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Center Grove (33-3) scored the only runs it would need in the third inning and claimed its record fifth state championship with a 2-0 victory over Harrison (West Lafayette) in the Class 4A final game at Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis.

It was the third state title of the school year and 10th overall for Center Grove building on its boys tennis and Class 5A football championships won last fall. The Trojans won previous softball titles in 1986, 1995, 1998 (3A) and 2003 (3A). Eighteenth-year head coach Russ Milligan was the leader for the most recent four.

Sydney Miller’s double to left field in the bottom of the third scored Sarah Alberico from third base for the Trojans’ first run. Alberico had doubled to lead off the third inning and moved to third base on a wild pitch. Shelby Miller pinch ran for Sydney and one out later scored Center Grove’s second run on Emily Gwaltney’s single to right. Alberico and Katherine Belsite both went 2-for-3 in the game.

Unranked Harrison (25-8), which was playing in its first state finals tournament in 20 years, threatened to open the scoring in the second inning but stranded runners at second and third. Morgan Stephens picked up Harrison’s lone base hit in the fourth inning lining a single down the left field line. Abby Willis, in her fifth season, coached the Raiders.

Sarah Franklin (15-2) gave up one hit over five innings in the circle for Center Grove before giving way to Gwaltney who fanned five of the seven batters she faced.

It was the ninth championship game appearance for fourth-ranked Center Grove, which bested unranked Lowell, 2-1, in eight innings in Friday’s semifinals. Harrison took down Floyd Central, 5-1, in the other Friday game to earn its spot in its first state championship contest.

BRITTANY MILLS OF FLOYD CENTRAL NAMED MENTAL ATTITUDE AWARD WINNER
Brittany Mills of Floyd Central High School was recognized by members of the IHSAA Executive Committee as this year’s recipient of the Mental Attitude Award in Class 4A softball.

Mills is the valedictorian of her senior class, carried a 4.00 GPA, and scored an impressive 2000 on her SAT.  She is a member of the National Honor Society, S.T.A.N.D Club, Interact Club, and Spanish Club treasurer.  Brittany is a National Achievement Finalist, recipient of the Prominence Scholarship, and the Presidential Scholarship Award.  She also spends her time volunteering with New Albany Housing Authority and Goodwill.

Brittany has excelled athletically in the sport of softball.  In 2009 Mills was named to the Academic All-State first team, I.C.G.S.A All-District, and second-year All-Conference.

In the fall, Brittany plans to attend Ohio State University where she will study Economics.

She is the daughter of Houston Mills.

Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, the corporate partner of the IHSAA, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Floyd Central High School in the name of Brittany Mills.