause.

The Wildcats got on the board early with two runs in the top of the first inning, which was a nice relief for the players and the coaches considering how many of their recent wins involved late rallies.

Junior center fielder Riley Totten doubled and stole third base to put the Wildcats in a good position. Brynn Butler smoked a single over the second baseman’s head and got to second base on a throwing error for a 1-0 lead.

Thacker then delivered a blooper to left field to bring home Brynn Butler for the second run. Thacker had her best game of the season with a pair of hits and three RBIs.

“We had some hits when we needed them. Brailyn was nearly perfect. Just putting the ball in play is the biggest thing. We’re working on baserunning, too. When you’re up by a little, it gives you the freedom to play around a little bit. Normally it’s been the other way around where we had to comeback. Another good win. I’m excited for Shawnee. One win away,” Austin said.

Brynn Butler was locked in from the get-go with a 1-2-3 bottom of the first inning in the circle.

Sophomore designated hitter CJ Newberry singled in the top of the second inning out of the 9-spot, but the Wildcats were unable to expand their lead.

Brynn Butler singled in the top of the third inning. Junior shortstop Macee Heckathorn followed with a single to put runners on second and third base as Brynn Butler slid in just in time to beat the tag at third base.

A 2-run single up the middle by Thacker stretched Kenton’s lead to 4-0, and they were in cruise control from there.

St. Marys senior outfielder Ashlyn Ross got to third base in the bottom of the fifth inning with just one out, but Brynn Butler struck out a batter and forced a pop-up to get out of the frame unscathed.

The Roughriders made a late push that saw a runner get to third base in the bottom of the seventh inning, but failed to capitalize after Brynn Butler got junior Alexis Shadrach to fly out to deep center and then fanned the last batter to end the game.

Totten recorded three hits and a run. Heckathorn had a run and a hit. Brayla Butler tallied two hits and Newberry had the other hit.

Score by innings

Kenton                        202                              000                              0                                  — 4 11 0

St. Marys                    000                              000                              0                                  — 0 4 0

WP: Brynn Butler; LP: Berg.

2B: Heckathorn (K), Totten (K), Brynn Butler (K).