When the Heritage Hills softball team took infield practice prior to their post-season battle with Jasper, the Ozzy Osbourne classic tune “Crazy Train” blared over the PA system.
Boy, was it appropriate!
Why?
Well, the No. 14 ranked Lady Pats found themselves in a ‘crazy’ game, as they watched a big early lead fall by the wayside and eventually dropped a wild 15-14 decision to the host Wildcats in the championship game of the Class 3A, Sectional 31 Tournament last Thursday night in Dubois County.
While many in attendance admitted in was definitely the craziest softball game they had ever witnessed, Heritage Hills coach Joe Asbury said he saw something that actually resembled the contest a few years ago.
“Our sectional final against Mt. Vernon a few years back was similar to that,” confirmed the Lady Pats’ veteran skipper. “The difference was that game was played so much better defensively. This game was not played well defensively by either team.”
Proof of his statement was the fact that the two squads combined for 11 errors, including seven by Heritage Hills.
Those miscues also foiled a pretty impressive hitting performance as both teams collected 13 hits.
In fact, nearly every hitter in Heritage Hills’ batting order produced at least one.
Miriam Gordon, Sarah Day, Haley Fisher and Mayci Litherland all finished with two safeties and both of Gordon’s hits were home runs — a two-run shot in the first inning and a three-run dinger in the fourth frame.
“To get 13 hits and lose, then something is wrong,” said Asbury. “What’s wrong are errors, not hitting the cut-off. Tonight, it looked like we don’t practice defense. It’s disappointing.”
What was also disappointing for the Lady Pats is that they built a 9-1 lead after two innings only to see the Wildcats come all the way back.
Heritage Hills erupted for six runs in the first inning and three more in the second.
Jasper then responded, eventually cutting the deficit to 9-6 in the top of the fourth before the Lady Pats answered with four in the bottom of the fourth to extend their advantage to 13-6.
The game was far from over, however.
After Heritage Hills seemingly stemmed the tied with their four-run surge in the fourth, the Wildcats responded with an eight-run uprising in the fifth to pull ahead 14-13. Jasper produced four hits in the inning, but were also aided by five Lady Patriot errors.
“I suppose neither team quit,” said Asbury. “The other side of that is there were so many routine plays that weren’t made. Both teams allowed the offenses to thrive. It’s easier to come back when the other team doesn’t make plays.”
Heritage Hills did come back to tie the game at 14 apiece in the sixth inning courtesy of consecutive two-out hits by Sarah Day, Emma Day and Fisher, but Jasper was able to rally for the game-winner in the top of the seventh. Hillary Springer led off the inning with a walk and scored on an RBI double by Elise Lampert, who was also the winning pitcher.
The Lady Pats finished the season with a 19-9 record and should be a solid squad again next spring, but they will have to replace three important veterans.
“We’ll really miss our three seniors,” concluded Asbury. “Sarah Day and Emma Day are our No. 3 and No. 4 hitters in our batting order and our catcher and third baseman. They were exceptional leaders and great kids, as was Jenna McDowell. She was our shortstop and leadoff hitter. She’s a big piece as well. We’ll plug in and go again next year but strive for better results in the sectional.”
Story Brian Bohne, Photos by Sierra Bruggeman
