The REPORTER
After a decade, the Hamilton Southeastern softball team is back in the state finals.
The Royals punched their ticket to state after winning the weather-delayed Class 4A north semi-state Monday at Harrison. Southeastern beat defending 4A champion Penn 4-1 in the championship game to win its fourth semi-state title and advance to the 4A state championship contest on Friday.
The Royals got on the board in the first inning when Lani Wyrick got home after Addy Justice reached on error after a bunt. Southeastern added another run in the third inning; Makena Burlingame was sent home by Keira Lodes’ left field single.
Justice hit an RBI single in the sixth inning, putting down a bunt to bring in Wyrick. An RBI triple gave the Kingsmen their lone run of the game in the bottom of the sixth, but the Royals answered back in the top of the seventh: Wyrick doubled in Jenna Chase for HSE’s fourth run of the game.
Chase was perfect at the plate, going 4-for-4, while Wyrick went 3-for-4, also hitting a triple. Meanwhile, Grace Swedarsky was her usual dominant self in the pitching circle. She struck out 14 in a complete game effort, allowing three hits and no walks.
Southeastern is 24-4 for the season. The Royals will play New Palestine for the 4A state title at 8 p.m. Friday at Purdue University’s Bittinger Stadium.