Kelsie Houchens' perfect game propels Male softball past Boyle County in state quarterfinals

LEXINGTON, Ky. – On a perfect night for softball, the pitcher on the last perfect team in Kentucky was flirting with perfection herself.

Male’s Kelsie Houchens didn’t want anyone to jinx her. Shortstop Lauren Pelton tried to tell her, but the Bulldogs junior ace cut her off before she could say the second syllable.

To Houchens’ dismay, her outfielders casually mentioned in the dugout that they talked about it in the field.

As it turned out, there would be no jinx at John Cropp Stadium Friday night. Houchens set aside all 21 batters she faced leading top-ranked Male to a 4-0 victory over No. 6 Boyle County (31-7) in a Kentucky High School Athletic Association quarterfinal at the University of Kentucky.

With the win, Male moves to 37-0 on the season and will face Clay County in a semifinal at noon Saturday in Lexington.

Read this:In search of state title, Male softball team will turn to ace Kelsie Houchens

Related:Love him or hate him, there's no denying Male's Josh Bloomer is a winner

Jaelyn Sanders provided the big blow on offense with a three-run home run and Megan Konermann went 2-for-3 with two runs scored to lead the Bulldogs’ attack.

But it was Houchens night to shine. In pitching seven spotless frames, she struck out 10. Of her 85 pitches, 63 were strikes. Only twice did a Rebels batter even get to three balls in the count.

“I just knew I had to go out there and compete,” Houchens said.

During the postseason, Houchens has pitched 32 scoreless innings, allowed just 13 hits, struck out 39 and surrendered no walks.

Male’s coach Josh Bloomer was more effuse in praising his ace, who does not have the Division I college offers that the state’s other top players have garnered.

“I keep trying to tell people, ‘Man that kid is an absolute stud,’” he said. “People are missing the boat. That kid is legit. People want to get caught up in throwing 65, 66 (miles per hour). That kid just cut through a really good offense.”

For the first three innings Friday, Boyle County’s Katy Grace Chadwell matched Houchens nearly pitch-for-pitch as she retired the first nine Bulldogs she faced.

The second time around the Male lineup, though, proved differently.

Madison McCoy started the Bulldogs fourth with a bloop single to shallow center. She moved to third on Konermann’s single to left center. The sophomore ended up at second base after the throw went to third.

It appeared the Bulldogs were prime for a blowout inning, but Chadwell rallied to strike out Lilly Davis and get Jasmine Miller on a pop out. That brought Sanders to the plate.

On a 2-2 pitch, the right-handed hitter took Chadwell’s offering the other way, hitting a fly ball that continued to carry until it fell past the wall in right center and gave Male a 3-0 lead on her 12th homer of the season.

Sanders admitted she was a bit nervous early in the at-bat, but she kept telling herself she was fine. And if it was the right pitch, just hit it.

“I was just relaxed in the moment,” she said. “Just felt mentally focused.”

Rebels coach Brian Deem took the blame, saying in hindsight, he should have walked Sanders in that situation.

Looking back:Stellar pitching and hitting lead Male softball to KHSAA quarterfinals

“I felt confident with Katy,” he said. “Katy was throwing well tonight. Jaelyn’s just an outstanding hitter, and she was able to barrel one up. She’s got crazy power."

The Bulldogs tacked on one more in the sixth. Konermann hit a one-out double to center and scored on a Davis base hit to left.

Houchens took care of the rest. For the final out, she got Chadwell to hit a soft comebacker back to her. After she tossed the ball to Konermann, her teammates swarmed her along the first base line.

FINAL RESCHEDULED 

During Friday’s game, KHSAA announced that due to Sunday’s weather forecast, the state final would be moved to Saturday evening at Cropp Stadium.

After Male-Clay County, Warren East and Central Hardin will play in the second semifinal, scheduled for 2:45 p.m. 

The championship is scheduled to start at 6 pm.