John Groth
Sports Editor
Paper of Montgomery County



LIZTON - No way Brian Norris expected this kind of offensive onslaught.

With three varsity senior starters gone for Spring Break this week, the Crawfordsville High School softball coach hoped to escape with a Sagamore Athletic Conference road win.

They like those close games with conference foe Tri-West.

But in the final inning of Tuesday afternoon's game, the Athenians shook up the Bruins with a scoring blitz.

Visiting Crawfordsville scored 11 runs in the top of the seventh inning and blew open a tight game in a 15-2 victory over conference rival Tri-West.

"I would've been happy with (a) 4-1 or 5-1 (victory)," Norris said. "We left so many runners on base in the first two or three innings, I wasn't sure what was going to happen."

Crawfordsville (5-0, 3-0 SAC) opened conference road play with a bang.

Despite being without three senior starters - Haley Fink, Hannah Fink and Alex Brock - the Athenians racked up 18 total hits, six extra-base hits and five stolen bases.

And they're replacements proved to be just fine.

Sophomore Sandy Williams went 2-for-5, recording both her hits in the final inning.

She hit a two-RBI double that put the Athenians up 8-1 and added an RBI single later in the inning which scored their last run.

Sophomore Haley Grundy went 1-for-3 but reached base three times.

She walked in the second inning, hit a double in the sixth inning and reached on an error in the seventh. She also stole a base and scored a run.

Sophomore Kylie Justus went 1-for-5, hitting an infield single in that run-filled seventh inning.

"In their first varsity games, that was huge," Norris said. "I was hoping they'd come up with some quality hits in the batting order. They came through, hit the ball and put it in play."

Crawfordsville did most of its damage in the final inning - sending 17 batters to the plate, recorded 11 hits and scored 11 runs in the top of the inning, sending Tri-West and senior standout pitcher Lacie Woodall into a tailspin.

Woodall took the loss, striking out nine batters (six in the first three innings) and walking four. She had trouble with control problems, missing way outside with balls - especially in the seventh inning.

She allowed 10 runs in the seventh inning and couldn't produce an out before being replaced by sophomore Ashley Myers.

Crawfordsville senior Sarah Williams connected on a single to right field to start the seventh inning, then hit a three-RBI triple later in the inning. She finished 2-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored, acknowledging they picked up on Woodall's speed.

"We got onto (Lacie's) speed and started to just hit off her," Sarah Williams said. "At the beginning, we didn't hit off her because we're not used to faster pitchers."

The game also marked the first time both Williams sisters have played on the field at the same time, with Sarah Williams in center field and Sandy Williams at second base.

Sarah would even give Sandy some advice on where to position herself during the game.

"(Sandy) filled in at second base like she's always wanted," Sarah Williams said. "Coach (Norris) gave her a chance. I though she did pretty well."

Juniors Elizabeth Zachary and Stormy Staton also had their third-straight strong games.

Zachary went 3-for-5 with two doubles, including a two-RBI double in the top of the third. Staton pitched all seven innings and earned the win, striking out seven and walking only one batter.

Crawfordsville will face Tri-West in a 5 p.m. home game Thursday, then play Greencastle on Friday and Fountain Central on Saturday.

That's why Norris said this game was so key to their week.

"The girls will be more relaxed," he said. "That's for us this week since we have three more games. It's good for them to get their feet wet and good to get a win and get their feet wet."