Walkoff win keeps Shelbyville softball in HHC title contention

Shelbyville softball fell behind 5-0 early and trailed 9-8 going to the bottom of the seventh but rallied for 10-9 win over Mt. Vernon Tuesday to stay in contention for the Hoosier Heritage Conference championship.

After the Marauders (3-11, 2-4 HHC) scored twice in the top of the seventh inning, Shelbyville responded with consecutive doubles from Addie Stieneker, Anna Shearer and Destiney Johnson to walk off with the victory.

Stieneker had two home runs and drove in five. Her first home run in the third inning cut the Mt. Vernon lead to 5-2. Her three-run home run in the fourth, her ninth home run of the season, extended Shelbyville’s lead to 8-5.

Gracie Crafton started for Shelbyville but allowed six hits, including three home runs, and five runs in 2.1 innings.

Sydney Brown closed out the game to earn the win, allowing six hits and one walk while striking out three. She surrendered four runs, only two were earned.

Mt. Vernon’s Emma Jenkins hit an inside-the-park home run in the first inning and cleared the fence in the third. The junior catcher drove in four runs.

Amelia Anderson had three hits and scored three runs. Breanna Laffey had four hits and drove in the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh with a flair down the left-field line.

Shelbyville travels to HHC leader Yorktown (10-2, 4-0 HHC) Wednesday to face the Class 3A, No. 5 Tigers.

Yorktown already holds a win over 3A, No. 1 New Palestine (14-1, 2-1 HHC). The Dragons handed the Golden Bears (14-7, 4-1 HHC) their only conference loss of the season.

Shelbyville’s final HHC game is May 19 at Greenfield-Central (7-5, 2-1 HHC).

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