STEARNS – The McCreary Central football team will open spring practice April 17. Several members of the McCreary Central football team have been active in offseason workouts since the conclusion of the 2017 high school football season. Many Raiders have also been active in other sports. The Raiders exited the 2017 season with a 2-7 overall record. McCreary Central notched back-to-back wins during the 2017 season, defeating Fort Knox 63-30 on the road and outlasting visiting Paul Laurence Dunbar 22-21 in a home game. The Raiders dropped games to Perry County Central, South Laurel, Bell County, Corbin, Casey County, Jackson County and Lynn Camp during the 2017 season. Spring practice will allow McCreary Central head coach Lucas Ford and his coaching staff an opportunity to evaluate several players. High school football teams throughout the state will hold their own spring drills. McCreary Central will open preseason practice for the 2018 season in mid-July.
By Steve LeMaster
stevelemastersports@yahoo.com
STEARNS – Behind a two-hitter from junior pitcher Macey Welchel, McCreary Central shut out Pineville 11-0 in five innings in an early-season high school softball game on Tuesday, March 27.
With the win, McCreary Central improved to 2-1.
Pineville dropped to 0-3 with the loss.
McCreary Central set the tone early, plating eight runs in the bottom half of the first inning. The Lady Raiders led 11-0 at the conclusion of the third inning and never allowed Pineville to gain any momentum.
Welchel struck out 11 and walked one over five innings for the Lady Raiders.
Allison Caldwell took the loss for Pineville after surrendering 11 runs on 14 hits over four innings and recording only one strikeout.
The Lady Raiders scored 11 runs on 14 hits. Welchel, Allyson Anderson, Taylor Sumner, Cammie Gilreath and Jayci Ball each collected multiple hits for McCreary Central in the convincing victory. Anderson went 3-for-4 at the plate to lead the McCreary Central offensive effort. Helping her pitching cause at the plate, Welchel finished a home run short of hitting for the cycle. Both Welchel and Sumner legged out a triple for the Lady Raiders.
Grace Jones, Celya Kiser and Abby Perry contributed one hit apiece for McCreary Central in the triumph.
McCreary Central stole eight bases during the game as two players swiped more than one bag. Jones led the way on the basepaths for the Lady Raiders, stealing three bases.
Also excelling defensively, McCreary Central turned in an error-free performance.
The Lady Raiders continue to show signs of being a much-improved squad early in the 2018 season.
