LEBANON, Tenn.– The Kentucky high school softball all-star team defeated interstate rival Tennessee in the annual Kentucky-Tennessee All-Star Series two games to one with a pair of shutouts.

Offensively, Kentucky was led by East Jessamine centerfielder Brylee Hage who had a triple and an RBI in game one, four stolen bases in game two, and an RBI in the deciding game.

“It feels amazing. I was really just wanting to show out for the team and help us get a win over Tennessee,” Hage, who will be attending Western Kentucky University next year said. 

Hage said she knew she had a triple out of the box when she roped a drive into the right center gap. “Oh yeah. I was speeding, I was getting it.”

Kentucky, who won the first game 7-0 and almost completed a five run comeback to complete the sweep, was led by Boyle County coach Brian Deem.

“It’s a great honor. I’m so proud of it,” he said of his selection as coach. “To be selected by the board of directors from the association, to be out here coaching with them, it’s honor. I’m with a bunch of wonderful ladies who are talented athletes. I’m truly blessed.”

In game one, Hage’s triple, on which she scored thanks a throwing error, began the scoring for Kentucky in the third inning. Her RBI sacrifice bunt in the sixth was the final run in a 7-0 victory for team blue as Warren East’s Katie Gardner, who was named Kentucky’s Miss Softball, was able to hold Tennessee scoreless without getting into much trouble.

Deem got to coach his senior Katy Grace Chadwell for the last time of her prep career and also had 45th district rival Kelsey Perkins from Garrard County playing under him as well. He made good use of the two star pitchers, having them combine for three innings of shutout relief work in game two as Kentucky tried to overcome the five run hole a pair of Tennessee home runs put them in earlier in the game.

In the deciding game, Kentucky held Tennessee scoreless yet again in a five inning contest, winning 3-0 to give them the series win.

The win improves Kentucky’s record in the series, which has been played since 2006, to 8-5, with last year’s series being rained out.