The Fishers softball team made history on Tuesday, winning its first-ever regional championship.
The Tigers beat Harrison 3-0 at their home field to take the Regional 4 title. Fishers will now travel to Harrison on Saturday for the semi-state, where it will play Crown Point at 1 p.m. in the second semi-final game.
“This is amazing,” said Tigers coach Daren James. “We knew we were talented, but we weren’t sure what we were going to be able to do with it. Now we know.”
Fishers got on the board in the first inning, with Caroline Bernhardt batting in Cortney James. Bernhardt got another RBI in the third inning, as her perfectly placed bunt got her to first and squeezed in Brooke Benson to put the Tigers up 2-0.
“When I went up to the plate, I wasn’t really expecting to hit the bunt,” said Bernhardt. “I struggled a little last week with getting bunts down, so I was a little nervous when he called it. But the feeling on first when I heard the crowd erupt behind me because she scored was so amazing. I’m so happy I got that down.”
In the fifth inning, Fishers opened up with three straight singles, loading the bases. Hannah Mays, Olivia Latimer and Maggie Weber all got on base, with Abbey Schmidt coming to run for Mays. Kaylee Kardash was then hit by a pitch, sending Schmidt home. That would be it for scoring, but it was more than enough for the Tigers to clinch the win.
Latimer finished the game 4-for-4 at the plate, with Bernhardt and Jade Frye both getting two hits. Meanwhile, Mays had an exceptional day in the pitcher’s circle, going the distance with six strikeouts against five hits and no walks. That included getting out of a jam in the top of the fifth inning, when the Raiders had runners at second and third with two outs. A strikeout ended that threat.
Mays said she thinks she’s pitching well, but quickly gave credit to her defense.
“If I didn’t have my defense behind my back, I would not be able to do this today,” said Mays.
Fishers is 17-9 for the season.
Fishers 3, Harrison 0
Fishers AB R H RBI
Cortney James 2 1 1 0
Olivia Stinson 2 0 1 0
Brooke Benson 4 1 1 0
Hannah Mays 4 0 1 0
Olivia Latimer 4 0 4 0
Caroline Bernhardt 2 0 2 2
Maggie Weber 1 0 1 0
Kaylee Kardash 2 0 0 1
Jade Frye 3 0 2 0
Sara Bumps 3 0 0 0
Abbey Schmidt 0 1 0 0
Hannah Abbott 0 0 0 0
Totals 27 3 13 3
Score by innings
Harrison 000 000 0 – 0 5 1
Fishers 101 010 x – 3 13 0
SAC: Stinson. HBP: Kardash.
Fishers pitching IP R ER H
Mays 7 0 0 5
Strikeouts: Mays 6. Walks: none.
Fishers’ Hannah Mays pitched an exceptional game for the Tigers in their 3-0 win over Harrison to claim the Regional 4 championship on Tuesday. Mays went the distance, striking out six with only five hits and no walks. (Richie Hall)