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With the game time temperature soaring to 95 degrees, the Lebanon Tigers powered on to their first softball state championship by defeating Kankakee Valley 2-1 on Saturday afternoon at Ben Davis High School. The Tigers capped a banner season, finishing at 27-1.

Lebanon got hot in the second inning, scoring two runs on three hits. Senior Laura Patterson reached first by singling to left, and advanced to second on a passed ball. A single to shallow center from freshman Payten Redman pushed Patterson to third. Two batters later, senior Brook Beltran smacked a single to right, scoring Patterson and Redman.

The explosive inning would sustain the Tigers until the top of the fourth, when Kankakee Valley would strike. KV junior McKenzie Adams laid down a bunt to reach first, and later turned on the speed to steal second. Sophomore Emma Maple singled up the middle to knock in Adams, scoring the Kougars lone run.

Lebanon rode the pitching performance of senior Jessica Weaver, who tossed four strikeouts and surrendered as many hits in 25 batters faced. Maple worked six innings for the Kougars, giving up six hits and striking out four.

Lebanon and second year skipper Shane Britt finish the season as 3A champs, while Brian Flynn and Kankakee Valley close the 2016 campaign at 29-6.

Laura Patterson of Lebanon Wins Class 3A Mental Attitude Award 
Members of the IHSAA Executive Committee announced Laura Patterson of Lebanon High School as the winner of this year’s Mental Attitude Award in Class 3A Softball.

The Academic All-State honoree is stellar on the diamond and in the classroom. Patterson ranks third in her senior class and carries an unweighted GPA of 3.96. The three-time letterwinner helped the Tigers to three conference championships, sectional and regional championships in 2014 and 2016, and is a key cog in this year's state finals team.

Patterson is a member of the National Honor Society, Key Club, Academic Team, Computer Programming Club, and is editor of the school newspaper, The Pennant. She is an AP Scholar with Distinction and a 2016 Eli Lilly Foundations Scholarship Finalist. The homecoming queen received the Presidents Award for outstanding academic excellence from 2013 to 2016, and is also active in her community. She volunteers with the Lebanon Boys and Girls Club, Disciples of Christ Church, and Central Christian Church Youth Club.

The daughter of Anne and Tony Patterson of Lebanon, Laura will attend the University of Notre Dame and study Pre-Med and Biochemistry.

Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance presented a $1,000 scholarship to Lebanon High School in the name of Laura Patterson.