Lafayette softball’s new field house a big hit with Generals’ big hitters

Since Lafayette’s loss to Lexington Catholic last week, Generals softball coach Dan Gratz said his team has had an overriding focus.

“Hitting, hitting and more hitting,” Grantz said. “It’s finally coming around.”

The new building next to Lafayette’s McKenzie Field and Partnership Park that the Generals finally gained access to last week could be part of the improvement. It certainly hasn’t hurt.

“Having a locker room now with a nice indoor hitting facility for game days has been fantastic,” Grantz said. “I think the girls really appreciate that.”

Senior catcher Nora Mack confirmed.

“I’m so excited. Are you kidding me?” Mack responded when asked about their new field house. “We’ve been waiting for this for forever.”

Way back in 2016, the Kentucky High School Athletic Association notified Fayette County Public Schools that it had some Title IX deficiencies because of the disparity between the amenities for the Lafayette, Henry Clay and Paul Laurence Dunbar softball teams as compared to their baseball teams. The softball teams didn’t have locker rooms near their fields for instance. Baseball did.

The new Tates Creek High School includes a shared baseball/softball field house. Bryan Station also got a softball field house last year.

Now, Lafayette’s is in place as part of a more than $2.5 million construction project that also included new dugouts, a netted visiting hitting area, plus the resurfacing of Lafayette’s track and football field. Henry Clay’s softball upgrades are set to come in the next construction cycle. Dunbar’s are planned after that.

“It’s really pretty, and I like how it brought all the team closer,” said freshman second baseman Anna Clay Denton, who added that the team used a morning practice to move in and make it home. They added pink LED lights to the locker room. “It was really fun team bonding.”

Denton had a pair of hits including a two-run home run Thursday in Lafayette’s 12-0 win over visiting Tates Creek. It was the second home run of her career and came in a six-run third inning that also included a two-run homer from senior center fielder Olivia Planck.

“As soon as I hit it. I knew it was over,” Denton said. “It didn’t feel like it was going to be a popup. It just felt like it was going into the backyard of that guy’s house back there.”

Ranked No. 7 in the latest Kentucky Prep Softball Coaches Poll, the Generals (12-2) have outscored their opponents 50-7 since their 6-4 loss to No. 14 Lexington Catholic on April 13.

Denton started the four-game streak with a walk-off three-run homer against No. 12 Madison Central last Friday.

“That was really exciting. I loved being able to help my team,” Denton said.

Mack is one of eight seniors on this year’s team and was part of their run to the 11th Region title two years ago. Mack acknowledged an adjustment period for her fellow seniors this year.

“We’re learning a lot of new things about ourselves, at least I am personally,” Mack said. “I think, as a team, we’re finding out how to communicate better. I think we’re doing pretty good.”

Lafayette’s other loss came to No. 6 Great Crossing, another 11th Region foe. The rest of the regular season includes six teams ranked in the top 25: No. 20 Harrison County, No. 4 Daviess County, LexCath, No. 16 Scott County, No. 1 Ballard in Louisville and No. 2 South Warren in Bowling Green.

“We’ve got some big games coming up and we have to be ready,” Grantz said. “It’s not going to be any easier for us.”

A tournament with a cause

Lafayette’s game against Daviess County on April 29 is part of the annual Five-Star General Tournament showcase that will feature 10 top 25 teams and include 31 games. This year’s event aims to benefit eastern Kentucky teams affected by last year’s devastating floods.

In addition to T-shirt sales and other fundraising efforts, many of the participating teams will be donating equipment to help replace items lost in the floods for teams like Breathitt County, one of the participants.

“It’s a time when we can come together and give back,” Grantz said. “You don’t always have those opportunities.”

The size of this year’s event prompted Lafayette to reach out to Great Crossing as host. The event will be held at Great Crossing Park and Great Crossing High School in Georgetown on April 28 and 29.

Among the marquee matchups are No. 2 South Warren vs. No. 6 Great Crossing, No. 7 Lafayette vs. No. 4 Daviess County and No. 14 Lexington Catholic vs. South Warren.