Bloomington South, North softball fall to state-ranked teams in IHSAA sectional semifinals
Bloomington South and North kept their games close for a while before their state-ranked foes took over late in the semifinals of the Class 4A Center Grove softball sectional on Tuesday.
South pitcher Kinsey Clopton was locked in a duel with Riley Henson of No. 10 Center Grove, which took a 2-1 lead into the fifth.
That's when the Trojans (22-6) were able to tack on two more runs and the Panther bats could not generate a response as freshman Taylor Barrett came on in relief and struck out five in 1⅔ innings to close it out.
Both teams had four hits but South (13-8) had four errors to CG's none.
Clopton finished with 10 strikeouts, which interestingly enough tied Olivia White for most strikeouts in a season with 224, and one walk. Only two of CG's four runs were earned.
South's lone run came in the third when Brooke Koontz and Carly Reed singled to open the frame. Sloane Barrett moved them up a base on a groundout before Morgan Cockerill sent an RBI single into right. But a pop out ended the threat.
In the nightcap, it took a bit for No. 6 Mooresville's offense to get revved up, but starter Zoey Kugelman kept the Cougars in check after giving up a run in the top of the first.
With one out, Kaydence Silvers doubled to center and with two down, Kendyl Feutz came through with an RBI single to left.
More: IHSAA Baseball: What to watch at the Bloomington area sectionals
Feutz got the start in the circle for North and kept it a 2-1 game before the Pioneers (23-7) piled up 11 hits and took advantage of six Cougar errors to pull away and end it early with a four-run fourth and a five-run fifth. Cierra Cramer led the assault, going 3-for-3 while Reagan Bauer went 2-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored.
Center Grove and Mooresville will meet for the title on Thursday at 6 p.m.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Bloomington South, North softball fall to ranked teams in sectional
