Harrison softball advances to sectional title game against Logansport
KOKOMO — Harrison senior pitcher Rylan Gick had confidence in her defense while repeatedly pounding the strike zone against McCutcheon during the IHSAA Class 4A sectional at Kokomo Softball Stadium.
Gick spun the ball with excellence while stellar grabs were made across the diamond and to the near behest of McCutcheon leadoff hitter Mallorie Beutel.
Beutel lined two would-be hits — only to be snagged 20 feet down the line in right field by first baseman Chelsea Parker in the first inning, followed by a deep line drive into center that was chased down by junior Hannah Voll who caught the ball as it trailed diagonally over her right shoulder.
Gick threw a seven-inning shutout while sophomore Ashley Dunk lined a 2-run triple to right field in the first to lead Harrison past McCutcheon, 3-0, and on to a 4A sectional championship game on Thursday against Logansport.
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"We just had Rylan's back," Parker said. "She's been pitching really well so when they put a ball in play, we just go out there and get it."
McCutcheon's opportunity to rally came in the seventh inning when pitcher Kaidynn Peckinpaugh hit a line drive into left field near the foul line. Peckinpaugh's shot was ruled foul with umpires seeing the ball fade inches left of the foul line.
Replay and camera angles showed Peckinpaugh's line drive dropped into fair territory.
"There were a couple of times where the momentum and a call could've gone our way but they didn't and the momentum got to them," McCutcheon coach Kelsey Wides said. "I think that was what happened when they scored those two runs in that first inning. It's obviously not how we want our game to start, had a few hard hits right to people and if those were a little bit off, that could change the trajectory of the game as well."
Harrison (19-4), with Gick's arm and timely hits, was able to outlast a much improved McCutcheon (14-11) squad that returns eight seniors led by Beutel and Peckinpaugh returning for her junior year.
"I think our program projected out over the next year or two with being such a young group that has started together a long time and has started together this year and last year," Wides said.
Gick never found herself in trouble and tossed 10 strikeouts with one walk. With a lineup full of future Division I starters like Parker (DePaul) and Ava Mobley (Bradley) and Division II starters like Gick (Purdue Northwest), the Raiders are shining their bats and waxing their gloves for another deep state playoff run.
Lafayette Jeff touts future
Lafayette Jeff fell in the sectional semifinals to Logansport, 9-3, but the Bronchos are another young program whose outcome could be much different in 2025.
Sophomore catcher Rilee Clifton emerged as one of the area's top catchers in the Lafayette area alongside freshman shortstop and leadoff hitter Cambria Marcus.
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Clifton led the team with a .441 average and six home runs while Marcus brought stability to an infield defense that has shown marked improvement.
"Clifton has the potential to become the greatest catcher I've ever coached," Lafayette Jeff skipper Brian Knipp said. "We're starting to introduce small ball concepts that will become part of the team culture next year."
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: IHSAA Class 4A Softball Sectional: Harrison advances to title game
