It was a great 3A softball regional championship in Corydon Tuesday. Unfortunately, it was not a winning night for the locals. In nine innings, the host Panthers of Corydon Central defeated Franklin County 3-2.
As heard on WRBI, the Brookville ladies scored first on a two-out, first inning home run to center by Kensee Ferman. The Cats made it 2-0 in the third after Brooke Stang slapped in infield single, stole second and then was doubled home on a rope to left center by Maci Lake.
Franklin County pitcher KK Ferman limited the co-Mid Southern champions to just one hit through four innings, and it took a little help from the FC defense to assist the Panther offense in the fifth.
Avery Branham led off and reached on an infield error before being sacrificed to second base. After a strikeout for the second out and first base open, the Cats intentionally walked the Panthers most dangerous hitter in Isabella Gerlach. It was the right decision strategy wise, but Corydon Central’s Bailey Orme came up big with a bases clearing double to right which tied the game at 2-2.
The Panthers and Wildcats each left a runner stranded at third base in the sixth and seventh innings respectively which sent the game into extras.
In the eighth, Corydon Central again left a runner on third base after Franklin County left fielder Kassidy Schell made a catch up against the fence for the final out of the frame.
In the ninth, FC got a runner on but could not advance her beyond first base.
Then in the bottom of the ninth, the first two Panthers were retired in order. However, Addison Alford reached on a walk. Addyson Branham followed with a single up the middle to bump the winning run to second.
That brought Gerlach back to the plate and put Franklin County in a tough, tough spot. If she was walked again, that would have put the winning run only 60 feet away for Orme who had the big hit in the fifth. And with so many ways to score from third, Franklin County had no choice but to roll the dice and pitch to Gerlach.
On the first pitch on a ball down in the zone, the Panther first baseman laced a line drive single into left which scored Alford from second base giving Corydon Central the 3-2 victory in walk-off fashion.
Franklin County’s season ends with a sectional championship and a record of 23-8. Corydon Central’s season is extended with its second-ever regional title. The 23-8 Panthers head to Saturday’s the 3A South Semi-State at Brown County where they will face seventh ranked Cathedral who is 20-9 in the first of two semifinals. Pike Central and top-ranked Tri-West Hendricks make up the other half of the bracket.
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South Ripley’s hopes of returning to a second straight regional Tuesday were dashed Monday in Switzerland County. The host Pacers beat the Raiders 5-3 in the sectional championship.
Switz took a 1-0 lead when Jessie Duvall walked and later scored on an infield, two-out error.
Ripley went up 3-1 in the top of the third. Emily Campbell singled, Alexa Heidt walked and Ellie Waldron cleared the bases with a three-run blast to center.
The Pacers came right back to tie the game in the home third. Jessie Duvall again boarded by walk, stole second then was singled home by sister Maddie Duvall. Maddie scored one out later on a dropped fly ball to make it 3-3.
A third South Ripley error in the home fifth proved to be the Raiders undoing. Jessie Duvall walked for a third time and Pacer teammate Lily Sparks did as well with two outs. Bre Stow sent a fly ball to the outfield which, again, was misplayed. Duvall and Sparks both scored on the drop and provided Switz with the two-run winning margin, 5-3.
The Raiders did threaten in the sixth with two on and only one out but left runners stranded in scoring position.
Both pitchers struck out 12 batters. Lily Sparks got the win and Mady Tompkins took the loss. Sparks gave up five hits but walked just one. Tompkins gave up only two hits but walked four and three Raider errors led to four unearned runs for the Pacers. South Ripley’s season ends with a 16-4 record.
Switzerland County went to Eastern Pekin on Tuesday night and lost 11-1 in the 2A regional championship to the host Musketeers.
The sectional tournament committee at Switzerland County announced an 2A-45 All-Sectional team: McKenzie Seale of Milan; Keisha Crosland, Kayln Muckerhide and Sarah Swain of North Decatur; Abby Fulton of Southwestern; Alexa Heidt, Mady Tompkins and Ellie Waldron of South Ripley; and Jessie Duvall, Maddie Duvall, Bri Stow and Sectional MVP Lily Sparks.
We thank everyone who contributed to the recaps. We also offer our appreciation to Switzerland County AD Brian Graham, Corydon Central AD Jon Atkins and their respective staffs for the accommodations and hospitality during our broadcasts.