GREENFIELD — The path to Purdue marches on for three Hancock County softball teams, but the road doesn’t get any easier from here.
Eastern Hancock, Mt. Vernon and New Palestine all secured sectional titles last week, with only one — Mt. Vernon — having to go through a ranked foe in the sectional championship game to get there.
Now, all three teams have a ranked matchup awaiting tonight. The Dragons, after cruising through their own sectional and outscoring their opponents 43-2, travel to Northview to take on the Class 3A No. 6 Knights.
The Marauders, who outlasted No. 4 Pendleton Heights in nine innings, 2-1, will travel to Cathedral to take on the Fighting Irish, who are ranked No. 14 in the most recent 4A poll.
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The Royals, who won their third sectional title in the past four years, are the lone county team to host a regional. They will take on Union County, a team that bested them, 7-5, on May 11. The Patriots are ranked No. 6 in Class 2A.
Tonight’s winners will punch their tickets to Saturday’s semistate semifinals. New Palestine is looking for its third straight regional title on their way to what they hope is a third straight state championship. The Royals last won a regional in 2016, when they advanced to the final four, while the Marauders haven’t won a regional title since 2002.
For a closer look at all three regional matchups, jump inside to Page BX.
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(Note: Run, hits are per game averages)
;No. 1 New Palestine;No. 6 Northview
Record;25-3;21-6
Batting avg.;.406;.391
Runs;9.8;7.8
Hits;11.6;11.1
HR;56;22
Team ERA;1.83;2.98
Strikeouts;197;166
How they got here
New Palestine
Sectional first round: Beat Beech Grove, 21-1
Sectional semifinal: Beat Connersville 11-0
Sectional final: Beat Indian Creek 11-0
Northview
Sectional semifinal: Beat No. 2 Brown County 3-0
Sectional final: Beat West Vigo 6-2
Players to watch in the regional include:
New Palestine
Emily O’Connor .564 avg., 16 HR, 44 RBIs
Jaylin Calvert .505 avg., 14 HR, 44 RBIs
Michaela Jones .469 avg., 10 HR, 38 RBIs
Northview
Ellie Jackman .494 avg., 6 HR, 35 RBIs
Ellie Carter .432 avg., 9 HR, 43 RBIs
Halle Ellis 2.18 ERA, 15-2 record, 105 Ks
;Mt. Vernon;Cathedral
Record;23-3;21-7
Batting avg.;.339;.377
Runs;7.9;9.5
Hits;9.4;10.5
HR;20;30
Team ERA;2.46;2.56
Strikeouts;179;129
How they got here
Mt. Vernon
Sectional first round: Beat Muncie Central 16-0
Sectional semifinal: Beat Greenfield-Central 6-4
Sectional final: Beat No. 4 Pendleton Heights 2-1
Cathedral
Sectional semifinal: Beat Lawrence Central 9-7
Sectional final: Beat Warren Central 9-2
Players to watch in the regional include:
Mt. Vernon
Karlee Franklin 1.84 ERA, 18-2 record, 124 Ks
Sydnee Perry .407 avg., 4 HR, 37 RBIs
Haley Kissee .404, 4 HR, 22 RBIs
Cathedral
Grace Lorsung .610 avg., 12 HR, 59 RBIs
Emily Timberman .465 avg., 8 HR, 37 RBIs
Mia Dittoe .400 avg., 1 HR, 25 RBIs
;Eastern Hancock;Union County
Record;18-6-1;21-3
Batting avg.;.374;.397
Runs;8.6;10.0
Hits;10.9;11.6
HR;7;25
Team ERA;2.20;2.49
Strikeouts;166;141
How they got here
Eastern Hancock
Sectional first round: Beat Heritage Christian 3-0
Sectional semifinal: Beat Knighstown 13-2
Sectional final: Beat Triton Central 8-2
Union County
Sectional semifinal: Beat Centerville 11-3
Sectional final: Beat Winchester Community 12-8
Players to watch in the regional include:
Eastern Hancock
Caroline Stapleton .578 avg., 11 3B, 30 RBIs
Paige Wickard .398 avg., 24 RBIs
Maddie Turner 2.91 ERA, 9-1 record, 77 Ks
Union County
Fayth Hill 1.89 ERA, 17-0 record, 112 Ks
Sophia Knock .579 avg., 6 HR, 44 RBIs
Tara Williams .562 avg., 8 HR, 41 RBIs
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What: Class 3A Regional Championship
Who: No. 1 New Palestine Dragons at No. 6 Northview Knights
Where: Northview High School
When: 7 p.m.
Tickets: $7
What: Class 4A Regional Championship
Who: Mt. Vernon Marauders at No. 14 Cathedral Fighting Irish
Where: Cathedral High School
When: 6 p.m.
Tickets: $7
What: Class 2A Regional Championship
Who: No. 6 Union County Patriots at Eastern Hancock Royals
Where: Eastern Hancock High School
When: 6 p.m.
Tickets: $7
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