In their first year, Paris-Bourbon County 12U softball all‑stars make noise, claim District 3 Championship

By Editor | June 28, 2026 |

A dominant District 3 run sends the All‑Stars to Crestwood for state, with the Central Regional and LLSWS path now in sight

IVAN K. RICE I doctorofsports@aol.com

LEXINGTON, KY – In just their first year fielding a girls’ youth all-star softball team, the Paris-Bourbon County Little League Softball All‑Stars have made an immediate splash, winning last week’s District 3 Tournament at Cardinal Run Park in Lexington to earn a spot in the State Little League Tournament. State play begins Saturday and runs through July 9 at Peggy Baker Park in Crestwood, Kentucky.

Paris-Bourbon County opened with a 12-2 win over Frankfort, followed by a 7-4 victory over defending champion Bluegrass 12U to reach last Monday’s championship game. In the rematch with Bluegrass, the P-BC All‑Stars rolled to a 16-2 win to claim the district title and punch their ticket to state.

WATCH ME WORK – Mallory Wainscott, one of the team’s top pitchers and the athlete who delivered the first pitch in Paris Bourbon County All Star fastpitch history, goes into her motion during the District 3 Championship game at Cardinal Run Park in Lexington.

The state champion will advance to the 2026 Central Regional, held at the new 15‑acre Little League Central Region Complex at 7185 S. Indianapolis Road in Whitestown, Indiana, just west of I‑65 at Exit 130. The complex includes the Central Region Headquarters administration building, a gift shop, concession stand, restrooms, batting cages, and a full‑size, lighted Little League field equipped with stadium seating, bleachers, and a press box.

CONTACT MADE – Layla Worley makes solid contact during Paris Bourbon County’s championship win over Frankfort, driving the ball in a key at bat for the All Stars.

Regional play runs July 17-22. If Paris-Bourbon County advances out of the state tournament, they will face the Michigan state champion on Friday, July 17 at 4:00 p.m. (ET) on ESPN+, with the winner moving on to the 2026 Little League Softball World Series. Other state champions competing in Whitestown will be Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

While the field for this year’s LLSWS is still being finalized, the dates (August 2-9) and location (Stallings Stadium at Elm Street Park in Greenville, N.C.) are set. Twelve teams, eight from the United States and four international qualifiers, will earn berths through their respective regional tournaments.

Below is a recap of each game played by Paris-Bourbon County at the district tournament.

MOVING IN TO MAKE THE PLAY – Kendra Rison moves in to field a ground ball during District 3 Tournament play, staying low and ready as she prepares to make the play.

–CHAMPIONSHIP GAME–

Paris-Bourbon County 16, Bluegrass Fastpitch 2

Kali Kenney powered the Paris‑Bourbon County All‑Stars in the championship game, finishing with a double, a triple, and four RBI. The locals broke the game open with a 10‑run third inning. During that surge, Kenney ripped a three‑run triple, and Dilara Jackson added a run‑scoring single that brought home two more.

Paris‑BC struck first in the bottom of the opening inning. Kenney doubled down the right‑field line, followed by a single from Mallory Wainscott and a walk to Hope Ingram. All three later scored, with Wainscott swiping home to cap the frame.

Two more runs came across in the second when Abbi Rison (fielder’s choice) and Kendra Rison (single) crossed the plate.

Wainscott earned the win in the circle, allowing two hits and two runs over two and one‑third innings, striking out one and walking four. Ingram worked one and one‑third innings in relief, giving up no hits with two strikeouts and no walks.

The All‑Stars collected 11 hits overall. Kenney, Wainscott, Kendra Rison, and Jackson each finished with two hits, while nine different batters reached via walk. The team stole 12 bases, with Wainscott and Ingram swiping multiple bags. Defensively, Paris‑BC played a flawless game, committing no errors. Olivia Harmon led the way in the field with three putouts.

SET TO MAKE THE THROW – Hope Ingram prepares to fire to first after fielding a ground ball during tournament play, staying balanced and ready to record the out.

Paris-Bourbon County 12, Frankfort 12U 2

Behind the strong pitching of Mallory Wainscott and a seven‑run third inning, the Paris‑Bourbon County All‑Stars opened their first‑ever District Tournament appearance with a 12‑2 win over the Frankfort All‑Stars.

The decisive third inning saw Paris‑BC string together four run‑scoring singles as Kali Kenney singled in two runs, Wainscott singled in one, Olivia Harmon singled in two, and Kadi Standiford added another single that brought home two more.

Frankfort struck first, stealing home in the top of the second to take a 1‑0 lead.

PAYTON’S LEAP – Payton Thomas leaps clear of an inside pitch during District 3 tournament action last week in Lexington, avoiding the ball as the catcher tracks it into the dirt.

Paris‑BC answered immediately in the bottom half, plating five runs to move ahead 5‑1. Layla Worley doubled to center, Harmon singled down the right‑field line, and both Kenney and Abbi Rison grounded out but drove in a run. A dropped third strike and a Frankfort fielding error helped fuel the rally.

Wainscott earned the win, allowing two hits and two runs over four innings while striking out seven and walking one.

Kenney and Harmon were a tough back‑to‑back combo in the lineup, each finishing with three RBI. Worley and Harmon collected two hits apiece. Five batters reached on walks, with Wainscott and Hope Ingram drawing two each. Kenney stole two bases as the team swiped six overall.

Paris‑BC played error‑free defense. Worley handled a team‑high seven chances in the field.

Paris-Bourbon County 7, Bluegrass Fastpitch 4

Paris‑Bourbon County All‑Stars earned a 7‑4 win over Bluegrass, powered by a dominant pitching performance from Hope Ingram and a fast start at the plate.

Ingram was in command throughout, striking out 13 batters while allowing four hits and four runs over six innings of work. She walked four but worked out of trouble repeatedly, recording key strikeouts in nearly every frame to keep Bluegrass from mounting a serious rally.

Paris‑BC jumped on the board in the bottom of the first. Kali Kenney singled to drive in the game’s first run, then later came around to score on a sacrifice fly. Olivia Harmon was hit by a pitch to force in another run, and Kadi Standiford delivered the biggest swing of the inning with a triple that cleared the bases and brought home three more. By the time the inning ended, Paris‑BC held a firm early advantage.

A CHAMPIONS WALK – Coaches Adam Wainscott, Aiden Muntz, Justin Muntz, and Cassidy Kelly stepped forward to greet Kali Kenney as she made her way onto the field to receive her championship award, as she was met with smiles, and high fives from the coaching staff during the post tournament ceremony.

The locals added another run in the third on a wild pitch, stretching the lead and giving Ingram more room to work as she continued piling up strikeouts.

Standiford led the team with three RBI from the number nine spot, finishing 1‑for‑2 with the big triple. Kenney went 2‑for‑2 to pace Paris‑BC in hits. The All‑Stars made the most of their early offensive burst and rode Ingram’s strong outing the rest of the way to secure the three‑run victory over the defending District 3 Champions.

In their first season, the Paris–Bourbon County All Stars didn’t just show up — they took over District 3. With a state berth secured and the regional path laid out ahead, the inaugural 12U team has already rewritten what’s possible for girls’ softball in Paris. The road now leads to Crestwood, and maybe even Whitestown or Greenville. But wherever it ends, this group will forever be remembered as the one that started it all.

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Tomorrow night at 7:15, the celebration continues at the new Bourbon County Park off Millersburg Road, where the league will hold a banner‑hanging ceremony honoring the 12U Paris-Bourbon County All Stars, the first girls’ softball team of its kind in this community’s history. Families, players, coaches, and supporters are invited to gather as the program recognizes the group that broke ground, set the standard, and carried Paris-Bourbon County to a district championship in its inaugural season.

The banner will serve as a permanent reminder of what this team accomplished in just one summer, a dominant run through District 3, a berth in the State Little League Tournament, and a surge of excitement that has already inspired younger players throughout the county. For the girls who wore the uniform, it marks the beginning of a legacy. For the community, it marks the moment everything changed.

And as the banner rises, so does the belief that this is only the start for Paris-Bourbon County softball.