Softball: Royals & ‘Rocks battle tonight for sectional title

(LEFT) Westfield’s Maggie Roh got a second-inning RBI to tie the game. The Shamrocks would go on to beat Noblesville 4-3 to advance to the sectional championship game. (RIGHT) Hamilton Southeastern’s Payton Fox drove in the Royals’ run with a first-inning double. That would prove to be the difference as Southeastern beat Zionsville 1-0 to advance to the sectional championship. (Frank Brown)

Posted By: Richie Hall May 25, 2023

THE REPORTER

Hamilton Southeastern and Westfield advanced to the championship game of Class 4A Sectional 8 at Noblesville on Wednesday by winning one-run semifinal games.

The Royals beat Zionsville 1-0 in the first game of the evening. Southeastern scored its run in the bottom of the first inning. Payton Fox hit a center field double to score Addy Justice, who got on base with a bunt single. Justice would go on to have a 3-for-3 night at the plate.

Jenna Chase hit a single for Southeastern, which had five hits in the game. But pitcher Grace Swedarsky allowed the Eagles only three hits in a complete-game effort, while striking out 11 and issuing only one walk.

The victory improved the Royals’ record to 21-7 for the season.

Westfield walkoff

Westfield triumphed in the second semifinal game, winning in dramatic fashion by beating host Noblesville 4-3 with a seventh-inning walkoff run.

Both teams scored a run in the second inning. Mack Harvey got the Millers on the board with a leadoff home run in the top of the inning. The Shamrocks answered back in the bottom of the inning: Samantha Breaux hit a two-out triple, and was singled in by Maggie Roh.

Noblesville’s Mack Harvey (left) hit a home run in the second inning. (Frank Brown)

The score stayed 1-1 until the sixth inning, when both teams again scored a run. Addi Emerson’s right field line drive brought in Macie Duvall, and Noblesville led 2-1. Makayla Watson batted in Westfield’s run, with a left field line drive to score Annika Lawrence.

Reis Sjoholm’s center field hit scored Nevaeh Nash in the seventh inning, putting the Millers in front 3-2. In the bottom of the inning, Ava Kainrath hit a solo home run to tie the game. Cara Snedeker got on base with a walk, and went on to score the winning run.

Grace Fanelli had two hits for the ‘Rocks, a double and a single. Chloe Tanner pitched a complete game for the win, striking out four.

Sjoholm and Harvey both had two hits for Noblesville, which ended its season 14-11-1.

Westfield is 16-13 and plays Southeastern at 6 p.m. tonight for the sectional title.

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