Harrison Central softball team captures first district title in school history

The Lady Huskies made school history by winning the Division IV district championship with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over West Holmes Thursday, May 21.

Following the Huskies’ 5-2 sectional championship victory over Morgan, Central welcomed Carrollton to its home field for a district semifinal Monday, May 18, and came away with a 6-2 victory over the Warriors.

Carrollton scored first, plating one run in the top of the third. The Lady Dogs fought their way into the lead, scoring three times in the bottom half of the fourth.

Lillian Thomas opened the Huskies’ half with a double. Jaylin Ward followed with a fly ball that was misplayed, allowing Ward to reach second and Thomas to advance to third. Following a groundout, Madelyn Johnson walked, loading the bases. Emma Jarvis then reached on an error, allowing Thomas to score and the runners to advance. Mikayla Pelegreen then walked, forcing Ward across the plate for the second run. Kara Blackburn drove in Johnson with an RBI fielder’s choice.

The Warriors scored their second run in the top of the fifth. The Huskies regained their two-run advantage in the same inning. Thomas began the inning with a walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch and moved to third on a fielder’s choice. Bailey Smith then grounded out to the third baseman, scoring Thomas.

After a one-two-three top of the sixth, the Huskies added two runs in the bottom of the inning. With one out, Blackburn tripled and scored when Denali Stull laid down a bunt and reached on an error. Stull then scored on a Kam Crothers single to finish the scoring in the 6-2 victory.

Both teams were credited with five hits. Carrollton was charged with six errors, while the Huskies committed one. Thomas led the attack with three hits in three at-bats, including a double. Blackburn recorded the other extra-base hit with a triple. Pelegreen earned the victory, recording 14 strikeouts and allowing three walks.

In Strasburg Thursday, May 21, West Holmes and Harrison Central met on a neutral field for the district championship. Central put runners on base in each of the first four innings but was unable to score. That changed in the bottom of the sixth when Thomas drove a line drive into left field for a double. Two batters later, Smith singled, scoring Thomas with the game’s first and only run.

Harrison Central accumulated seven hits off the bats of Pelegreen, Thomas and Smith. Pelegreen earned the win, striking out 10 and allowing two walks.

“It feels pretty good to make history,” coach Darrin Young said. “About two weeks ago, I knew this team was going to do something special. I wasn’t sure what they were going to do, but we lost at Weir one night and a couple of nights later we go to Oak Glen and knock off the defending state champion. After that night, these girls had a belief they could beat anybody, and I told them that. We won our first sectional game, then got beat pretty bad at Ferry and by Claymont. I told them that was my fault because I didn’t put much emphasis on those games, and I told them it was just another game. Boy, they came out the other day and played a really good game against Carrollton and then to come out and shut this leadoff batter down in no hits tonight. The last couple of games, Mik Pelegreen put us on her back. She threw 14 great innings, and the team rallied behind her. Seems like when she does good on the mound, we do good things behind her. I can’t say enough from one to nine all the way through the lineup. Bailey Smith, tonight, with a key hit. It couldn’t happen to a better kid. Lillian Thomas has been hot, Kara Blackburn … all of them. This is for all of them. We’ve been close several times. This is for all those teams that just never got it done,” Young said.