On April 6th, I was loading up my cart and getting ready to set up for the Navarre vs. South Warren softball game. I came in contact with a couple of South Warren parents in the parking lot, I told them that their fans back home could watch the game on Irish Bill Sports. Their response kind of made me chuckle…they stated, “our fans are all here.”
I knew that this Spartan team was going to be a tough challenge for the Raiders; they were ranked nationally and were the #1 team in the State of Kentucky.
Navarre fought tooth and nail and managed to put up a run in the first inning to take a lead; the lone Raider hit was Natalia Taylor’s 100th. This was a rare feat against South Warren, as all season they had only trailed in a game four times.
All-American McLane Hudson tied the game up in the third with a home run to center field (one of her 28 homers on the season). Defense was the name of the game as both teams traded goose eggs until the 7th inning…still tied at one.
I told my broadcast partner, Mardie Wilson, the Spartans had their 6, 7, & 8 hitters coming up in the 7th and Navarre needed to avoid getting back to the top of their order. Well, South Warren had two outs and no one on with the bottom of the order coming up. After back to back two out hits, that brought up Hudson once again.
Mardie and I were conversing on how to pitch to McLane in this at bat. One thing that I have learned over the years watching and covering sports…you never let the other teams #1 player beat you. With runners on first and second, I stated that I would walk her and take your chances with Hadley Borders. Navarre decided to pitch to her and Hudson as she has done all season was up for the challenge. She transported the ball over the centerfield fence for a 4-1 lead. Navarre would not put up a threat in the bottom of the 7th…South Warren 4, Navarre 1.
After that game, I started following the Spartans. They won 11 games in 7 days on their Spring Break trip…with impressive wins over Pace (FL) and Orange Beach (AL); both State Champions in their respective States in 2026.
The wins kept mounting and they worked their way into their first ever Kentucky State Championship against Bullitt East on Saturday night. On the season, they had 35 mercy rule games and 25 shutouts (outscoring their opponents, 565-37). Well, they added their 26th shutout as Courtney Norwood shut down the Chargers, holding them to one hit in a 8-0 win; giving the Spartans their first State softball title.
This team had one goal all season…to win a State title. What happened between the lines will go down as one of the most dominating seasons in Kentucky softball history. 45-0!
History Made…Legacy Secured…Perfection Achieved!