Softball Roundup: Dent’s big hit leads Huskies past LC, Rocks fall short, Millers & Hounds drop games at Carmel invite

The REPORTER

A first inning run turned out to be the difference for the Hamilton Heights softball team on Friday.

The Huskies hosted Lawrence Central and won 1-0. Hannah Dent came up to the plate with two outs in the bottom of the first and hit an inside the park home run. That was one of two hits for Dent; Lily Cash got the other hit.

Meanwhile, Lily Roush did an outstanding job in the pitcher’s circle. Roush threw 17 strikeouts, while allowing just one hit and one walk.

Friday’s victory followed a 14-0 win for Heights over Hoosier Conference East rival Tipton Thursday in a five-inning contest. The Huskies erupted for eight runs in the second inning, including a pair of triples. Kassidy Schakel hit a one-out triple, then scored when Morgan Ottinger reached on error. Later, Heather Crays blasted a triple to right field, scoring Ottinger, Mariyah Sexton and Isabel Morrow.

Schakel and Kamryn Rhoton both hit one double during the game. Schakel finished 4-for-4 at the plate, batting in four runs. Crays was 3-for-3, driving in three runs. Both scored two runs, as did Morrow. Melanee Forrester pitched all five innings, striking out five.

Heights is 2-0 in division play and 7-3 overall. The Huskies play at Yorktown Monday.

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Westfield’s comeback fell short in the first round of the Kokomo Tournament on Friday, as the Shamrocks lost to Class 1A No. 4 Caston 9-7.

The Comets led 8-0 after three innings. Westfield scored two runs in the top of the fourth, as Grace Fanelli’s center field hit brought in Makayla Watson, then Fanelli got home on Cara Snedeker’s center field hit.

Caston scored another run in the bottom of the fourth, with the Shamrocks getting the run back in the top of the fifth. Watson went home after Fanelli drew a bases-loaded walk.

Westfield continued to rally, with Snedeker scoring a sixth-inning run on a wild pitch. In the seventh inning, Lilly Amburgey scored on a wild pitch, then Sydney Jordan smacked a center field hit to bring Fanelli and Snedeker home before the Comets got the third out to end the game.

Watson finished the contest with two hits.

Westfield is 5-5 and continues play at Kokomo today. The Shamrocks take on Huntington North at noon, then play another game at 2:30 p.m., with the opponent to be determined.

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Noblesville began play at the Carmel Invitational Friday with a 9-3 loss to defending Class 4A state champion Penn.

The 4A No. 3 Kingsmen scored a run in the bottom of the first inning, then put up seven runs in the second inning and one more in the fourth. The Millers made a late rally by scoring all three of their runs in the seventh. Makayla Jacquay’s right field hit sent Bella Hughes home, Addi Emmerson singled Gabby Fowler in, then Izzy Zapp’s center field hit drove in Jacquay.

Emerson and Delaney Rundle both finished with two hits. Lulu Van Beek pitched four and two-thirds innings, striking out four.

Noblesville is 6-4 and continues play at the invitational today, taking on 4A No. 10 Cathedral at 9 a.m. and 4A No. 2 Castle at 1:30 p.m.

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Carmel also dropped its opener at the Greyhounds’ invitational, falling to 4A No. 1 Lake Central 13-4.

The Indians were in control from the beginning, scoring five runs in the top of the first inning. The Greyhounds answered with two runs in the bottom of the first; Paxton Law singled in Ellie Goddard and Jayden Kleiner with a right field hit.

Law blasted a solo home run in the fourth inning, while Kayden Dierks scored on a wild pitch in the seventh inning.

Carmel is 4-8 and plays three more games today at its invitational. The Hounds take on Penn at 9 a.m., 4A No. 4 Roncalli at 1:30 p.m. and Avon at 3:30 p.m.

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Guerin Catholic dropped a 16-6 Circle City Conference game at Brebeuf Jesuit in five innings Friday.

The Braves scored 10 runs in the bottom of the first inning. The Golden Eagles got a run in the fourth inning when Lucy Kemp scored. Guerin Catholic then rallied in the fifth inning with five runs: Kate Brady singled in Brooklyn Fritsche, followed by an RBI single for Madi Cain to bring Rilee Kluesner home.

Kemp cracked a two-run triple into left field, scoring Brady and Cain. Kemp later scored on a steal of home plate, she finished the game 2-for-3.

The Golden Eagles are 0-7 and play Monday at Warren Central.