[9][10] In the 1977 APSPL season the Bourbons won the Central Division finishing eight games ahead of the Cleveland Jaybirds.
[12] In 1978 the Bourbons finished with 30 wins and 34 losses (.469), ten games behind the Central Division champion Cincinnati Suds and failed to make the playoffs.
[13] The 1979 squad finished with a league best regular season record of 48–15 (.762) and defeated the Trenton Champales 3–0 in the first-round and the Rochester Zeniths 3–1 in the semi-finals.
[24] The owner of the Pittsburgh Hardhats of the APSPL brought a challenge in federal court in an attempt to prevent splitting the young professional sport.
[31] The Bourbons edged into the 1981 USPL playoff with a 36–24 (.600) and a third-place Western Division finish, 6 games back of Cincinnati, but improving as the season went along.
[38][39] The drama flowed into the post-season as the Bourbons beat the Schlitz 3–0 (5–4, 13–4, 11–10) in the first round with Jimmie Hammond's sacrifice fly scoring Rick Wilson in the 7th inning of game three to sweep the opening series.
"[43][44] In the 5th game, former Sud Mike O'Brien singled in Rick Wilson in the bottom of the seventh to give the Bourbons a shot at the title.
"[45][46][47] Having beaten the two teams with better records in their division, Kentucky would advance to the first UPSL World Series against the New England Pilgrims.
[48] Kentucky dropped the opener, but an impassioned Cobbied Harrison hit three home-runs in the second game to keep the series competitive.
New England took the first game 8–6 to tighten the series, but an explosive start with Rick Wilson homering, Cobbie Harrison with a triple and timely hitting from Greg Kemp and Mike O'Brien, the 14–11 victory secured the first pro softball title for Kentucky 5–3 (12–17, 11–7, 12–6, 16–5, 10–11, 14–11, 6–8, 14–11).
[60] The UPSL folded after the conclusion of the 1982 season, ending professional play and returning players to the amateur leagues.