Holy Cross was able to end a five-year regional softball All “A” title drought on Tuesday with a 5-3 victory over Dayton at Villa Madonna.
Both teams put up three spots on the board in the first three innings.
It came down to which team scratched out runs after that to win the game. Holy Cross did it putting across one run in each of the fourth and fifth innings to down Dayton.
This is the third All “A” region crown for Holy Cross. The other ones came in 2008 and 2019 while Dayton is still searching for the first one in school history.
“The girls were just great about keeping their heads in the game,” Holy Cross head coach Courtney Turner said. “They weren’t worried about missing plays. They were worried about making the next play. That’s something we work on all year long and they were able to come through and get a hit when we needed it.”
Holy Cross pitcher Evie Thomas threw darts, striking out 11 including eight in the final four innings. The Devils damage was three unearned runs in the top of the third inning. Thomas was later named tournament MVP.
“(It was a matter of) just trying to stay out of my head and not worrying about everyone cheering because it was getting to me a bit,” Thomas said. “When (opponents) are chasing balls, it helps me. I’m really excited we’re getting to (go to state).”
The Indians outhit the Devils, 7-6. Zoey Baker led Holy Cross going 2-for-2 with a double and two walks. Kayla Fledderman had a two-run triple and Paige Lachmann added two runs batted in.
Dayton did not have any extra-base hits. McKenzie Sullivan led the Devils going 2-for-3 and scoring one run.
Angie Thomas-Perez took the loss for Dayton in the complete game. She struck out three, walked six and allowed five earned runs.
Both teams committed four errors.
Holy Cross struck first in the bottom of the second when Madison Urlage and Jordyn Reiselman led off with walks and Fledderman tripled them in. Fledderman then scored when Lachmann grounded out to give Holy Cross a 3-0 lead.
Dayton came back in the top of the third to tie the game. Emily Hall singled and stole second before Zoe Sparks walked. Three runs came across thanks to three Holy Cross errors as Hall, Sparks and Sullivan scored. Thomas worked her way out of a jam from there.
“It was a coaching choice to pull in our outfield and that’s what led to those three runs,” Dayton head coach Beth Fields said. “It was a bit on us putting the kids in a hole, but as far as coming back, then putting runners in scoring position and not coming through with big hit, we were a little slow with the bats. Kudos to (Thomas). Those are things we need to improve on and will.”
JoAnn Faulhaber singled in the bottom of the fourth and moved to third with two out when Baker singled and Suzette Klaiss singled her in to put Holy Cross up 4-3.
“(Thomas-Perez) mixed up her speed and the ball dropped a lot,” Baker said. “We had to move up in the box and time her better.”
The Indians added some insurance in the fifth. Urlage singled, moved to second on a ground out, then took third on a Dayton throwing error and scored when Lachmann singled.
Dayton’s last gasp came in the seventh when Sparks reached to lead off the seventh, but was caught stealing second. That play loomed large after Sullivan singled.
“Our defense was huge,” Turner said. “We were ready for them. They like to run. We knew where to throw the ball. We needed to be prepared to get the ball to that base and get that out.”
Holy Cross will head to Owensboro for the All “A” State Tournament on April 27. The Indians open pool play at 11 a.m. against 3rd Region winner Hancock County.
Holy Cross (5-3) returns to regular season action at home against Bishop Brossart at 5 p.m. on Wednesday.
Dayton (2-1) travels to Ludlow on Wednesday for a 5 p.m. game.
INDIANS 5, DEVILS 3
DAYTON — 003-000-0 — 3-6-4
HOLY CROSS — 030-110-X — 5-7-4
2B — (HC) Baker. 3B — (HC) Fledderman
WP — Thomas (4-3). LP — Thomas-Perez (2-1)
Records: Holy Cross 5-3, Dayton 2-1
All-Tournament Team: Holy Cross — Evie Thomas (MVP), Zoey Baker, Suzette Klaiss; Dayton — Zoe Sparks, McKenzie Sullivan; Beechwood — Kaitlynn Murphy; Bellevue — Paulina Long; Ludlow — Evie Orsua; Newport — Lexi Rice; Newport Central Catholic — Cecily Seiter; St. Henry — Hazel Hunt; Villa Madonna — Emma Adkins.
