As Munster’s softball players jumped up and down on the field, cheers of “History!” emanated from their celebration.
With a 5-2 win over Hobart in Tuesday night’s Class 4A Munster Regional, the host Mustangs secured a piece of that history.
It was the program’s first regional title for Munster (22-10), which will play Leo at noon Saturday in the West Lafayette Harrison Semistate semifinals.
“You don’t necessarily have your best team, but it’s about being the right team at the right time, and they’re the right team at the right time,” said Munster coach Beth Thornburg, who’s in her 13th year.
After shocking Crown Point in Friday’s sectional final, Munster continued its run through the postseason against Northwest Crossroads Conference rival Hobart (19-11).
Senior catcher Melissa McCann noted the Mustangs’ mind-set.
“That was our one really big thing,” McCann said. “We went into Friday with no nerves because what did we have to lose? This game, that was our focus — everybody just staying loose and just staying up, and playing with that same energy and intensity.”
The Mustangs took off Saturday to recover.
“I couldn’t stop smiling my own self, I was so excited,” Thornburg said.
Munster then scored a run in the first inning Tuesday after a rain delay of more than a half hour. Rebecca Radtke was hit by a pitch, stole second, moved to third on an error and scored on a wild pitch.
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“They were into the game from the jump,” Thornburg said. “They did a great job of being focused.”
Munster broke open the game with four runs on four hits and an error in the sixth. McCann managed an two-run double and Chloe Miller had a pinch-hit RBI single.
“We knew we needed some insurance because we knew Hobart was going to come back and battle us,” McCann said. “We had to get a rally going, and I had that going through my head.”
Indeed. The Brickies, who lost to the Mustangs by scores of 7-5 and 12-6 during the regular season, finally got to Munster pitcher Amanda Osterhus for two runs in the seventh.
Maddy Adams had a two-run double after Hobart had a walk and hit by pitch with two outs in the inning.
Osterhus (14-5), however, picked up her third win in as many postseason games for Munster. The senior right-hander struck out seven and walked two. She allowed three hits, all to Chattanooga recruit Adams.
“She wasn’t as good as she was Friday, she didn’t have nearly the control,” Thornburg said. “But she was good enough. At this stage of the game, it’s not about being your best every game. It’s about being good enough to move on to the next game, and she was.”
The Brickies’ season ended after winning their first sectional title since 1988.
“The girls had a great season,” Hobart coach James Wright said. “I told them not to hang their heads. Munster has a great team, they played well, and it was a good game to be involved in.
“My freshman pitcher (Jenna Uhles) did an outstanding job. We just were hitting the ball right at them for the most part, and they weren’t hitting it right at us. We just didn’t have the timely hits like we’ve had.”
Junior third baseman Nicole Howard and sophomore designated player Sara Mavity each had three hits for the Mustangs.
“I’m so excited,” Mavity said. “I’m so proud of us, just the team as a whole.”
Twitter @MichaelOsipoff