Softball: Rocks, Royals reach Sectional 8 semifinals

The REPORTER

The Westfield and Hamilton Southeastern softball teams both advanced to the Sectional 8 semifinals after winning first-round games Monday at Zionsville.

The Shamrocks won in dramatic fashion, getting past the host Eagles 5-4.

Playing as the away team, Zionsville scored two runs in the top of the first inning. Westfield got a run back in the bottom of the inning, with Sofia Easterhaus blasting a triple to bring Makayla Watson home.

Alyssa Ayers tied the game in the second inning. She sent a double into left field to score Reese Mahannah, knotting the game at 2-2.

Easterhaus cracked her second triple of the game in the fifth inning. The Rocks loaded the bases, then Mahannah drew a walk to send Easterhaus home and give Westfield a 3-2 lead.

The Eagles tied the game in the sixth inning, then went ahead 4-3 in the top of the seventh. Olivia Sampia came up for the Shamrocks in the bottom of the seventh and led off with a home run to tie the game.

Mahannah came up next and sent a triple into center field. A couple minutes later, Ayers hit a bunt that sent Mahannah home and gave Westfield the walkoff win.

Easterhaus and Ayers both were 3-for-3 at the plate; Ayers hit two doubles. Sampia pitched a complete game, tossing six strikeouts.

The Shamrocks improved to 14-10-1 and play Carmel at 5:30 p.m. this afternoon in the first semifinal at Zionsville.

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Hamilton Southeastern won the second Monday game 12-0 in six innings over Fishers.

The Royals scored three runs in the first inning. Kaleah McCarter scored the first run on Madison Burlingame’s RBI fielder’s choice. Tori Bricker sent a two-run single into center field, bringing in both Burlingame and Sophia Feher.

Southeastern added two run in the fourth inning. Kaleah McCarter scored after Feher drew a bases-loaded walk, then Ella Sicilia went home after Kaitlyn Burdick hit a sacrifice fly.

In the fifth inning, Burlingame singled in Lilly Palmer, then Feher blasted a triple, scoring Kaleah McCarter, Jaycee McCarter and Burlingame. Southeastern led 9-0.

Kaleah McCarter cracked a sixth-inning triple to score Palmer and Addy Richmond. Jaycee McCarter hit a double to send Kaleah McCarter home.

Kaleah McCarter had a dominant night, going 4-for-5 at the plate. Jaycee McCarter was a flawless 3-for-3 hitting. Grace Swedarsky pitched five innings for the win, striking out four. Kaleah McCarter threw a hitless sixth inning to finish the game.

Caroline Thompson had two hits for the Tigers, who finished their season 15-10.

Southeastern is 18-4 and plays Noblesville at 7:30 p.m. in the second semifinal at Zionsville.