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Northfield’s Addi Baker slammed two home runs, including a decisive two-run shot in the top of the seventh to lift the Norse to a 3-1 win over Clay City in the Class A state championship game played at Center Grove in Greenwood.

Baker, who had three hits in the contest, tied the game with a solo homer on the first pitch of the sixth inning, then came up with one on and two out in the top of the seventh and sent a shot that banged off the Russ Milligan Field scoreboard.

The win gives Northfield, of coach Brandon Baker, its first state title in softball and marked the end of a road where the Norse (20-9) beat the top-four ranked teams in the state, along with Nos. 7 and 11 during the successful tournament run. The team also collected its very first sectional championship two weeks ago.

Baker’s heroics supported a complete-game effort by pitcher Abigail Hunter, who picked up her 17th win of the season by holding Clay City to four hits. The Eels (22-7) had scored 52 runs combined in its previous five tournament games.

The Eels of coach Justin Sinders got a double by Sophia Moshos and an RBI from Elyssa Secrest.

Northfield’s Addison Baker wins Class A Mental Attitude Award
Members of the IHSAA Executive Committee announced Addison Baker of Northfield Junior Senior High School as the winner of this year’s Mental Attitude Award in Class A Softball.

The award is annually presented to a senior participant in the state finals who best demonstrates mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability and is nominated by her principal and coach. Baker is a member of the National Honor Society at Northfield, serves as a peer leader on the school’s mental health awareness team, and also helps as a school aid.

She was honored with the Three Rivers Conference Distinguished Award, is an academic all-conference selection and is a multiple sport athlete earning four varsity letters each in volleyball, basketball and softball.

Baker is the first Northfield girl to receive an IHSAA mental attitude award. Other previous recipients from the school include Hunter Wells in 2012 and Ryan Keaffaber in 2013, both in Class 2A baseball.

Addison is the daughter of Brandon and Jenny Baker of North Manchester, IN and will attend Southern Illinois University to play softball. She is undecided on her area of study.

Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance presented a $1,000 scholarship to Northfield Junior Senior High School in the name of Addison Baker.