Lady Viking season ends in Sectional championship game

North Posey junior Lilly Hester holds up on this pitch during the sectional championship loss to Evansville Memorial on the campus of the University of Evansville over the weekend. Photo by Dave Pearce

By Chris Morlan

On Memorial Day, the North Posey softball team began their postseason with the Indiana High School Athletic Association Class 3A, Sectional 32 played on the University of Evansville campus at the James and Dorothy Cooper Stadium.

The Lady Vikings’ first opponent was the Evansville Central Lady Bears. North Posey played a great game defeating Central by the final score of 10-2 to advance them to the semifinal round of the sectional. This win also improved the Lady Vikings record to 15-14.

In the top of the first inning, Lily Hester led off the game with a walk. Then Ayela Hoehn hit a single to leave two runners on base for North Posey. Next up was Paige Vaughn hitting a triple that scored Hester and Hoehn to give North Posey a 2-0 advantage. Taryn Wilson hit a sacrifice fly with Vaughn tagging up at third base, then scored a run to make the game 3-0.

North Posey scored two runs in the top of the second inning when Paige Vaughn hit a fielder’s choice scoring Hester to make the score 4-0. Ayela Hoehn scored the other run off a passed ball at home plate to give the Vikings a 5-0 lead.

Avery Sanders led off the top of the third inning with a single. Then a few batters later, Alli Esche hit a single that scored Sanders to make the score 6-0. Central got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring one run. After four innings of softball, North Posey then led 6-1.

Madison Versteeg led off the top of the fifth inning with a walk. Emmylou Pate came in the game as a courtesy runner for Versteeg at first base. Pate got around the bases on stolen bases and wild pitches. Alli Esche struck out but the catcher dropped the ball and threw it to first base. This allowed Pate to score a run to make the score 7-1.

The Lady Vikings scored three runs in the top of the sixth inning with Ayela Hoehn scoring a runoff a sacrifice fly by Taryn Wilson. Then Madison Versteeg hit a double scoring Paige Vaughn. The third run of the inning came from Avery Sanders hitting a single that helped Emmylou Pate get a run to make the score 10-1 that went on to be the final score.

Alli Esche was awarded the winning pitcher for North Posey throwing a complete game on only 70 pitches with 59 going for strikes. As a team, North Posey had seven hits on the ten runs scored in the game.

Madison Versteeg went two for three with a double, one run batted in and a walk. Avery Sanders went two for four with one RBI and a run scored. Paige Vaughn went one for two with a triple, three RBIs, two runs, and a walk. Ayela Hoehn, and Alli Esche each had one hit in this win.

OPENING ROUND

North Posey vs. Evansville Central (Monday, May 25)

– at University of Evansville (James and Dorothy Cooper Stadium), IN

\\WP – Alli Esche (NP); LP – Molly Shirley (EVCE).

North Posey Hitting: Lily Hester (0-for-3, 2 R, 2 BB, 1 SB); Ayela Hoehn (1-for-4, 3 R); Paige Vaughn (1-for-2, 2 R, 3 RBI, 1 BB); Taryn Wilson (0-for-1, 2 RBIs, 1 BB); Madison Versteeg (2-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 BB); Avery Sanders (2-for-4, 1 R, 1 RBI); Alyssa Sanders (0-for-2, 1 BB); Makenna Hoehn (0-for-1); Alli Esche (1-for-4, 2 RBIs); Kayla Lindenschmidt (0-for-3); Emmylou Pate (0-for-0, 2 SB); Savannah Lindenberg (0-for-1).

Doubles: Madison Versteeg (1); Triple: Paige Vaughn (1); Total Bases: Madison Versteeg (3), Paige Vaughn (3), Avery Sanders (2), Ayela Hoehn (1), Alli Esche (1); Hit-by-Pitch: Paige Vaughn (1); Error: Taryn Wilson (1).

North Posey Pitching: Alli Esche (7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K); Pitches-Strikes: Alli Esche 70-59; Batters Faced: Alli Esche (26).

Last Tuesday night, the Lady Vikings of North Posey competed in the sectional semifinal game number two against the Boonville Pioneers. Less than two weeks ago, these two schools played against each other at North Posey. Boonville easily defeated North Posey 8-2. In that game, North Posey as a team was held to three hits.

In this second meeting between the two schools, this contest ended differently. Boonville led for six and a half innings of this game. This matchup was a nailbiter that eventually went in the favor of North Posey escaping with a 11-8 victory. North Posey will advance to the sectional championship to play against Evansville Memorial who beat Mount Vernon 2-1 in the earlier game played.

Boonville jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. In the bottom of the first inning, Lily Hester led off the batting order for North Posey with a double. Ayela Hoehn walked, then Paige Vaughn reached base on a fielding error scoring Hester. Madsion Versteeg hit a double scoring Hoehn and Vaughn to tie this game at 3-3.

The Pioneers scored one run in the top of the second inning and two more runs in the top of the third inning to then lead 6-3. In the bottom of the third inning, Taryn Wilson led off with a solo home run over the fence in left field to make the score 6-4. Madison Versteeg and Avery Sanders each hit a single. Emmylou Pate came into the game as a courtesy runner for Versteeg. Then Alli Esche hit a double scoring Pate and Sanders tied the game at 6-6.

During the top of the fourth inning, Boonville scored a run to regain the lead at 7-6. The Pioneers scored one more run in the top of the fifth to extend their advantage to 8-6. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Taryn Wilson hit a single. Madison Versteeg stepped into the batter’s box and hit her second double of the game, scoring Wilson to make the score 8-7.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Alli Esche led off with a single. Savannah Lindenberg came in the game as a courtesy runner for Esche. Lily Hester hit a single moving Lindenberg to second base. Ayela Hoehn walked to load the bases. Paige Vaughn hit a single to right field that helped Lindenberg and Hester score to give North Posey their first lead of the game at 9-8. Madison Versteeg got her fourth hit of the game on a single scoring Hoehn and Vaughn to give North Posey an 11-8 lead.

In the top of the seventh inning, Boonville had one last chance to tie the game or take the lead. Great pitching from Alli Esche and the Lady Viking defense shut down Boonville for the last three outs to win by the final score of 11-8.

Alli Esche was the winning pitcher for North Posey, throwing the last 4.2 innings, allowing four hits, two runs, two walks, with five strikeouts. North Posey as a team had fourteen hits in the game off the eleven runs scored.

North Posey had five players get multiple hits in this win. Madison Versteeg went four for four with two doubles and five RBIs. Lily Hester went three for four with a double, two runs, and a stolen base. Taryn Wilson went two for four with a home run, one RBI and two runs. Alli Esche went two for three with a double and two RBIs. Avery Sanders went two for four with a run.

SEMIFINAL ROUND

Boonville vs. North Posey (Tuesday, May 25)

WP – Alli Esche (NP); LP – Naveah Wall (BOON).

North Posey Hitting: Lily Hester (3-for-4, 2 R, 1 SB); Ayela Hoehn (0-for-2, 2 R, 2 BB); Paige Vaughn (1-for-4, 2 R, 2 RBIs); Taryn Wilson (2-for-4, 2 R, 1 RBI); Madison Versteeg (4-for-4, 5 RBIs); Avery Sanders (2-for-4, 1 R); Makenna Hoehn (0-for-4); Alli Esche (2-for-3, 2 RBIs); Alyssa Sanders (0-for-3); 4, 2 RBIs).

Doubles: Madison Versteeg (2), Lily Hester (1), Alli Esche (1); Home Run: Taryn Wilson (1); Total Bases: Madison Versteeg (6), Taryn Wilson (5), Lily Hester (4), Alli Esche (3), Avery Sanders (2), Paige Vaughn (1)); Hit-by-Pitch: None; Caught Stealing Bases: Emmylou Pate (1), Savannah Lindenberg (1); Error: Alyssa Sanders (1), Kayla Lindenschmidt (1), Madison Versteeg (1), Makenna Hoehn (1).

North Posey Pitching: Avery Sanders (2.1 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 4 BB, 2 K); Alli Esche (4.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K); Pitches-Strikes: Avery Sanders 63-34, Alli Esche 75-52; Batters Faced: Avery Sanders (16), Alli Esche (20).

On Friday night was the sectional championship game between North Posey and Evansville Memorial. A huge fanbase showed to watch the Vikings play last Friday in this championship game.

Memorial scored three runs in the first inning and four runs in the top of the second inning to coast to a 11-1 win over North Posey. This game was called in the sixth inning due to the ten-run rule. The Lady Tigers will advance to the regional round of the state tournament to play against Gibson Southern.

The Lady Vikings scored their only run of the game in the bottom of the second inning when there were loaded bases and Kayla Lindenschmidt walked with this allowing Emmylou Pate to score. Memorial scored one run in the top of the third, two in the fourth, and one more run in the sixth inning to beat North Posey.

As a team, North Posey was held to three hits in the game. Paige Vaughn, Madison Versteeg, and Avery Sanders each had one hit in this game. Memorial had 13 hits on their 11 runs scored in this contest.

HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL: CLASS 3A (SECTIONAL 32)

CHAMPIONSHIP

Evansville Memorial vs. North Posey (Friday, May 29)

– at University of Evansville (James and Dorothy Cooper Stadium), IN

ME...3 4 1 2 0 1 …11 Runs, 13 Hits, 0 Errors

NP…0 1 0 0 0 0 …1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors

WP – Bri Canaan (MEM); LP – Alli Esche (NP).

North Posey Hitting: Lily Hester (0-for-3); Ayela Hoehn (0-for-3); Paige Vaughn (1-for-3); Taryn Wilson (0-for-3); Madison Versteeg (1-for-3); Makenna Hoehn (0-for-2); Avery Sanders (1-for-2); Alli Esche (0-for-0, 1 BB); Alyssa Sanders (0-for-1); Kayla Lindenschmidt (0-for-0, 1 RBI, 1 BB); Callie Deakins (0-for-1).

Total Bases: Madison Versteeg (1), Avery Sanders (1), Paige Vaughn (1); Hit-by-Pitch: None; Error: None.

North Posey Pitching: Alli Esche (1.1 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 0 BB, 0 K); Ayela Hoehn (1.2 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 1 K); Avery Sanders (3.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K); Pitches-Strikes: Alli Esche 22-18; Ayela Hoehn 44-21; Avery Sanders 49-25; Batters Faced: Alli Esche (10), Ayela Hoehn (11), Avery Sanders (16).