IHSAA softball: Bloomington South, Shelbyville sectional game goes into extra innings

Seth Tow, The Herald-Times
·4 min read

BLOOMINGTON — Seven innings weren't enough for Bloomington South softball and Shelbyville.

The Panthers and Bears needed extra innings to settle its IHSAA Sectional 14 first round game Tuesday at Bloomington North. Both teams came up with big moments late in the game to get the contest to nine innings.

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Bloomington South junior Marin Jacobs delivers a pitch during the first inning of the Panthers' first round sectional game against Shelbyville. (Seth Tow/Herald-Times)
Bloomington South junior Marin Jacobs delivers a pitch during the first inning of the Panthers' first round sectional game against Shelbyville. (Seth Tow/Herald-Times)

But in the bottom of the ninth, Shelbyville got the last word. The Bears hit a walk-off single to claim a 6-5 win and end South's season.

Shelbyville (20-5) got the winning run on base through a walk to junior shortstop Kylee Edwards. She advanced to second on a single by freshman Addison Stieneker.

South (17-5) then made a pitching change, as junior Marin Jacobs handed the ball to sophomore Morgan Cockerill. The Bears ran a double steal to get Edwards to third base, and then junior Hailey Pogue hit a line drive single to right field to end the game.

"It was a fun game. We knew Shelbyville was going to be tough," South head coach Meg Montgomery said. "I told this team we were pretty scrappy today. I'm proud of them. Special team. Stayed together, worked together, figured out a way to keep plugging. Just proud of what we've done this year."

Bloomington South catcher Tiffany Sowder sets up to receive a pitch during the first inning of the Panthers' first round sectional game against Shelbyville. (Seth Tow/Herald-Times)
Bloomington South catcher Tiffany Sowder sets up to receive a pitch during the first inning of the Panthers' first round sectional game against Shelbyville. (Seth Tow/Herald-Times)

Shelbyville grabbed control early

In the bottom of the second inning, Shelbyville loaded the bases on an infield hit and two errors. That brought up Bears leadoff hitter Karissa Hamilton — a Kentucky softball commit — with two outs.

She delivered.

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Hamilton drove a double to center field to bring home two runs. South had Caitlyn Richardson caught too far off the third base bag on the throw back in from the outfield. But Panthers junior Marin Jacobs misfired to junior Sophie Harmon at third, and the ball got away. That allowed Richardson to score and Hamilton to advance to third base.

That play came not long after South stranded two runners on base in the top half of the inning. It was a moment that swung the momentum firmly toward the Bears, until south made its move in the seventh inning.

A freshman's big moment

Bloomington South entered the seventh inning trailing 4-2. Senior Jessica Young led off with a solo home run to bring the Panthers within a run for the first time all game.

It sparked a stunning rally.

After a groundout, Cockerill worked a walk to put the tying run on base. Jacobs bunted to move her into scoring position, and the Bears fumbled it, allowing her to reach first. In that ensuing chaos, Cockerill got very aggressive on the base paths, and narrowly made it to third base safely.

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Bloomington South second baseman Kayli Reed starts her swing during the first inning of the Panthers' first round sectional game against Shelbyville. (Seth Tow/Herald-Times)
Bloomington South second baseman Kayli Reed starts her swing during the first inning of the Panthers' first round sectional game against Shelbyville. (Seth Tow/Herald-Times)

Junior Sophie Harmon lined out to the pitcher, bringing South within an out of losing the game. But the Panthers didn't give in.

"I knew we wouldn't give up," Montgomery said. "The senior class, they're going to make sure this team doesn't give up. And they didn't."

Junior Keely Hubbard walked to load the bases, bringing up freshman Akasha Burton. She'd made hard contact in every at-bat, but this was a monumental position. The game rested on her bat.

After two swinging strikes, Burton hit a line drive up the middle that got through the infield. Cockerill and Jacobs both scored, giving South the lead in dramatic fashion.

Montgomery paced down the third base line after that play in pure ecstasy.

"At a stage like this — your first sectional game — to step up, it's huge," Montgomery said of Burton. "Akasha's our future. I was so proud in that moment."

By the numbers

Junior Lexie McGlothlin got the Panthers on the board, with a solo home run to center field in the fourth inning.

Burton finished with a two-hit game, the only Panther to do so. Cockerill managed to draw four walks in the contest.

Jacobs wrapped her strong season working overtime. In 8 and 1/3 innings, she allowed three earned runs on nine hits and one walk with three strikeouts. Though she may not have had her best stuff, Jacobs often worked out of jams to avoid further damage and keep the Panthers within striking distance.

Up next

Shelbyville will take on Columbus East (8-16-1) in the semifinals on Thursday.

Follow Herald-Times sports reporter Seth Tow on Twitter @SethTow, or email him at stow@heraldt.com.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Bloomington South, Shelbyville sectional game goes into extra innings