Entering Monday’s first-round sectional game, Valparaiso coach Tracy Corneil knew she had to prepare her team for a star-powered Portage roster.
The scouting report on the Indians all starts with ace pitcher Kiley Jones, who is headed for Loyola. Then, there’s Butler-bound shortstop Kaitlin Doud in the No. 3 spot in the order, not to mention power-hitting cleanup hitter Sydney Coundiff, talented catcher Annabelle Karagias and hot-swinging leadoff batter Adrien Hall.
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However, it was none of the above who did in the Vikings. Instead, No. 8 hitter Summer Vardaman and No. 9 batter Abby Alexander combined for five hits to lift Portage to a 10-0 victory.
Before a six-run seventh inning led to the lopsided final score, run-scoring hits by Vardaman and Alexander in the fourth provided the game’s turning point.
“It crushed us,” Corneil said. “I was like, ‘Oh my god,’ but I’m going to credit them. When their bigger hitters weren’t stepping up, the rest of their team did. That’s a good team over there.”
While Vardaman and Alexander have no qualms with setting the table and allowing the top of the order to drive in runs, they enjoyed delivering the big hits for a change.
“When (Hall) hit her home run, we’re like, ‘Go Adrien,’ but we’re used to her doing stuff like that,” Alexander said. “When we have a good hitting game, it’s something big for us.”
The support from the bottom of the lineup did not go unnoticed by Jones (21-3) who tossed a two-hit shutout at Valpo (5-20).
“We don’t have a weak spot,” Jones said. “If we do give up a few hits and we’re not on our game on offense or defense, it’s nice to know that we have players like Abby and Summer that we can count on to get on base, even when the other team expects to get them out. We’re strong all around, and that’s reassuring as the girl in the circle.”
After the No. 8 and No. 9 batters set the tone, the top of the order came to life in the seventh. Hall launched a two-run homer, while Coundiff and Karagias each ripped run-scoring doubles for the Indians (24-4).
Vardaman finished the day with three hits, two RBIs and four runs scored.
“When the bottom of the order is getting the job done, we feel unstoppable,” Portage coach Lisa Hayes said. “We are solid all the way through. The middle of the order did a nice job too, but (Vardaman and Alexander) did so good that it’s magnified.”
LaPorte blanked Hobart 4-0 in another of Monday’s first-round games at Chesterton. The Slicers were aided by two Hobart errors as they scored twice in the third inning to snap a scoreless tie. Reily Galloway tossed a complete-game shutout, yielding four hits and striking out five to earn the win.
Chesterton downed Michigan City 17-1 in the day’s first game. The Trojans scored 10 runs in the first inning, sending 13 batters to the plate. Bailey Slivka launched two home runs in the first inning.
Registration open for Gary Am: Registration is underway for the 88th Gary Amateur, which will take place on June 13 and 14 at South Gleason Park Golf Course.
Entry blanks may be filled out at South Gleason Golf Course. Applicants also may call South Gleason at (219) 980-1089 to sign up for the tournament. The cost is $55 to be paid in cash on the day of the tournament.
There will be a Championship Division, a Senior Division (over 55), a Super Senior Division (over 65) and a Women’s Division. Deadline for entry is June 9.
Post-Tribune staff contributed to this story.