For the Daily Reporter
INDIANAPOLIS — Two innings was all it took.
Two uncharacteristic innings in the field was all Class 4A No. 14 Cathedral needed to eliminate Mt. Vernon, 6-3, in the regional championship game on Tuesday and advance to semistate.
“We just had a lapse tonight,” Marauders coach Veronica Kirby said afterwards. “These girls have been so strong all year. It’s why we were even playing tonight. But those little slips were enough.”
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Things were looking good for the Marauders after the top half of the second inning. Sophomore starter Karlee Franklin stranded University of Illinois commit Grace Lorsung at third base in the first inning, and Mt. Vernon scored three two-out runs in the next frame to take the lead.
Samantha Bennett lead the inning off with a walk and advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt and fielder’s choice. Then, on an 0-2 pitch, left fielder Allison Myers looped an RBI single to right field for the early 1-0 lead. After Chloee Yocum was hit by a pitch, Riley Hasseld drove in two runs with a double to the left field gap.
Cathedral changed pitchers to get the final out of the inning, and proceeded to get back all three runs in the bottom of the second. After a lead-off walk, the Irish got their first run on an error following a sacrifice bunt, which allowed a run to score from first on a bunt. Another error and two infield singles loaded the bases, and Cathedral’s Mia Dittoe hit a two-RBI single to tie the game.
“We’ve talked so much this year about moving on from a bad play or a bad inning,” Kirby said. “We started mentally pressuring instead of just playing. Credit to Cathedral for putting that pressure on us.”
After Cathedral’s Andi Manship took the mound, the Marauders were only able to muster two hits in five innings. Cathedral took the lead in the fourth inning with a combination of three singles and sacrifice bunts that proved to be just as troubling for the Marauders as they were in the second inning. The Irish scored three runs in the inning, and Mt. Vernon would only get one runner to second base the rest of the way (on Hasseld’s second double of the game).
The loss brings Mt. Vernon’s final season record to an impressive 23-4. But the future is bright for the Marauders.
“I’ve loved our seniors. They’ve provided the great leadership we expect from a senior class,” Kirby said. “But, we are bringing back a huge chunk of this team. And games like tonight will only make us tougher to deal with.”
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#14 Cathedral 6, Mt. Vernon 3
MV (23-4);030;000;0;-;3;4;2
CHS (22-7);030;300;x;-;6;9;2
WP: Andi Manship (6-1). LP: Karlee Franklin (18-3).
2B: R. Hasseld 2 (MV). 3B: G. Lorsung (CHS).
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