By Keith Taylor

Sun Senior Correspondent

The George Rogers Clark High School softball team will open play in the 10th Region Tournament against a familiar foe next week.

The Lady Cardinals (13-18) will take on Mason County at 1 p.m. Monday at Campbell County. The Lady Cardinals defeated the Lady Royals 10-0 in the season opener for both teams on March 18 at Cardinal Heights.

Even though Clark owns a win over Mason, Cardinals coach Daniel Rogers expects a  closer encounter the second time around.

“They are a very well-coached  team and they are also winners of their district,” he said. “They will be a tough team as they have improved all year. However, we are going to focus on our game. We will work on improving our fundamentals and discipline our bats.”

Rogers said his squad “chased bad pitches” in a 5-0 setback to Bourbon County in the 40th District finals earlier this week in Paris.

“Our focus will be to improve our mental game and continue to work on the basics,” he said.

Rogers said Bourbon is the favorite to win the region and has been since the beginning of the season.

“They are probably still the favorite,” he said. “They are a very solid team. However, Pendleton County, Harrison County and Campbell County are also solid teams.”

Clark is in the upper bracket with Mason, Pendleton County and Covington Scott, while Bourbon will face Harrison County in the opener. Campbell County plays Bracken County in the final of four games on Monday.

Rogers said his team has a chance to make some noise in the three-day event.

“I still believe that my team has played the toughest schedule in our region and I think we are prepared to play anyone,” he said. “Our girls are tough and they are ready to go and after losing the district title we are hungry.”

Rogers said the key for his squad will be to “play our game.”

(We have to) keep the errors to a minimum, stay disciplined at the plate and have a plan going up to bat,” he said. “We have to communicate with one another and have fun.”

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The semifinals are set for 5 and 7 p.m. Tuesday and the finale is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday at Campbell County.