INDIANAPOLIS — Pendleton Heights softball came away with a repeat championship at the Ben Davis Invitational Saturday, April 21, after wrapping up a 10-0 shutout in the title game against the host team.
Pitcher Jordan Benefiel shut down Ben Davis, throwing a complete game shutout and leading the Arabians to the 10-0 road victory.
It was one of four wins for the Arabians en route to winning the invitational.
The Arabians secured the championship victory thanks to seven runs in the third inning. Pendleton Heights put the pressure on with singles by Chloe Closser and Lauren Landes as well as doubles by Amanda White and Kelsey Sturgeon.
White, Closser, Landes and Sturgeon each had RBI in the third inning.
Benefiel allowed four hits and zero runs while striking out eight and walking none.
In an earlier game during the invitational, the Arabians took control and cruised to a 9-2 victory against Perry Meridian.
The Arabians scored on a single by Mikala Winans in the first inning and a double by Sturgeon in the second inning.
Sturgeon took the win for Pendleton Heights. She lasted seven innings, allowing 12 hits and two runs while striking out two and walking zero.
The Arabians tallied 12 hits. Winans, Sturgeon and Olivia Conner had home runs in the fourth; each also had multiple hits for Pendleton Heights. Sturgeon and Winans each had three hits to lead the team.
In a previous Saturday game, Pendleton Heights downed Twin Lakes 5-1.
Pendleton Heights opened up scoring in the first inning with a bang when Sturgeon homered on a 1-0 count, scoring two runs.
Benefiel earned the win. She surrendered one run on eight hits over seven innings, striking out six and walking none.
The Arabians tallied 11 hits in the game. Landes and White each had multiple hits for Pendleton Heights. Landes went 3-for-4 at the plate to lead Pendleton Heights.
In the first game of the day at the invitational, the Arabians defeated North Central 8-3.
Sturgeon was the winning pitcher for Pendleton Heights. She lasted four innings, allowing two hits and no runs while striking out three and walking none. Sturgeon also had a grand slam in the fourth.
Benefiel threw three innings in relief out of the bullpen.
Lapel softball
Two dominating away performances by the Lapel softball team Wednesday, April 18, against Muncie Central and Friday, April 20, against Wes-Del increased their season record to 8-3.
Lapel scored 19 runs in each game. Eleven of its 19 runs against Wes-Del came between the first and the third innings, with Wes-Del managing one run in that time frame. A small gleam of hope for Wes-Del occurred after a home run put its total runs scored to four, but Lapel struck back with three more runs to have the game called in the sixth inning. Final score: 19-4.
Pitching a complete game for Lapel was junior Chloe Bousman. Five strikeouts were the highlight of Bousman’s performance on the mound. The one home run allowed was easily shaken off as Lapel’s lead was already heavily bloated.
The April 18 game against Muncie Central was nearly equal in terms of utter domination from Lapel. Twelve runs total in the first two innings gave a disheartening blow to the home team. Muncie Central managed only two runs in the third. Final score: 19-2.
Freshman pitcher Avery Bailey grabbed the win on the mound, pitching all five innings with four strikeouts.
Writer Rob Peeters contributed to this story.
