CENTERVILLE, Ind. – Knightstown’s softball team claimed its first regional title in school history on Tuesday as the Panthers scored in the seventh inning in a 4-3 victory over Centerville.
“We stepped up and did what we had to do,” Knightstown’s Kaitlyn Jackson said. “We worked so hard.”
The Panthers (17-13) advance to Saturday’s Class 2A Forest Park Semi-State to meet Milan (17-11) in the opener at 11 a.m.
The second game features No. 2 Tecumseh (27-4) and Speedway (19-6) at 1 p.m. The championship contest is at 7 p.m. Tecumseh won the Class 1A state title a year ago and moved up a division because of the success factor.
“I’ll take it any way we can get it,” Knightstown Head Coach Bret Mann said. “I’m shocked the way the last run got in. I just heard everyone yelling.”
“I knew it was going to be a close game,” Mann continued. “We’re playing really good defense right now. It was just our day. I’m really proud of what they did.”
With the scored tied at 3-3 in the top of the seventh, Knightstown’s Becca Haney ran home after an errant throw back to the pitcher ended up heading toward second base.
“After I saw it, I knew I just had to go,” Haney said. “Everybody was screaming.”
Centerville Head Coach Brad Hobson was on his way to talk to the umpire when the ball got away.
“It happened,” Hobson said. “It’s a hard thing, but I’m super proud of them.”
“Championship games should always be like this,” Hobson added. “Unfortunately, it didn’t go our way.”
Haney led off the inning with a triple for her second hit of the contest.
“When I hit it, I knew it was going to be a good hit,” she said of her shot to right field.
Fast Start for Panthers
After Jessica Butler tripled with one out in the first inning, Haney doubled to drive her home to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead.
Makenna Leisure’s single later in the frame put the Panthers on top 2-0 as Haney scored.
Centerville was able to answer in the third inning as the Bulldogs went in front 3-2.
A two-run triple by Jade Hill scored Courtney Riall and Megan Stelle to tie the contest.
One out later, Cassidy Weiss gave the Bulldogs the lead as she knocked in Hill on a ground out.
In the fifth, Haney was at it again as her sacrifice bunt scored Sidney Vise to tie the game at 3-3 to set the stage for the winning moment two innings later.
Vise went the distance for the Panthers with two strikeouts.
For the Bulldogs, Kenzie Lanman tossed four innings with four strikeouts and Grace Delay worked the final three frames as she also fanned four.
Leisure led the Panthers with three hits, while Stelle topped Centerville with a pair of hits.
Forest Park Semi-State
Knightstown (17-13) vs. Milan (17-11), 11 a.m.
No. 2 Tecumseh (27-4) vs. Speedway (19-6), 1 p.m.
Championship, 7 p.m.