Valley Softball Captures Hosted Softball Tourney

May 1, 2022 at 7:43 p.m.
Valley Softball Captures Hosted Softball Tourney
Valley Softball Captures Hosted Softball Tourney

By Chip Davenport-

AKRON – The Tippecanoe Valley Vikings hosted Fort Wayne Concordia, South Bend Riley and South Central (Porter County) in a softball tournament Saturday with the hosts hoisting championship hardware after everyone dusted the dirt off their uniforms in the late afternoon.

The Vikings, ranked 15th in the IHSAA Class 2A poll heading into the weekend, captured a 19-9 semifinal win over Riley, and a 3-2 nailbiter over South Central in the championship clash.

Each finalist only needed five innings to advance in their respective openers. South Central eliminated Concordia in five innings with a 17-0 shutout, and the hosts defeated Riley 19-8.

South Central and Valley were tied 1-1 entering the bottom of the fifth inning in the title round when the Vikings scored two runs in the frame to lead 3-1. South Central’s seventh-inning rally was cut to one run, moving closer to Valley 3-2 to wind up the contest’s scoring.

The runners-up held Valley slugger Molly Moriarty to a 0 for 4 performance at the plate, but the rest of the Vikings’ top of the order produced enough runs to eek out the late- afternoon victory.

Madi Smith, Corinna Stiles, and MacKaylie Costello each chipped in with one hit and one RBI apiece. Brittany Benn added a 2-3 performance at the plate for the Vikings.

Stiles belted a double and reached base on two more trips to the plate by earning walks in each additional at bat.

Macy Kirchenstien moved her record to 2-3 with a complete game win allowing 7 hits on one earned run while striking out three batters. South Central fell to 9-3 with the loss.

Tippecanoe Valley’s 19-8 first round win over Riley kept the scoreboard operator and statistician remarkably busy.

Valley exploded with 9 runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to end the game with two outs in the frame. The pesky Wildcats trailed 10-8 when the Vikings stepped to the plate to score 5 runs, moving ahead 15-8 before Moriarty’s grand slam ended the contest.

The junior infielder reached base in each of her five appearances at the plate. She added a double to her home run to go 2-2 along with three walks. Moriarty led the squad with 5 RBI.

Other notable offensive performances included efforts from Costello (3-4, 2 runs, 1 RBI), Stiles (2-4, 1 run, 3 RBI), Benn (2-4, 1 run, 1 RBI), Abby Bowers (1-3, 2 runs, 3 RBI), Mercedes Snapp (1-2, 2 runs, 2 RBI), and Olivia Wilson (0-1, 3 runs on 3 walks, 1 RBI).

Valley used 10 walks along with 11 hits to amass their offensive output.

Bowers moved to a 3-0 won-loss record going the distance on the mound for the tourney champions.

Tippecanoe Valley (12-5, 3-0 in conference) hosts Three Rivers Conference foes, North Miami and Whitko today, and Wednesday at 5 p.m., respectively.

AKRON – The Tippecanoe Valley Vikings hosted Fort Wayne Concordia, South Bend Riley and South Central (Porter County) in a softball tournament Saturday with the hosts hoisting championship hardware after everyone dusted the dirt off their uniforms in the late afternoon.

The Vikings, ranked 15th in the IHSAA Class 2A poll heading into the weekend, captured a 19-9 semifinal win over Riley, and a 3-2 nailbiter over South Central in the championship clash.

Each finalist only needed five innings to advance in their respective openers. South Central eliminated Concordia in five innings with a 17-0 shutout, and the hosts defeated Riley 19-8.

South Central and Valley were tied 1-1 entering the bottom of the fifth inning in the title round when the Vikings scored two runs in the frame to lead 3-1. South Central’s seventh-inning rally was cut to one run, moving closer to Valley 3-2 to wind up the contest’s scoring.

The runners-up held Valley slugger Molly Moriarty to a 0 for 4 performance at the plate, but the rest of the Vikings’ top of the order produced enough runs to eek out the late- afternoon victory.

Madi Smith, Corinna Stiles, and MacKaylie Costello each chipped in with one hit and one RBI apiece. Brittany Benn added a 2-3 performance at the plate for the Vikings.

Stiles belted a double and reached base on two more trips to the plate by earning walks in each additional at bat.

Macy Kirchenstien moved her record to 2-3 with a complete game win allowing 7 hits on one earned run while striking out three batters. South Central fell to 9-3 with the loss.

Tippecanoe Valley’s 19-8 first round win over Riley kept the scoreboard operator and statistician remarkably busy.

Valley exploded with 9 runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to end the game with two outs in the frame. The pesky Wildcats trailed 10-8 when the Vikings stepped to the plate to score 5 runs, moving ahead 15-8 before Moriarty’s grand slam ended the contest.

The junior infielder reached base in each of her five appearances at the plate. She added a double to her home run to go 2-2 along with three walks. Moriarty led the squad with 5 RBI.

Other notable offensive performances included efforts from Costello (3-4, 2 runs, 1 RBI), Stiles (2-4, 1 run, 3 RBI), Benn (2-4, 1 run, 1 RBI), Abby Bowers (1-3, 2 runs, 3 RBI), Mercedes Snapp (1-2, 2 runs, 2 RBI), and Olivia Wilson (0-1, 3 runs on 3 walks, 1 RBI).

Valley used 10 walks along with 11 hits to amass their offensive output.

Bowers moved to a 3-0 won-loss record going the distance on the mound for the tourney champions.

Tippecanoe Valley (12-5, 3-0 in conference) hosts Three Rivers Conference foes, North Miami and Whitko today, and Wednesday at 5 p.m., respectively.
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