ELKHART — Penn softball simply did what it does best Tuesday night: win championships.
The Class 4A No. 3 Kingsmen added to their state record best regional title streak in impressive fashion with an 11-2 win over host Elkhart on June 2.
The combination of Carson Petty and Charlie Swiger at the top of the prolific Penn order put the Kingsmen in the regional winner’s circle for the 12th straight time.
Penn, which beat NIC foe Elkhart for the third time this season, improved to 28-3 with its 11th straight win. The Kingsmen will play No. 1 Lake Central (28-2) this Saturday, June 6 at 11 a.m. in the first semifinal game of the Harrison (West Lafayette) Semi-state. The winner advances to the final at 7 p.m. to face the winner of the second semifinal contest between Carroll and Westfield, who play following Penn and Lake Central.
Penn lost 14-0 to Lake Central on April 25. The Kingsmen then led Lake Central 2-0 in the fourth inning of a game at Penn in late April that was cancelled due to weather. In that game, Penn pitcher Caitlyn Denny had a no-hitter going. She did not pitch in the first contest.
The Kingsmen raised another title trophy after graduating 11 seniors from last year’s final four team.
“This is just a reflection of the culture that we have built here,” said longtime Penn coach Beth Zachary. “It’s about what we have the built and the legacy we have. We cherish every moment. We never, ever take this for granted.
“Our girls came in relaxed and confident tonight. It was all about playing our game. They were just another team in our way of the ultimate goal of getting to Bittinger Stadium (home of the state finals at Purdue).
Leadoff hitter Petty reached base four times, including a walk to open the game to set the tone for a three-run first frame. No. 2 hitter Swiger had four hits, including a double to go with three RBI singles.
The Kingsmen, who beat Elkhart 13-3 and 6-5 in the regular season, took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. Petty drew a walk, Swiger doubled and then Logan Rumble had an RBI single, followed by an RBI groundout by Easton Masten and an infield RBI single by Addison Bogunia.
Elkhart used a hit batter and a pair of walks to load the basses in the first, but the Lions failed to score.
Penn made it 4-0 in the second on an RBI groundout by Logan Rumble and 5-0 in the third on an RBI single by Addyson Zachary. The Kingsmen scored three more in the fourth to make it 8-0, including an RBI single by Swiger. Penn made it 9-0 in the fifth on another RBI single by Swiger.
The Kingsmen got a solo homer by Masten in the sixth, her fourth homer this season versus Elkhart to make it 10-0 and an RBI single by Zachary to make it 11-0.
The Lions, who finish at 22-8, got two runs in the bottom of the sixth to keep the game going. Fionna Topolski had an RBI single and Anna Knight a sacrifice fly to make it 11-2.
Caitlyn Denny, one of four seniors for Penn, struck out the final three Elkhart hitters in the final inning for the win.
“I just want to do whatever to help my team win,” said junior third baseman Petty. “We’re just so determined as a team. We want to win for each other. The 11 seniors last year were all super role models for us.”
Sophomore shortstop Swiger was batting .435 going into Tuesday. The Kingsmen entered the regional batting .397 as a team with 110 extra base hits, including 27 home runs. Monday night was the 15th time this season that Penn has scored in double digits and they have outscored their foes 283-78.
“Everyone was locked in tonight,” Swiger said of her team. “For me, I just want to hit the ball on the ground and move the runner. That’s my approach at the plate. The thing is that we all work together. It’s just about passing the bat. This team supports me and just gives me so much confidence.”
Elkhart coach Matt Walker, a man known for his unbridled passion, had one thing on his mind after the contest.
“My mind is on my seniors and that’s it,” said Walker, pausing to regain his composure through tears. “I wasn’t prepared to have this conversation with them tonight, so we will come back Thursday and talk.
“I love these girls just like I love Ava (Walker, his daughter). I worry about them and I care about them. All of them.”
Elkhart loses seniors Natalie Smith, Anna Knight, Lilly Stanley, Ava Sanders and Bailey Harris-Rogers.
The Lions will return star shortstop Ava Walker. The junior Division 1 prospect was batting .600 with 44 RBIs and 48 runs scored prior to the regional game.
Coach Zachary knows exactly what the approach needs to be on Saturday for semi-state play.
“Exactly the same as tonight,” coach Zachary remarked of the plan for semi-state. “We just need to go play our game and attack.”
Glenn softball wins Class 3A regional title
John Glenn beat host Tippecanoe Valley 1-0 to win its first-ever Class 3A regional title.
The Falcons, who topped No. 11 South Bend Saint Joseph to win its second straight sectional title last week, scored on a sacrifice fly by top hitter Payton Thomas in the sixth inning.
Mia Wilton, who scored the lone run, was 3-3 for the Falcons.
Emma Thomas fired a complete game with five strikeouts for Glenn. The freshman also had a hit.
Glenn (21-9) will play East Noble (22-3) in a semi-state semifinal game at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 6 at Twin Lakes High School in Monticello. They are preceded by Hanover Central (23-6) vs. No. 1 Logansport (27-1) at 11 a.m. The two winners return for the championship game at 7 p.m.
Elsewhere in the South Bend area, Jimtown dropped a 9-1 decision to Andrean in a 2A regional contest.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Penn softball dominates Elkhart; Glenn wins first-ever IHSAA regional
Reporting by Scott Davidson, South Bend Tribune / South Bend Tribune
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