Hazard tops Ballard Memorial 7-2 in state softball opener

Hazard opened the Kentucky High School Softball State Tournament with a 7-2 victory over Ballard Memorial on June 6, giving the Bulldogs a strong start to their run and sending Perry County into the bracket with real reason to believe a title path is in reach.

The Bulldogs’ win in the first round was recorded by WP Noble, who helped carry Hazard through the opening test of state play. Against Ballard Memorial, Hazard delivered the kind of result that matters most in tournament softball, a clean first step that keeps a season moving and raises the stakes with every inning that follows.

For Hazard, the victory carried weight far beyond the final score. In a community that watches its high school teams closely, a state-tournament opener is not just another game, it is a chance to show that a Perry County program can compete with the best in Kentucky and stay alive for more than a one-and-done appearance.

The 7-2 final also gave the Bulldogs a margin that spoke to control, not survival. With WP Noble credited for the win and Hazard advancing out of the first round, the program left June 6 with momentum, confidence, and the chance to keep pushing deeper into the Kentucky High School Athletic Association tournament.