Defeating a quality softball opponent three times in the same season is rumored to be difficult to do, but Class 4A No. 3 Mooresville found a way.
Propelled by an opportunistic offense and the pitching of sophomore right-hander Alex Cooper, the Pioneers defeated Franklin, 4-0, on Monday in the opening game of the Center Grove Sectional.
The victory places the Pioneers (26-2) into today’s 5 p.m. semifinal against Whiteland, a 12-0 winner in five innings against county and Mid-State Conference rival Greenwood in Monday’s second game at Russ Milligan Field.
Franklin, which managed only two hits off Cooper, finished the season with a record of 17-10. The Pioneers scored a pair of 3-1 triumphs against the Grizzly Cubs when the teams met in April for their annual home-and-home series.
“(Mooresville) came out ready to go,” Franklin coach Shelbi Biehl said. “They hit and they got baserunners and we had three baserunners. You can’t win a game with that. But I’m pretty proud of our players.
“I think we had a good season. We won some tough games, and I think we had the toughest sectional draw in the state. We were Johnson County champions … we got a lot done this season.”
Mooresville set the tone early, scoring two runs in the top of the first off Cubs ace Izzy Harrison. The senior issued consecutive one-out walks to Riley Owens and Cooper, each of whom eventually touched home plate after a Franklin throwing error.
The Pioneers doubled their lead in the third on a run by Jenna Poulson, who scooted home from third after Franklin attempted to throw out a baserunner at second, and Kendall Grover’s single to left.
The loss ends the high school careers of Franklin seniors Macy Hussung, Madison Snyder and Harrison, the latter being the Grizzly Cubs’ No. 1 pitcher from the time she arrived in the spring of 2018.
Against Mooresville, the soon-to-be University of Kentucky pitcher allowed four hits, walked three and struck out 11. Harrison graduates holding many career and single-season school standards despite the 2020 season being canceled due to COVID-19.
“I don’t think it’s hit me yet, but it probably will in a couple of days,” Harrison said. “But I had a good season with these girls, and it was really fun. There were definitely some challenges, but I think I matured a lot pitching-wise and with how to be a leader.”
In the nightcap, Whiteland (15-9) scored in all five frames, the most productive being a six-run top of the third in which junior outfielder Trinity Borders provided a three-run triple.
Junior southpaw Debbie Hill picked up the win by allowing one hit and fanning six Woodmen batters. Hill also stood out at the plate with a pair of singles and a towering solo home run in the fifth inning.
Other hitting stars for the Warriors were leadoff Macy Cornelius and freshman Ava Smith, each of whom doubled. Whiteland batters walked a total of 11 times.
Greenwood, which finished with a 6-18 record, received a single from sophomore pitcher Taylor Dick.
