EVANSVILLE — Sadie Winsett was determined to eventually get a bunt down.
It wasn’t for lack of trying this season. Castle also made it a point of emphasis in practice this past week. So when Winsett walked into a huddle during a pitching change ― and with the score tied in the sixth inning ― a safety squeeze was discussed.
The senior’s reaction: “I got this.”
The ensuing play didn’t represent the final difference on the scoreboard, but it was the turning point. The bunt led to the go-ahead run for Castle in a 9-4 victory over North in the Class 4A sectional championship.
“We had a lot of resilience this year,” Castle coach Pat Lockyear said. “We’ve just overcome a lot. We’ve had some run-rule games where we got beat. Played some top-notch teams. Being down 3-1 wasn’t anything new. It’s always tough in the sectional.”
The championship had the makings of a high-scoring shootout based on the first inning. Emma Bruggenschmidt sent the second pitch of the game over the center field wall. Gracelyn Ashley cleared the bases for North with a triple. But the Huskies held to a 3-2 lead going into the sixth.
Matisen Hughes tied it with one out on her second double of the night. Winsett followed with a perfect bunt to the left side of the infield ― Bruggenschmidt beat the throw home and Hughes raced around third after the ball went to the backstop. It was the exact momentum shift the Knights needed to defend their sectional crown.
“That’s the first bunt I’ve gotten down all season,” Winsett said. “I’ve tried plenty. I just knew I could trust my teammates. If I got that bunt down, they would get the job done.”
Castle (15-12) scored seven runs over the final two innings to pull away. It totaled 16 hits, with Lily Greenwell (four) and Hughes (three) doing the most damage.
But the Knights aren’t in a position to win without Bailey Gravens. The junior retired 11 of the first 13 batters she faced after entering the game in the fourth.
North (15-13) had double-digit runs in two of its previous three games. It was limited to only seven hits.
“There is no expression change on her face,” Lockyear said of Gravens. “No matter what. (North) has some really good hitters. To come in and settle things down, she pitched excellent. That’s the formula.”
This was not a typical season from Castle. It had 11 losses by the first weekend of May. The Knights’ ace (Winsett) didn’t pitch in the first half because of an offseason elbow injury. The back half of the lineup also had to learn on the fly against a brutal schedule. Yet, Castle still won the Southern Indiana Athletic Conference outright and the sectional title.
The growth and determination showed over the last month was evident in the sectional final. Other teams might have caved following the early deficit. The Knights now get a rematch against Floyd Central in the regional Tuesday, June 3 at Floyd Central.
“We really worked as a team and put little pieces together,” Hughes said. “Our underclassmen came up and stepped into their role. I think we really needed the win to (get a) boost. We’re ready to play on Tuesday.”
Memorial finally breaks through in Sectional 32 final
The past seven years had been a series of missed opportunities for this program.
Since a 10-inning victory over Mount Vernon in 2017, Memorial had reached the sectional championship four times. Not once did it advance to the regional. Much had to do with quality opposition. Some of it was rosters not quite being ready.
The current team proved different this week. The Tigers defeated North Posey 1-0 in the championship at Cooper Stadium to win their first sectional in eight years. It followed a tense victory over Heritage Hills in the semifinal on May 28.
“We look at all aspects of the game,” Memorial coach Rick Lutz said. “Hitting, pitching, fielding and base running. We’ve constantly told our players if we can do all those things well, we have a great chance of winning.”
Memorial (18-7) had to pull every trick from its bag to win a championship. It opened with a five-inning victory over Central before knocking out Heritage Hills in the semifinal. Cypress Aliotta delivered a go-ahead home run in the seventh inning against the latter.
The final against North Posey didn’t have the same theatrics, but required similar precision. Madison Thomas plated the game’s only run in the first inning on a double to the left field wall. The Tigers then turned to their ace in the circle the rest of the way.
Brianna Canaan allowed only one hit and struck out eight against the Vikings. The sophomore worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the first and a runner on second base in the third. She retired the final 14 batters of the game. A stark contrast from a year ago when she struggled mentally in bigger moments.
“My composure was really a big thing,” Canaan said. “I was telling myself I am a good pitcher and I can do this. You just need to have that mindset. It’s just another game, and you need to attack it like it. I knew I had a defense behind me.”
Three other SW Indiana teams win sectional championships
The best game of the championship round? That belonged to Sectional 31. Jasper rallied from a five-run deficit to stun No. 7 Gibson Southern 7-6 in nine innings. Carlee Rogers went 3-for-5 with a double and four RBIs, including the go-ahead hit in the ninth.
Jasper (18-10) scored three in the fifth and three in the seventh to take the lead. Payton Cummings sent the game to extra innings for Gibson Southern with a sacrifice fly. Brianna Barrix struck out nine and allowed four hits in eight innings for the Wildcats, who host Memorial in the regional.
Audrey Seiler continued her dominant season for No. 1 Tecumseh with a perfect outing in the Sectional 48 final. The freshman struck out nine in a 10-0, five-inning victory over Tell City. Katelyn Marx had four hits and Breann Harris delivered four RBIs for the Braves (27-2). Next up is a trip to No. 6 West Vigo for the regional.
Wood Memorial defeated Springs Valley, 2-1, in the Sectional 64 championship to earn its first title since 2018. The Trojans (15-7) scored both runs in the opening inning. Carly Schoonover won a pitcher’s duel with 11 strikeouts and only three hits allowed. Wood Memorial will travel to either No. 3 West Washington or Henryville in the regional.
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Five Southwestern Indiana softball teams win IHSAA sectional championships
Reporting by Kyle Sokeland, Evansville Courier & Press / Evansville Courier & Press
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