INDIANAPOLIS — Shelby Johnson’s season turned with seven innings in late April. The Cathedral junior pitcher spun her first (and thus far only) complete game of the season that night, shutting out Class 4A powerhouse Noblesville on only five hits with a couple strikeouts and a walk.
“That game really helped me a lot, because I knew they were big hitters and I had to show (up),” she said. “That really helped my confidence. I’ve been better since then.”
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Johnson has been utilized primarily as Sidney Feczko’s alternate these past two seasons, an arm to fill in for the Dartmouth-bound senior when she needed a few innings (or an entire game) off against lesser competition.
That has not been the case this season.
The two are more of a tandem, with Johnson earning the opportunity to be the team’s primary reliever, filling in behind Feczko and closing out games as needed, regardless of the opponent.
Johnson gained valuable varsity experience and consistently delivered, compiling a 9-0 record with six saves and a 1.72 ERA in 53 innings pitched entering Tuesday’s 3A regional championship game.
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“We fully trust in Shelby,” Jordyn Hazelwood said.
“She came in and completely dominated some good teams like Noblesville,” the sophomore shortstop continued. “She produces a lot of weak hits and grounders, so we have her back and she just dominated, so it was easy for us to support her and (win) those games.”
Coach Tony Matthew found an approach that works and he’s stayed with it. So when a flurry of sixth-inning fielding errors, a hit by pitch and a few singles allowed Danville to cut into Cathedral’s seven-run advantage, Matthews turned to Johnson.
And she delivered.
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After allowing an RBI single to the first batter she faced, Johnson retired the next five in order, closing out a 7-5 Irish win over the Warriors.
The 3A No. 3 Irish are advancing to semistate.
“I can definitely say I was nervous, but I know that my team has a lot of confidence in me and I have a lot of confidence,” Johnson said. “I knew I just had to get the job done so we could go on to semistate Saturday.”
Johnson’s finish was preceded by a really strong start from Feczko.
She was perfect up until a two-out walk in the top of the fourth, then continued her no-hitter into the fifth, when Danville broke it up with a couple singles — the first of which was erased on a caught stealing by catcher Kelsey Beres.
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“She’s a lot stronger now than she was at the beginning of the year,” Matthews said of Feczko, who allowed five unearned runs on four hits with a walk and seven strikeouts in 5.1 innings. “My gut feeling was she was going to strike out 10-12, but they’re a tough team. We knew it was going to be a battle.”
As Feczko dealt, the offense grinded through the first couple frames against Danville senior pitcher Autumn Muncy, generating just a couple baserunners through the first two innings.
The Irish tallied three runs in the third, then broke out with a four-run fourth that was ignited by a lead-off triple by Amya Gary to extend her seven-game hit streak and featured RBIs from Beres, Hazelwood and Amanda Lupke.
Cathedral’s control of the contest was short-lived.
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Three errors and a single got Danville on the board with a couple runs before the first out was recorded, then the aforementioned HBP and a couple more singles put the tying run on base with only one out.
“We made a few throwing errors and a little trouble with the bunt, so you know we’ll be working on that. We haven’t had any problems (fielding bunts) all year,” Matthews said. “But I was happy with our girls. We came out strong and got a good lead on them. Sidney threw great, then Shelby came in and finished it off. We beat a really good team.”
Now the defending champs are on to Jasper, where they’ll play in the second semistate semifinal Saturday against No. 14 Evansville Memorial. Win that one and a potential 2025 semistate rematch with No. 7 New Palestine looms in the final.
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“I don’t think there’s pressure,” Johnson said of the team’s status as reigning champs. “We’ve shown that we can do it.”
Added Hazelwood: “We always say we have a target on our back, but it doesn’t matter because we, as a team, know we can do whatever we put our minds to.”
Longtime Cathedral assistant set to retire
The Irish held a special ceremony following the trophy presentation Tuesday, honoring longtime assistant coach Linda Bamrick, who is set to retire at season’s end.
Bamrick began her coaching career as girls basketball and softball coach in the late 80s, guiding the girls basketball team to a state runner-up finish in 1999, followed by titles in 2000 and 2001.
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Last season, she and Matthews guided Cathedral softball to its first state championship in program history (third appearance).
Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen. Get IndyStar’s high school coverage sent directly to your inbox with the High School Sports newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IHSAA softball: Cathedral beats Danville to repeat as regional champions
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
