Southsider Voice correspondent
Upset-minded Decatur Central ended Perry Meridian’s drive for the Marion County softball tourney crown by edging the Falcons 3-2 Monday in the championship game at Ben Davis.
Both teams were unranked in the statewide coaches poll going into the tournament.
The topsy-turvy tourney saw 4A No. 2 Franklin Central fall to Decatur Central 5-0 on Saturday as DC pitchers held the Flashes to only two hits.
Perry Meridian went two extra innings to upend 4A No. 12 Roncalli 4-3, even though the Falcons committed four errors and gave up 12 hits. Perry Meridian (13-6) was ranked earlier in the season.
Franklin Central defeated Lawrence Central 1-0, and Roncalli handled North Central 10-0 in five innings to advance to the semifinals before bowling out.
In the county baseball tourney, Southport was the only Southside team to reach Saturday’s semifinals.
The Cardinals fell to North Central 7-3 in nine innings as the teams combined for 23 hits and five errors. Dennis Maxey, Dustin Church, A.J. Wampler and Zach Odom each had two hits for the Cardinals.
Southport, which entered the tourney with a 3-13 record, defeated Warren Central 2-1 and Ben Davis 5-3. Antonio Cortez drove in three runs against the Giants.
Brebeuf defeated Franklin Central in the quarterfinals Saturday morning 4-0. Jon Knies had two of the Flashes’ four hits.