IHSAA Softball: Edgewood, Owen Valley set to collide in sectional final

SPENCER — Long ball and small ball.

Host Owen Valley used the former, Edgewood the latter as each won their softball sectional semifinal games on Tuesday to put the two rivals on a collision course for Wednesday night’s 7 p.m. 3A championship game.

The Patriots (14-6) got two-out, two-run home runs from Taylor Bernard and Taylor Monroe, and Bernard added an RBI triple in a 5-3 victory over Indian Creek in the opener. Then the Mustangs (21-8) scored two runs on a wild pitch and an error before adding what would be the game-winner on Ally Bland’s triple over the head of a drawn-in centerfielder to hold off West Vigo, 3-2, in the nightcap.

Another close call for Edgewood

“Having played all the conference schools, they’ve all been close games this year,” Edgewood coach Mick Hamett said. “I knew this sectional would be competitive. You always hope you’ll got those big hits and distance yourself in a game, but we didn’t do that and West Vigo hung in there.

“We were able to get out of it, because pitching and defense have been our main points of emphasis this year.”

A night after pulling out a thrilling win against Northview, the Mustangs found themselves under pressure from the get-go against the Vikings. After an error and a walk to start the game, a groundout to first and two strikeouts by Bland ended the threat.

It would be a recurring theme as West Vigo stranded nine runners in the game and went down in order just once.

“Ally’s very good about being in control and getting a strikeout here and there to shut things down,” Hammett said. “And our defense is good at getting out of things.”

That paid off in the bottom of the third inning when back-to-back-to-back bunt singles from Piper Stephens, Ally Bland and Madi Bland loaded the bases with no one out. However, a strikeout and a force out at home later, Edgewood was on the verge of wasting an opportunity. The first pitch to Jayden Stephens skipped in the dirt, low and outside, as Ally Bland came in to score. The throw back to the plate then bounced wide down the third-base line, allowing Madi Bland to also score for a 2-0 lead.

“We were fortunate enough on that wild pitch to get a break and had our best baserunner on second to get a second run there,” Hammett said. “That was huge. I just wish we could’ve added a few more.”

Mustangs have the answers

West Vigo scratched out a run in the top of the fourth with three softly hit but well-placed singles before Bland’s triple to the wall in center scored Piper Stephens to make it 3-1.

The Vikings inched closer with a solo homer to center by Janelle Sullivan in the sixth, and Edgewood threatened to answer once again.

Piper Stephens’ infield single and Ally Bland’s bloop behind second put two on with two out ahead of a walk to Madi Bland that loaded the bases. However, West Vigo pitcher Janeigh Lindley struck out Monday night’s hero, Courtney Hamilton, to keep the margin at just one.

Ally Bland, who allowed eight hits, struck out seven and walked two, went back to work in the circle. Lindley reached on a one-out single, but a ground ball bounced off Bland’s glove to second baseman Addison Yearby, who threw to first just in time for the second out. That brought up pinch-hitter Lily Krause, who worked a full count before popping a fly ball out to left center. Edgewood centerfielder Kaylee Hawkins flagged it down on the run to secure the win.

“I’m glad she ran it down,” Hammett said. “We were able to shut them down in the seventh and now we get to play in the final.”

Owen Valley overcomes slow start

Edgewood opponent in the final took a similarly dramatic route after avoiding a first-inning knockout punch.

Indian Creek got a leadoff walk, stole second and scored when the Patriots’ tried to catch the Braves napping with a throw behind the runner to centerfielder Taylor York covering. The ball skipped into the empty outfield instead, giving IC a 1-0 lead.

Coach Brian Greene called his team to the middle of the infield and gave a quick pep talk.

“We knew it was a big game,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of seniors who’ve put a lot of time in and really enjoyed being together as a team. I thought we were a little tight, so I came out and said, ‘Look, I want you to play that way — we’ll play that way and make that throw every single time. It’s unfortunate it turned out bad, but let’s all take a deep breath.’”

After an Indian Creek double, pitcher Abby McDonald set the next three batters down as the Patriots settled down defensively.

OV digs the long ball

In the bottom of the first, a one-out walk to Kalyn Greene gave OV its first baserunner. One out later, Bernard hammered a no-doubter to left-center field to put the home team on top, 2-1, and settle the offense.

“That actually fired us up, because Taylor isn’t a real settled type,” Greene said. “She runs at a high RPM and really the whole unit was having fun.

“Answering back immediately really relaxed everyone.”

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It was just the start of a series of haymakers.

Indian Creek’s Allison Gavin ripped a line drive two-run homer over the fence in left with two outs in the top of the third for a 3-2 lead before Monroe answered with a two-run shot to right center for a 4-3 lead in the bottom half of the inning.

Bernard’s RBI triple in the bottom of the fifth provided a small cushion, and that was enough for freshman Haley Amador, who came on to pitch four scoreless innings in relief of McDonald.

“Abby pitched well for three innings, made some big pitches to get us out of trouble,” Greene said. “She had to make some high-pressure pitches, so we thought we’d show them something different. Haley came in and did a fantastic job, especially for a freshman.”

She also got some help. First, in the top of the fifth, Indian Creek was called for leaving second base early, resulting in the third out of the inning on a pitch that saw Jasmine Day rip a line drive into the left centerfield gap that would’ve easily scored the run.

“Leaving early is a hard one, because everybody does it,” Greene said. “You just hate it when you get caught.”

In the seventh, the Patriots’ defense rose to the occasion as leadoff hitter Kristen Soots smacked a ball to the wall in right center with one out. She rounded second and kept steaming for third, but a perfect relay from centerfielder Taylor York to shortstop Monroe to third baseman Bernard cut her down for the second out of the inning.

“I was thinking, ‘OK, just keep her to a double,’” Greene said. “I didn’t really care about that run anyway other than it was going to take us through their No. 3 hitter. It was bang-bang, but that was pretty good softball.”

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Edgewood, Owen Valley set to collide in softball sectional final