INDIANAPOLIS - James Dean’s headstone isn’t the only famous piece of hardware in Fairmount anymore.
A new plaque will be sitting in the high school trophy case next fall at Madison-Grant High School, after the softball team’s defeat of Linton-Stockton 1-0 in the Class 2A Championship game on Saturday at Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis.
The championship was the first in any Indiana High School Athletic Association sport for the small farm school just across the Madison County border.
“I’m just happy for the girls, the program and the community,” said Madison-Grant coach Jay Dunlap. “We talked last night that the eight and nine hitters would get the hits, and it worked out that way.”
The lone run in the game came in the fifth inning and started with a leadoff walk by Bonnie Parker. Pinch-runner Kailey Leckron advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Sydnie Holland and scored on a single up the middle by No. 8 hitter Shelby Wells.
“Shelby was out at the diamonds today and took some hitting at the school,” said Dunlap. “I figured Shelby would hit it to right, but she found one she could drive up the middle.”
“I told myself if I was up I wasn’t going to leave runners on base,” said Wells of the game-winning hit. “I had to get something level and lay off the high pitches. It sounded good (off the bat), and I saw the pitcher miss it. I was watching Kailey (run).”
That run was the only one senior pitcher Sara Webster would need to earn her 20th and final victory of the season. Webster allowed five hits just one night after two-hitting No. 1 Scecina in a 3-0 win in the semistate.
“It’s awesome and I’m still in shock,” said Webster. “I’ve waited four years for this. I pitched hard and I believed in my defense. Once we got a run, I was good to go. I wasn’t bringing it like I was last night, but I don’t think I was tired.”
Webster struck out seven Miners in the complete game win, walking three. She also held Linton to 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position in the game, and she got a diving catch by Kendra Stitt to save two runs in the second inning. It was the second diving catch for the right-fielder in two nights.
“I thought she got stronger as the game went on,” Dunlap said of Webster. “It’s been her demeanor (when runners get on base) that she seems to get stronger and throw harder. And for the second day in a row (Stitt) saved us.”
In addition to hits from Wells and No. 9 hitter Lauren Stanley were Stitt, Lacey Little and Sam Yeagy. Both teams finished with five hits and no errors in the contest.
Madison-Grant finished the season 24-6 overall, winning the Central Indiana Conference title as well as their third sectional championship.
Local Sports
Update: M-G defeats Linton for first state title
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