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Haley West doubled with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning and scored on an error to provide the only run in South Bend St. Joseph’s 1-0 win over Tri-West in a marathon Class 3A state championship game.

In a classic pitcher’s duel played on a damp evening, West’s hit was the first and, as it turned out, only hit of the game off Tri-West pitcher Audrey Lowry. She took the tough-luck loss despite striking out a whopping 22 St. Joe batters.

With one out in the ninth, West sent a shot over the left-fielder’s head and sprinted into second base. The next hitter, Berkely Zache, sent a sharp grounder toward second base that got through the fielder into right field. West sprinted home to give St. Joe its first softball state title in its second appearance (2018).

While Lowry shined in the circle for coach Mike Miller’s Bruins, Zache also had a fine game. She struck out 20 T-W batters, while allowing five hits and walking none.

Fourth-ranked St. Joseph, coached by Earl Keith, finished 28-3.

Tri-West, which came in ranked No. 1 and seeking its second state title (2013), finished 29-2.

Tri-West’s McKenna Hagemier Named Mental Attitude Award Recipient
At the conclusion of the game, McKenna Hagemier of Tri-West Hendricks High School was named the recipient of the Mental Attitude Award for Class 3A 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.

Hagemier graduated with a 3.89 GPA finishing in the top 20 of her senior class and earned National Honor Society recognition.

The starting catcher, she is a four-year varsity softball player for the Bruins and was selected all-conference and honorable mention academic all-state. She also has played volleyball at Tri-West helping her team to a sectional championship last fall.

McKenna is the daughter of Brian and Kathy Hagemier of Danville, IN and will attend IUPUI to study physical therapy.

Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance presented a $1,000 scholarship to Tri-West Hendricks High School in the name of McKenna Hagemier.