The REPORTER
The Hamilton Heights softball team won the Class 3A Regional 14 championship on Tuesday, taking down Beech Grove 6-3 at the Hornets’ field.
It was a regional rematch between the two teams, with Beech Grove winning at the Huskies’ field last year. Heights got in position to reverse the result in the second inning by scoring three runs: Kassidy Schakel scored when Melanee Forrester drew a bases loaded walk, then Addie Doak blasted a left field double to score Hailey Hall and Isabel Morrow.
A two-run home run in the fourth inning brought the Hornets back to within 3-2 with two outs in the bottom of the fourth. But Heights held firm, as Lily Roush got a strikeout to end the inning, then retired the side 1-2-3 in the fifth.
Kamryn Rhoton got the Huskies’ offense going in the sixth inning with a leadoff home run. Beech Grove scored a run in the bottom of the sixth to cut Heights’ lead to 4-3, but the Huskies responded again with two runs in the top of the seventh. Roush’s center field hit sent Doak home, then Roush was brought in by a Hall single.
Roush retired the side in the seventh inning to clinch the win; a line out to Rhoton finished the game. Roush pitched a complete game, striking out seven and allowing only four hits. Meanwhile, Doak and Rhoton both had three hits for Heights, with Schakel getting two hits.
This is the third regional championship for the Huskies, who also won back-to-back titles in 2015 and 2016. Heights is now 22-7 and added one more victory to its record for season wins.
Heights will play in the 3A south semi-state at Jasper on Saturday. The Huskies take on Tri-West in the 1 p.m. second semifinal, after the first semifinal between Silver Creek and Gibson Southern. The championship game is set for 7 p.m., with the winner going to the state finals.