Roncalli’s Keagan Rothrock, a Florida signee, struck out 11 batters and gave up only three hits in game of dueling pitchers against visiting Tri-West of Hendricks County. Roncalli won 3-0.
and Jim Pich, Historian
Two Southside pitchers – Roncalli’s Keagan Rothrock and Beech Grove’s Malone “Mo” Moore - claimed big victories from the pitcher’s circle last week.
Rothrock, a University of Florida signee, locked into a duel Thursday against Tri-West junior Audrey Lowery, an Oklahoma University commit. Rothrock, the 2022 Gatorade Player of the Year, won the duel among the state’s top pitchers.
Class 4A No. 1 Roncalli defeated Class 3A No. 1 Tri-West, 3-0 Thursday on the Royals’ home field.
This was a determined battle between the two pitchers who have been training together for about nine years but this was the first time they collided in an IHSAA softball game.
The Roncalli pitcher struck out 11 Bruins and gave up harmless singles in the first, fourth, and seventh innings. She is 4-0 with a 0.44 ERA with 65 strikeouts in six starts.
Lowry, a left-handed pitcher, struck out nine Royals, gave up four hits and one earned run (two of Roncalli’s runs in the first were unearned due to fielding miscues). Lowry is 4-2 with a 1.24 ERA and 55 strikeouts in six starts.
“I feel okay,” the Roncalli senior said afterward. “I was able to attack.”
The host Royals (6-1-1) set the tone early when leadoff hitter Lyla Blackwell, a Virginia Tech signee, drew a walk, went to second on a wild pitch, then to third on a shortstop’s error on teammate Abby Hofmann’s grounder.
She then ran home on a miscue of Lauren Marsicek’s grounder.Knowing runs would be valuable in this match-up, Blackwell leaped high in the air before landing on home plate.
On the same night, Beech Grove’s rising softball team upended Cathedral, 6-0 as senior hurler Moore gave up only one hit, a triple in the third inning, and struck out 10.
Moore is joining the state’s top pitchers with an impressive 6-0 record with a 0.40 ERA and 66 strikeouts. She also helped at the plate with a two-run homer in the first inning.
The Hornets had a 5-0 lead after three innings. Lillianna Jansen, Aubree Bailey, Mylee Boling, and Holly Garrett each had one hit. Boling drove in a run, and Carmen Edmaiston scored on a sacrifice fly.
Beech Grove ran its record to 9-0 Thursday by defeating Warren Central, 13-2. The Hornets pushed across nine runs in the second inning. Robinson and Jansen each had three hits.
Moore threw the first two innings and did not give up a hit; Edmaiston recorded the last nine outs.
Beech Grove has outscored its first nine opponents, 107-14.
Beech Grove senior Malone “Mo” Moore is taking her place among the state’s best high school pitchers. She recently struck out 10 batters and gave up a lone hit as the Hornets defeated Cathedral, 6-0.