LEXINGTON — Bryan Station senior Karsyn Rockvoan has been a burr under Scott County’s saddle since eighth grade, including now two of the most prolific strikeout games in KHSAA softball history.
Tuesday night, in what was her first-ever foray beyond three innings at the varsity level, SC freshman Makenzie Leidecker stood toe-to-toe with Rockvoan and was the last one standing at the end of a 42nd District thriller.
Leidecker struck out 11, didn’t allow a walk, and retired the Defenders in order after the Cardinals cobbled together a run in the top of the eighth inning to seal a 1-0 victory.
“It’s very important to this team, since Karsyn was pitching and everyone was struggling, but we came through in the last inning,” Leidecker said.
Held to two hits in regulation, Scott County (3-2 overall, 1-1 district) started the go-ahead rally with a first-pitch single from Leidecker.
SC stayed aggressive with a bunt by Gracie Strong that fell in for a single.
“It was all a team effort, hitting the ball and running and getting the score and everything,” Leidecker said. “I had a few struggles against her and with my current at bats, too, so I wanted to come back.”
Kennedy Townsend, who reached base in all three of her previous plate appearances, struck out but got aboard to load the bases when the ball slipped past the catcher to the backstop.
That set up Skylar Mathies, who had a bunt single earlier in the night. This time she swung away and hit it sharply to right field, delivering Leidecker with the all-important run.
“Skylar Mathies laying down a great bunt, then to get that big hit to right field to score that run, and that was another freshman,” SC coach Mike Wagoner said.
Rockvoan struck out the next three to keep Bryan Station (3-2, 1-1) afloat, giving her the rare four ring-ups in the eighth inning and a grand total of 22.
Two years ago, Rockvoan whiffed 21 Cardinals in a 3-1, nine-inning win, out-dueling Ada Little, now at the University of Georgia.
After two weeks of juggling a pitching staff by committee, Wagoner took off the kid gloves and fully unleashed Leidecker as the heir apparent to Little’s esteemed cleats in a big spot.
“She stepped up, didn’t she? What a performance by her,” Wagoner said. “She just never shows emotion one way or the other. That’s a great attribute for a young player, a freshman.”
Leidecker scattered seven hits, but the zero in the base on balls column spoke volumes.
After she mowed down the Defenders’ two leading hitters, Rockvoan and Adriann Acure, to start the eighth, Leidecker lured SaNiya Givens into a hot shot to Ella Millard at second base.
“I play for Birmingham Thunderbolts (travel team), so I understand the pressure. It’s cooking,” Leidecker said. “I don’t show my nerves. I showed it on the last two strikeouts, but when Ella fielded that ball, it really helped me.”
Scott County stranded eight runners on base while Bryan Station left seven there during the scoreless portion.
Rockvoan rang up back-to-back strikeouts after walking Townsend and Millard in the second. She repeated that performance two innings later after consecutive singles from Townsend and Mathies.
“We shot ourselves in the foot a little bit, swinging in some spots where we shouldn’t, and not swinging at some pitches where we should have been swinging,” Wagoner said.
Leidecker retired 12 of the first 13 Defenders and didn’t hit a snag until the fifth, when DeAsya Lewis backed up a two-out error with a base hit. She stopped that threat with a strikeout.
Rockvoan singled and Acure doubled to mount a two-out challenge in the sixth, but Leidecker got a ground ball to Aubrey Wigginton at third base for the escape.
“This was a hard win,” Leidecker said. “Pulling through just meant a lot to me in showing me how much these girls can do.”
SC couldn’t capitalize after Millard reached on an error and Wigginton walked in the seventh.
Singles by Lewis and Bekah Clark, again with two out, gave Bryan Station a chance to walk it off. Again, Leidecker coaxed a bouncer in the dirt, this time from Mia Urbaneja to shortstop Hadley Swint.
The Cardinals, ranked No. 17 in the state coaches’ poll, were in danger of slipping to 0-2 in district play after a prior to Frederick Douglass.
“I’m proud of them. It was hard fought. We absolutely needed that one,” Wagoner said.
SC was scheduled to host Simon Kenton after press time Thursday, then has a week off before its spring break trip to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
“It will be really good for a young team,” Wagoner said. “I like the tournament they put on. The facility is nice. We’re taking JV this time, so we’re going to play six varsity and four JV games in three days.”