Kellie Marcheschi and Boone Grove had a little something to prove against Hebron in Wednesday night’s semifinal of the Class 2A North Newton Sectional.
And the sophomore pitcher and the Wolves did it emphatically with an 11-1 victory in five innings.
After winning 6-2 during round-robin play in the Porter County Conference, Boone Grove lost to Hebron 4-2 in the league tournament semifinals. That loss snapped a 34-game win streak against PCC opponents for the Wolves (21-3), who had won three straight conference tournament titles and this season posted their third straight 7-0 round-robin record.
“There was a lot of excitement for this game,” Marcheschi said. “I knew we could beat them. We just needed to come out and show the talent we have.”
With the game played in a steady rain, Mia Riese led off with a homer for the Hawks (16-10). But that hit was the only one Marcheschi (3-2) allowed.
“All I thought was, ‘Get the next batter,'” Marcheschi said. “It didn’t really get to me.”
More Top Picks Livewell
Boone Grove coach Ron Saunders was slightly concerned.
“You hate to see that happen because you don’t know how it’s going to affect the kids, especially the younger ones,” Saunders said. “But I still believed it was going to take more than one run to beat us.”
Marcheschi allowed just four hits to Hebron in the PCC semifinal loss, with Saunders saying it was Boone Grove’s offense that “didn’t show up.” In this sectional semifinal, the Wolves’ offense emerged in the third.
Boone broke out for six runs on six hits in the inning, sending 10 batters to the plate, and added five runs on five hits in the fourth.
Hebron coach Craig Doelling expressed respect for Boone Grove, the two-time Class 2A state runner-up.
“This was Boone’s night, you have to give it to them,” Doelling said. “They hit the ball very, very hard.
“Boone’s a tough team. You can’t let them get any momentum because they’re going to keep on motoring through.”
Taylor Howell went 2-for-3 with a double, three RBIs and two runs. Ohio State recruit Taylor Stevens went 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and two runs.
Angie Marcheschi went 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Lisa Scott went 2-for-2 with two doubles and two runs. Kellie Marcheschi had a two-run single.
“I knew once we started hitting, we could go through the lineup over and over,” Kellie Marcheschi said.
The Hawks entered Wednesday with a seven-game win streak, including the PCC tournament title.
“I’m proud of my girls,” Doelling said. “They had a heck of a run at the end of our season. They really came together.”
The Wolves advance to Friday’s championship game against the winner of Thursday’s semifinal between Rensselaer (9-10) and North Newton (8-10-1).
Twitter @MichaelOsipoff