Ryle completed a 16-hour journey that began early Saturday morning at Skyview Park in Jeffersontown, Ky., and ended early Sunday morning by winning the area’s first-ever state championship title in fast-pitch softball.

The Raiders defeated defending state champion Owensboro Catholic 5-2 in a contest that included a two-hour, 56 minute weather-delay that didn’t finish up until after 1 a.m.

Ryle broke open a scoreless tie by scoring four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.  Sophomore pitcher Kirsten Allen opened with a double and pinch runner Savannah Briggs later scored on a fielder’s choice by Autumn Balserak.  Two hits and three runs later the Raiders were in the driver’s seat at 4-0.

Owensboro Catholic responded with two runs in the top of the fifth inning but Allen shut them down the rest of the way to earn her fourth win of the day.

Ryle finished the game with seven hits led by Elana Lampman, who was 3-for-4 with an RBI.  Allen scattered five hits and struck out four in a complete game victory.

The Aces, playing out of the loser’s bracket, had defeated Ryle, playing from the winner’s bracket, 4-2 to force the deciding championship game with the Raiders in the double-elimination format.

Ryle, starting play at 9 a.m., had defeated Henderson County 1-0 and North Hardin 1-0 before facing the Aces.  On Friday they had defeated Butler (5-0) and Oldham County (1-0).