​By Al Stilley
Editor

Here’s the schedule and a look at all Southside teams:
4A AT SOUTHPORT
Monday, 5:30 p.m. – Franklin Central (13-11) vs. Perry Meridian (7-14).
Flashes won 10-6 earlier … FC vastly improved after opening season 1-6 … leaders are August Coons (.480), Jadyn Tinsley (.461), Sarah Miller (.453) … Falcons had 5-game losing streak early season … mix of seniors, young players … senior Paige McPhearson, 5 home runs.
Monday, 7:30 p.m. – Roncalli (22-3-1) vs. Tech.
Royals big favorites again … chasing 3 straight state titles … D1 signees Keagan Rothrock (33 RBI, 17-1, 0.60 ERA) and Lyla Blackwell (.556, 31 stolen bases) lead … Royals lost 2-1 Saturday at Louisville Ballard.
Tuesday, 5:30 p.m. – FC/PM winner vs. Southport (8-16).
Cardinals split with Perry in season, lost to FC … senior Haley Kiefner (.430, 10 doubles) leads.
Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. – Roncalli/Tech winner vs. Warren Central.
Wed., May 24, 7 p.m. – Championship game, winner hosts regional game May 30.

4A AT AVON
Monday, 6 p.m. – Terre Haute North vs. Avon.
Monday, 8 p.m. – Brownsburg vs. Plainfield.
Tuesday, 6 p.m. – TH North/Avon winner vs. Decatur Central (10-9-1).
Hawks won 5 of last 7 games … lost to Avon in season, 7-1 … led by B. Coffey (.389, 21 hits) … 9 different pitchers.
Tuesday, 8 p.m. – Brownsburg/Plainfield winner vs. TH South.
Wed., May 24, 7 p.m. – Championship game, winner plays at Southport sectional winner for regional game, May 30.

4A AT BLOOMINGTON SOUTH
Monday, 6 p.m. – Center Grove (20-5) vs. Mooresville.
Showdown duel of this sectional … Trojans edged Pioneers earlier, 10-8 … CG 6-4 in last 10 games … Trojans solid at plate … leaders are Brynn Meyer (.514) and Hannah Haberstroh (.481) … Riley Henson (2.34 ERA).
Monday, 8 p.m. – Martinsville vs. Bloomington North.
Tuesday, 6 p.m. – CG/Mooresville winner vs. Bloomington South.
Tuesday, 8 p.m. – Martinsville/Bloomington North winner vs. Greenwood (3-17).
Woodmen enter sectional with 13-game losing skid .. wins came against Brown County, Pike and Scecina … Emma Chism (.491, 28 hits) leads at plate.
Wednesday, May 24, 7 p.m. – Championship game, winner advances to host regional game, May 30.

3A AT BEECH GROVE
Monday, 5:30 p.m. – Beech Grove (16-5) vs. Speedway.
Hornets snapped three-game losing skid Friday at Rushville, 12-2 … big wins against Cathedral and Hamilton Heights … veteran team poised for playoff success … led at plate by Mylee Boling (.379). Kylee Robinson (.474, 36 hits), Malone Moore (.530, 35 hits) … Moore 12-4 and 1.60 ERA.
Tuesday, 5:30 p.m. – Purdue Poly vs. Washington.
Wed., May 24, 5:30 p.m. – BG/Speedway winner vs. Herron.
May 25, 5:30 p.m. – Championship game, winner advances to regional at Chatard sectional winner, May 30

1A AT EDINBURGH
Monday, 5:30 p.m. – Eminence vs. Lutheran (12-7).
Saints have 4-game win streak .. hitting .359 as team … strength of season schedule helps Saints in playoffs.
Tuesday, 5:30 p.m. – Edinburgh vs. Greenwood Christian (3-18).
Cougars had no home field … used Indy Sports Park on Southside for games.
Wed., May 24, 5:30 p.m. – Eminence/Lutheran winner vs. Providence Cristo Rey.
May, 25, 5:30 p.m. – GCA/Edinburgh winner vs. Morristown.
May 26, 5:30 p.m. – Championship game, winner advances to host regional game, May 30.

By Al Stilley
Editor

Roncalli senior Lyla Blackwell has a habit of clicking her heels before touching home plate to score a run for the Royals.

The Virginia Tech signee did that once in the first inning and once in the second inning Monday night against Franklin Central to send her teammates on their way to a second consecutive Marion County softball championship at Ben Davis, 6-1.

“That’s what I do; it gets us going,” Blackwell said matter-of-factly after the softball program’s sixth county title. “It was important to get off to a fast start; we expected this.”

After senior pitcher Keagan Rothrock opened the title game by striking out the first three Flashes, Blackwell led off with a successful bunt, Carley Keller moved her to third with an infield hit, and she scored later to put the Royals (19-2-1) up 1-0.

Again after striking out all three Flashes (12-10), the Royals pushed across their second run on Blackwell’s grounder to second that was mishandled and later scored on Keller’s single to centerfield.

“This (championship) means a lot because we were expected to win it,” Blackwell said. “We’re definitely playing together and have everyone’s back.”

Blackwell also drove in two runs.

Abbey Hofmann, Lauren Marsicek, and Rothrock had three hits apiece.

Natalie Summers led off the fourth with a double to leftfield and later scored. In the fifth, Rockwell and Marsicek led off with hits and were driven in by Willis and Blackwell.

“We were able to feed off each other,” Blackwell added.

Roncalli left the bases loaded after scoring one run in the first inning and stranded a total of 11 for the game.

Rothrock had a perfect game going for 4.2 innings until walking Kasey Hickle. FC scored its lone run in the seventh on Hickle’s RBI double.
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“We got behind early, but I’m proud of the way our girls played,” FC coach Kathy Stricker said. “We fought and we didn’t quit.”

Roncalli senior Keagan Rothrock fires the ball toward the plate during Monday’s (May 9) Marion County championship game.