2004 SOFTBALL CHAMPS CROWNED

For the first time, four champions earned titles in the IHSAA Girls Softball Tournament, as the event moved to four classes for championship play at the Cherry Tree Softball Complex in Carmel on Saturday, June 12, 2004.

Following a two-hour delay due to heavy rains throughout the area, Indianapolis Lutheran (30-1) and Union (Dugger) (19-5) locked up in a three-hour, ten-minute, fifteen-inning marathon, a Class A record, with Lutheran emerging victorious when Melissa Ballard (12) and Becky Settle (12) reached on throwing errors, with Tara Long (12) singling to left field to drive in Ballard with the winning run.

Lutheran’s Nikki Naffziger (12), who had a perfect game going through 6 1/3 innings, set a Class A championship game record with 24 strikeouts and finished the season at 25-0. She also captured the Mental Attitude Award.

The Class 2A championship was also a classic, with Hanover Central (25-7) shoving across a run in the bottom of the fifth to sneak by Clarksville (20-9), 1-0.

Rachel Williams (11) opened the fifth inning with a single and eventually came around to score on an error to provide the winning margin.

Amanda Wendlinger (11) pitched a perfect game for the Wildcats, only the second in state finals history.

Heather Haskin of Indianapolis Scecina was presented the Mental Attitude Award.

In Class 3A, New Palestine (29-4) defeated West Lafayette (26-7), 5-1. The Dragons scored three runs in the fourth and added two more in the fifth while allowing the Red Devils only two hits, a Class 3A record for the fewest hits allowed in a complete championship contest.

New Palestine’s Katie Armour (11) struck out 11, to run her record to 16-0.

Erin Braun of Bellmont was honored with the Mental Attitude Award.

The Class 4A matchup was also an extra-inning thriller, as Center Grove (34-2) and Lake Central (29-3) met for the state title for the third consecutive year and battled through 12 innings, before the northern representatives from Lake Central picked up a 4-1 victory, thanks to a walk-off three-run homer by Alyssa Duncan (10).

Prior to that, Lake Central’s Bethany Toyias (12) and Center Grove’s Darcy Wood (12) had been locked in a pitcher’s duel. Toyis ended up striking out seven, while Wood struck out 22, giving her a two-day total of 40 in 19 innings, including the Friday night 2-0 effort against Martinsville.

Kathleen Jones (12) of Center Grave was the Mental Attitude Award winner.