NEW ALBANY — In most championship games, the experienced team usually has an advantage over the inexperienced one and ends up going home with the trophy.
But that was not the case for the Floyd Central softball team Thursday evening at Prosser Field.
Jennings County, which has only two seniors and one junior on its roster, ended the Highlanders’ two-year reign as sectional champions, winning 5-2 in the Class 4A New Albany Sectional final.
Most people would be surprised to see a youthful team like the Panthers (17-13) take home a sectional crown. But not Floyd head coach Joe Witten, who tipped his hat to Jennings coach Jerry Burton afterwards.
“Jerry’s just a good coach. He’s a master out there,” Witten said. “He’s got players that believe in his system and want him as a coach.”
The inning that killed the Highlanders’ chances was the bottom of the second inning. The Panthers scored four runs on five hits and took advantage of three Floyd errors. For the game, the Highlanders (16-7), who entered the game with a fielding percentage of 94 percent, committed four errors.
Trailing 2-1 in the second, Jennings tied the score thanks to two errors on one sequence. With runners at first and third base and nobody out, Highlander catcher Katie Phillips tried to throw the ball to first baseman Libby Wright to stop the Panthers’ Blakli Nading from stealing second.
But the ball sailed over Wright’s head into right field, allowing courtesy runner Summer Sanders to score from third and Nading to go to third. Floyd right fielder Jordyn Clark then attempted to throw out Nading at home plate, but the ball went over Phillips’ head.
Later in the frame, Jenny Royse collected a two-RBI single off Highlander starting pitcher Rena Philpot to put Jennings up 5-2. That was the last batter Philpot faced, as she yielded five runs (none earned) on six hits with four strikeouts and a walk.
“They’ve made 94 percent of the plays all year,” Witten said about his team’s defense. “But when you put the bat on the ball and there is a lot on the line, things can happen. It wasn’t just (Philpot). They were swinging at the first pitch, and they made adjustments early in the count.”
Floyd had no answer for Panther pitcher Leah Kemmerer. In a complete-game effort, the freshman allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits, striking out eight and walking one.
The effort was similar to Kemmerer’s outing against Floyd in the Hoosier Hills Conference Tournament semifinals on May 9. She threw a two-hitter in that game as well, as Jennings won 4-1.
“She throws hard and she keeps us off-balance,” Witten said. “She proved she’s an all-conference player.”
The Highlanders’ two runs came in the first inning. Wright hit a one-out triple to right to knock in Cherrod Gwaltney. Wright then scored on a throwing error. Gwaltney had Floyd’s other hit, a two-out single in the fifth.
The Highlanders’ Randa Harbison relieved Philpot in the third. In four innings, Harbison allowed no runs on no hits with two strikeouts and two walks.
It was a disappointing conclusion to the careers of eight Floyd seniors. Despite seeing their careers wind down, Witten told the group they should be proud of what they accomplished in their four years at Floyd.
“I told them they have nothing to be ashamed of. It just wasn’t our turn,” Witten said.
CLASS 4A NEW ALBANY SECTIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIP
FLOYD CENTRAL 200 000 0—2 2 4
JENNINGS COUNTY 140 000 x—5 6 4
W — Kemmerer (8-9). L — Philpot (10-3). 2B — Royse (J). 3B — Wright (F).
Records — Floyd Central 16-7, Jennings County 17-13.
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