Softball Sectionals Recap

It was certainly a memorable Memorial Day weekend for several Central Indiana softball teams. Before regionals begin on Saturday, May 31, let's take a quick look back at how we got here: Noblesville defeated defending Class 4A champion Hamilton Southeastern (20-7) behind another stellar pitching performance from sophomore Kaitlyn Flak, who threw a three-hit shutout in the Miller nailbiting 1-0 victory over the Royals. It was the Millers first sectional crown since 2004 and fourth in school history. Noblesville (20-6) is now 15-2 since an auspicious 5-4 start, including huge wins over No. 10 HSE and No. 3 Carmel. The Millers will play Warren Central at 1 p.m. Saturday in the Center Grove regional. No. 6 Franklin Central, which topped Center Grove for the FC sectional title, will play No. 5 Avon in the other semifinal in what will be a highly competitive regional on the South side. Warren Central advanced behind Sara Goelz one-hit, 10 strikeout performance on the mound in a 1-0 victory over North Central. Avon moved on behind a star effort from Jenny Esparza, who also pitched a one hitter in the Orioles 6-2 win over Decatur Central. Franklin Central (25-4) survived an extra-inning showdown with No. 1 Center Grove. Joy Perry scored the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning (the game's only run) to lead the No. 6 Flashes to a 1-0 victory over the top-ranked Trojans. In doing so, it ruined another fantastic pitching performance by Center Grove junior Emily Gwaltney, who allowed just three hits for the Trojans (24-4). In the end, Franklin Central senior standout Chanda Bell, who will play for the University of Kentucky next year, struck out 16 and allowed two hits in nine innings. Bell has allowed just one earned run in 125-plus innings of work. The win marked Franklin Central's first sectional title in 10 years. No. 9 Pendleton Heights advanced to regionals behind Tiffany Held's six RBIs. Shonda Garringer had three hits in the Arabains 11-1, five inning victory. Martinsville also advanced to regional behind Jessica Gidney's 10-strikeout performance in a 4-0 victory over Northview. The Artesians have won four sectional titles in five years. Roncalli topped Beech Grove 11-0 to capture the sectional crown behind Jennifer Barnett's three hits and Kaitlyn Shaw's three RBIs. Trista Cox pitched a no-hitter for the Rebels in an 18-0 semifinal victory over Howe. Scecina, the defending Class 2A state champions, won another sectional crown, defeating Ritter 10-0 in six innings. Ty Bremer went 3-for-3 with three RBIs. In Class A action, Morgan Lewis pitched a no-hitter, striking out 10, to guide the Saints to a 10-0, five inning victory over Eminence. No. 2 Lutheran led 4-0 before scoring six runs in the fifth inning. Amanda Korb went 3-for-3 with an RBI. Check out the brackets for regionals at IHSAA.org