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The Crown Point Bulldogs held on in a close 4A Softball Championship bout to take home their school’s first title in the sport.
The Avon Orioles struck first, as they were hungry to repeat as 4A champs. The top of the first inning saw senior pitcher Haylie Foster double to center field, and she was soon brought home on an RBI single by classmate Paige Eichelberger. However, the senior first baseman was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a double, which put an end to the inning and further damage.
Undeterred by Avon’s fast start, the Bulldogs’ offense was not to be outdone by their counterparts. A pair of singles and steals by senior shortstop MacKenzie Dunlap and sophomore first baseman Gracie Frazier quickly gave Crown Point two runners in scoring position. Sophomore outfielder Mallory McMahon came through for the Bulldogs by knocking a one out, two run double to left field to put her team ahead by one.
Despite the offensive output of the first inning, the rest of the game became a defensive duel. With both pitchers locked in, the 4A title game was the first of the day where neither team committed an error. Avon’s Foster did not give up another hit after the first inning, and Crown Point’s Alexis Holloway struck out six batters over seven complete innings.
The one run edge that the Bulldogs gained in the first inning proved to be the deciding factor, though, in a well-played, hard fought game. Crown Point, coached by Pete Iussig, capped an impressive State Championship run with a record of 30-2. The Avon Orioles, coached by Jennifer Jones, ended their season with a 23-9 mark.
Alexis Holloway of Crown Point Wins Class 4A Mental Attitude Award
Members of the IHSAA Executive Committee announced Alexis Holloway of Crown Point High School as the winner of this year’s Mental Attitude Award in Class 4A Softball.
A finalist for Miss Softball, Alexis was selected to 1st Team All-Conference and 1st Team All-State for multiple years. She was recognized as Times Athlete of the Week. She is ranked the number two player of the 2017 class by Full Count Softball, ranked number one her freshman year. Alexis also holds the distinction of being named 2017 Gatorade Player of the Year.
Beyond the diamond field, Alexis hits it out of the ball park with her leadership and volunteering to her school and community. In high school, she was involved in the Athletic Council, National Honor Society, and Habitat for Humanity. She has volunteered at Crown Point softball clinics, Bandits Youth softball clinics, and tutored fourth grade students in math.
Alexis graduates with an impressive 3.97 GPA and was awarded Summa Cum Laude and All “A” Honor Roll at Crown Point.
Alexis is the daughter of Seth and Cheryl Holloway of Crown Point, Indiana. She plans to study Aerospace Engineering at the University of Notre Dame.
Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance presented a $1,000 scholarship to Crown Point High School in the name of Alexis Holloway.