New Palestine falls in 3A Softball State Championship

What-ifs from last season’s one-run loss in the Class 3A championship game lingered, and members of Hanover Central’s softball program had a year to mull them over.

By early evening on Friday, the Wildcats had manufactured seven innings worth of new and better memories courtesy of a 6-4 victory over New Palestine in the 3A final at Purdue University’s Bittinger Stadium.

“The girls were motivated to come back here,” said seventh-year Hanover Central coach Sam Antkiewicz, whose club finishes 26-6 and joins the 2004 Wildcats’ team that captured the 2A state title as the highest achievers in program history.

“We knew we had the potential. We just had to keep the girls focused, and keep on challenging them to work hard. This is just a testament to the girls.”

The challenge was presented almost immediately.

New Palestine got to work early, benefitting from a pair of Wildcats’ fielding errors to jump ahead, 2-0, in the top of the first inning.

Junior leadoff hitter Callie Cromwell located a higher gear to make her way to first base on an infield single. Hanover Central then botched what would have been a force out at second on Payton Dye’s grounder to deep short to put runners at first and second.

First baseman Cara Steele brought both of them home, airmailing a fly ball to deep centerfield that was misjudged by Wildcats’ Adee McMahon.

Hanover Central responded with a run in its half of the first, sophomore pitcher Jillian DeYoung’s single to left bringing home senior first baseman Brooklyn Oostman, whose two-out double caromed off the leftfield wall.

The Wildcats took the lead for good with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second with leadoff hitter Sienna Stilley, the team’s catcher, delivering a double after singles from senior third baseman Kaden Poppe and McMahon put runners on the corners.

Despite the early deficit, DeYoung, who went the distance in the circle, allowing seven hits, striking out 11 and walking only one, knew she and her teammates would remain composed the remainder of the way.

“Our whole team … the game isn’t done yet,” said DeYoung. “We still have six innings, and we’re going to bust our butts and put 100-percent effort into everything we do for those six innings. Even if we’re down, 10-0, in the first inning, we always have a chance.

“We know that in the back of our heads that we do have the potential to come back.”

The Wildcats struck again for two more runs in the bottom of the fourth with Stilley starting things off with a walk. Courtesy runner Jessica Ferguson stole second, and freshman shortstop Dallas Bowen singled to right to put runners at first and third.

Bowen advanced to second with a steal of her own, and Oostman’s sacrifice fly to right field brought Ferguson home. The second run came after DeYoung’s fly ball to short left was misplayed by the Dragons.

Oostman’s double to centerfield scored Ferguson in the bottom of the sixth, making it a 6-2 ballgame.

New Palestine, a six-time state champion which finished the season with a 24-8 record, wasn’t about to bow out quietly. The Dragons tacked on two more runs in the top of the seventh with singles from Cromwell and senior shortstop Saydie Miller sandwiched around Dye’s double to the wall in left-centerfield.

DeYoung closed the deal when she struck out New Pal’s cleanup hitter, second baseman Claire Fitzgerald.

The celebration was on. The wait was over.

A year ago, Hanover Central lost to Cathedral in the 3A finale, 5-4. Not one of the returning players forgot.

“It was huge. We weren’t expected to get out of sectional last year, so we more played not to lose rather than play to win,” said Oostman. “This year, we used the motivation to win, and we played to win. All season, we were, like, we’re taking that state championship.

“There was never a doubt in my mind that we could do it.”

New Palestine senior Sadey Hughbanks pitched a complete game, permitting 10 hits, striking out seven and issuing three walks.

Hanover Central established a new 3A championship standard with four stolen bases. Ferguson, a freshman, now holds the 3A individual mark with two.

Class 3A Records

Stolen Bases by a Team: 4 by Hanover Central vs. New Palestine.

Stolen Bases by a Player: 2 by Jessica Ferguson, Hanover Central.

Dragons' Saydie Miller receives Mental Attitude Award

At the conclusion of the game, Saydie Miller of New Palestine High School was announced as the recipient of the Mental Attitude Award for Class 3A Softball.

The award is annually presented to a senior participant in the state finals who best demonstrates mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability and is nominated by her principal and coach.

Saydie was among the top students in her class at New Palestine High School, where she demonstrated a strong commitment to academic excellence. She was an active member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, and Science Honor Society. Beyond the classroom, Saydie is dedicated to serving her community through volunteer work with Cross of Grace Church, the Winter Community Outreach Program, and the Spring Awareness Program.  

A talented athlete, Saydie played an integral role in helping the Dragons reach the state championship game two of the last three years. In recognition of her outstanding performance this season, she earned All-Conference honors.

Saydie is the daughter of Doug and Denise Miller. She plans to attend Lindenwood University this fall, where she will pursue a degree in Sports Psychology.

Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance presented a $1,000 scholarship to the general scholarship fund at New Palestine High School in the name of Saydie Miller.

IHSAA’s Champion of Education Award, presented by Ivy Tech Community College

This award recognizes teachers and faculty who go above and beyond to challenge students to reach their full potential. As an organization that emphasizes keeping education at the forefront of high school athletics, the IHSAA is proud to shine a light on two honorees in this year’s class. On behalf of Ivy Tech Community College, presenting sponsors of the IHSAA Champion of Education Award, the IHSAA will award $250 to the classroom of each recipient.

Educators recognized from each school include:

New Palestine – Kyle Ralph – 16 years in Physical Education, Head Football Coach
Hanover Central – Mark Magurany – 7 years in English, Creative Writing, National Honor Society Sponsor