NEW PALESTINE
One loss doesn’t change Alyssa Coleman’s opinion, let alone four in 17 games.
On Wednesday night, after her Class 4A No. 7 Center Grove Trojans lost at No. 4 New Palestine, 1-0,Coleman brushed it off for what it was: part of the process.
Unable to derail rival New Palestine, which extended its perfect season to 15-0, the Trojans (13-4) had their opportunities.
It was just a matter of not capitalizing and finding a way to back ace pitcher Alexis Rudd, a Southern Illinois recruit.
Rudd pitched six quality innings at New Palestine, allowed five hits, walked two and struck out five, but the right-hander still absorbed the loss as her season record dropped to 6-3.
"Way too many (runners left on base). We had our shots, but we have to push through on those. Again, we have to eliminate the unearned runs," Coleman said. "I like our team’s energy. I know where we’re at, and I trust this team. I believe in them."
While the Dragons, who are hitting .359 this year, didn’t fare much better against the Trojans, leaving eight runners on base, Center Grove stranded six overall, including five in scoring position.
New Palestine starter Sam Booe, a University of Louisville commit, did her part in quieting the Trojans’ order, holding Center Grove to four hits with one walk and nine strikeouts.
"It’s that postseason feel that each team experiences. We get to figure out what we got and make sure that when we get to the big deal when the game’s on the line, we can handle it," Coleman said.
"(Booe is) a good pitcher, but we can hit her. We had a few. They kept pounding the stone for us, and we just kept going."
Booe kept the Trojans off the basepaths early, striking out the first five batters she faced while retiring six of Center Grove’s initial seven hitters through the top of the first and second.
The Trojans had a chance in the top of the third, putting a pair on base with back-to-back bunt singles.
Booe ended the threat, however, inducing two flyouts after a Hannah Haberstroh sacrifice grounder to third base that moved the runners into scoring position.
Down 1-0 in the top of the third, Center Grove had a pair of base runners in scoring position once again behind a two-out single by Lex Warner and a double from Jazi Cangany.
A groundout to end the frame kept the Trojans off the scoreboard.
New Palestine’s lone run crossed the plate in the bottom of the third when a deep sacrifice fly to right field by junior Grace Paquette brought home junior Alaina Miller from third base.
Miller, an Illinois recruit, led off the inning with a walk and maneuvered to third after a single by Aglaia Rudd and a fielder’s choice from Akron commit Lexi Campbell.
Freshman Allie Blum’s defense at shortstop for New Palestine backed Booe. Blum made a diving stab on a hard ground ball by Ashlynn Wolff with two outs in the top of the fifth. In the next inning, Blum smothered a Warner grounder up the middle to make the final out, once more, firing a liner to first base from her knees with a Trojans’ runner on second.
Warner finished 2 for 3 for Center Grove and Cangany, Riley Janda and Sydney McConnell registered a hit apiece. Payton Shimansky drew a walk against Booe, marking the Dragons ace’s second free pass issued overall in 45.1 innings pitched.
Three of the Trojans’ four losses have come against state-ranked opponents, including 4A No. 1 Roncalli, 4-0 and No. 2 Lake Central, 6-0. In each setback, the Trojans logged five hits or less.
"We’re just going to be tried and tested by the end of the year, and we’re going to know who we are and what we’re going to do, and we’re just going to attack," Coleman said.
