The Christian County Lady Colonels will be looking for their 22nd straight District 8 Softball Tournament title as the 2026 season begins on Monday.
Lady Colonels’ Head Coach Sheri Hancock begins her sixth season at the helm of the team, which last lost the district tournament in 2004 to Hopkinsville (6-1).
Even more impressive, Christian County has not lost a District 8 softball game since 2015, which it fell 8-4 to University Heights Academy in a March regular season game.
Last year the team finished 21-14 overall and Hancock returns a solid nucleus from that team.
Junior Jordan Turner and sophomore Alyssa Petterson are back in the pitching circle for the Lady Colonels. Turner pitched more than 100 innings a year ago and finished with a 9-5 record and a 2.84 ERA. She struck out 80 while walking only 34 batters. Meanwhile, Petterson threw 71 2/3 innings and went 10-5 with a 3.42 ERA. She struck out 40 and only walked 14.
Alyssa Petterson also will have to fill in the shortstop gap left by the graduation of Avery Adcock, who is now playing for the University of Missouri.
Also back for the Lady Colonels is sophomore second baseman Alondra Rodriguez, who was second on the team a year ago with a .392 batting average. She hit four home runs and drove in a team-leading 36 RBI.
Senior third baseman Jayda Turner (.253), sophomore right fielder Chloe Almy (.349), and senior catcher Haley Petterson (.184).
Haley Petterson has battled a throwing hand injury during the preseason that affects her hitting, but Hancock said the senior is crucial in catching Jordan Turner.
Eighth-grade center fielder Tayln Ezell and freshman second baseman Alexis Epps both came on strong for the Lady Colonels at the end of the 2025 season and are expected to bolster the team’s offensive production and be key members of the defensive unit as well.
The district again looks to favor Christian County as University Heights Academy and Heritage Christian Academy were not able to field varsity teams this spring. Hopkinsville is back this season after not having a team last season. Fort Campbell is the third team in the district this season.
The Lady Colonels have never lost to Fort Campbell in softball and have not lost to Hoptown since the 2004 district title game, a span of 34 games.
Hancock points to Henderson County, the two-time defending state champion, as the region favorite.
The Lady Colonels open the season Tuesday at home against Hopkinsville.
2026 Christian County Lady Colonels:
Head Coach: Sheri Hancock (6th Year)
2025 Record: 21-14
Key Returning Players: Jordan Turner (P), Alondra Rodriguez (2B), Jayda Turner (3B), Chloe Almy (RF), Alyssa Petterson (SS/P), Haley Petterson (C).
Key Losses: Avery Adcock (SS/P)
Key Newcomers: Tayln Ezell (CF), Alexis Epps (LF/2B)
Outlook: “If I can stay healthy, especially in the circle, we have a good chance to stay in a lot of games because my pitching and defense is so strong,” Head Coach Sheri Hancock said. “I am going to need some players to step up offensively to fill in the gap of losing Avery (Adcock). We are going to have to win some close games with a young team.”
Projected Lineup: P – Jordan Turner; C (Flex) – Haley Petterson; 1B – Katie Smith; 2B – Alondra Rodriguez; 3B – Jayda Turner; SS – Alyssa Petterson; LF – Alexis Epps; CF – Talyn Ezell; RF – Chloe Almy; DP – Aly Grant.
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