Benjamin Logan’s softball team grabbed a big early lead and then fought off a late Tippecanoe rally Tuesday in a Division II sectional softball final.
The host Raiders scored three runs in the opening inning and led 8-1 through four frames.
The Red Devils scored four runs in the fifth inning to make it 8-5, but Ben Logan would hold on the rest of the way for the 8-5 victory.
Ben Logan (18-7) advances to the district championship game at 5 p.m. Friday at Miami East. The Raiders will face either Hamilton Badin or Taylor.
“Getting off to a good start like that was huge,” said Ben Logan head coach Amanda Davis. “We always want to come out and be aggressive. That was a big momentum booster for us.”
In the bottom half of the first, after Ben Logan pitcher Kyah Moore retired the Red Devils in order in the top of the inning, Elliott Bailey reached on a one-out single.
Jillian Plikerd followed with a double to deep center, and then Kenzee Roseburrough singled to knock in a pair of runs.
Ben Logan tacked on another run in the inning for an early three-run cushion.
The Red Devils scored a run in the top of the third inning to make it 3-1.
Ben Logan answered with a run in the bottom of the third, thanks to a two-out RBI double by Moore.
The Raiders scored four more times in the fourth inning. Rhea Harner started the outburst with a two-out double.
Bailey and Roseburrough each had an RBI single and Rylan Norviel had an RBI double in the fourth.
Tippecanoe used four hits, including a double and triple, and took advantage of an error to put together a four-run fifth inning.
But that was the remainder of the damage the Red Devils would do at the plate.
Moore worked the first four innings and Chloe Crumm threw the final three frames.
“Kyah always does a nice job of keeping hitters off-balance, and that’s why we wanted to start her tonight,” said Davis. “When you get this far in the tournament, we know teams are going to hit the ball hard, and Tipp hit the ball well. But our defense and pitching did a good job of stepping up and making plays.
“Chloe is only a sophomore, so a lot of this is new to her, but she did a good job settling in and the defense made some good plays behind her.”
Although unsure of who the opponent (Badin and Taylor will play today after their game was postponed Tuesday) will be Friday, Davis said her team will need to use the same approach it has taken all season.
“We have played everything one game at a time,” she said. “We want to continue to come out and be aggressive, and control what we can control.”
BENLOGAN 8, TIPPECANOE 5
Red Devils 001 040 0 — 5
Raiders 301 400 X — 8
WP—Moore.