SHELBYVILLE — Columbus North softball trailed East Central after one inning Friday night, but the Bull Dogs weren’t intimated at all.
The Bull Dogs shut out East Central from that point forward, putting up six unanswered runs to repeat as the sectional champions with a 6-1 victory in the Shelbyville Sectional final.
North moves on to face Center Grove in the regional final on Tuesday at Center Grove.
Before making the trip to Shelbyville on Friday, North coach Ron McDonald held a short hitting practice at Southside Elementary, and it paid off.
“We never felt like the whole time we were playing from behind, even when we were tied. I thought we could pull it out,” McDonald said. “We knew Maddi (Rutan) was going to hold them for the rest of the game. Rachel Cowan hit the ball great, so I decided to DP (designated player) her. Bailey (King) was hitting good. All our girls were hitting good.”
The Trojans got on the board first when Jessie Kincer reached first with a single and then an error brought her to second. She advanced on a grounder and then scored on a wild pitch for a 1-0 lead.
North (24-4) tied the game in the bottom of the third when Rutan struck out on a wild pitch and advanced to first. Kayden Hofelich courtesy ran for Rutan and advanced to second on a wild pitch. A King RBI-single tied the game at 1-1.
The Bull Dogs had a great chance to take the lead when the bases were loaded in the fourth, but a pop fly to center ended North’s chance at adding more runs.
The Bull Dogs broke through in the fifth when Rachel Cowan hit a single up the middle. King then drove in the run with a double to the center field fence. Kelsey Lovelace then delivered a single to drive in King. Kaylee Cowan then scored Lovelace on a grounder for a 4-1 lead.
North added two more runs when King doubled to center in the bottom of the sixth.
“I was really upset in my first bat because I struck out, but I came in there knowing my team needed me to move runners, and that’s what I did,” King said. “It’s super-exciting (to win sectional) since I didn’t get my season last year, so this is like my makeup. It was really cool to do that my first year of playing high school.”
Rutan earned the win in the circle, pitching a complete game and striking out 13 batters.
“It was crazy. The adrenaline before the game, I’m going to admit I was nervous before the game,” Rutan said. My heart was pounding out my chest, and I knew it was a big game. I knew I had to do it for my team, not only for myself, but for my team … it’s amazing (being sectional champs). I couldn’t do it without my teammates. I give it all to my team and coaches. I’m super-happy.”
