Emotional Chargers Claim Softball Sectional Crown
WARSAW – It was some week for the Elkhart Memorial softball team.
The Crimson Chargers capped off a trying and emotional period with a sectional championship Friday night.
Memorial put together one big inning late to top Northridge 8-3 in the title game of the Class 4-A Warsaw Sectional.
The Chargers, who won the program’s fifth sectional title and first since 2010, advance to play at No. 2 Penn in a one-game regional Tuesday night.
Memorial’s Desiree Uribe displayed the true heart of a champion for the Chargers. The senior played in all three sectional wins this week after her father, Rellito “Reggie” Uribe, died Monday from injuries suffered in a motorcycle accident last Sunday.
The Northridge team showed its class following the contest. Members of the Raiders team present Uribe with flowers and cards.
The Chargers, who trailed 3-2, used a six-run sixth inning to top their Northern Lakes Conference foe in the sectional finale. Memorial sent 11 batters to the plate in the pivotal frame, getting five hits and a pair of walks to rally for the win. Shakira Perez had two hits in the inning to pace the rally, including an RBI single.
Northridge took a 2-0 lead in the first on an RBI triple by Sami Deisler and an RBI double by Kylee Lantz.
Perez led the winners with three hits. Kayla Warner had two hits, two runs scored and an RBI and Ashley Asher two hits and an RBI for the champions.
Kim Lucas earned her third sectional pitching win five days for Memorial. She gave up just four hits after the first inning.
Deisler, who had been injured most of the season, took the pitching loss for the Raiders. Lantz had two doubles and two RBI and Deisler two hits to lead Northridge.
Memorial had split with the Raiders during the regular season, winning a 4-3 decision and losing a 13-6 final. Coach Craig Sears team beat Goshen (6-1) and Concord (13-10) to advance to the sectional final. Northridge beat host Warsaw 4-2 in the semifinal bye game Tuesday night to earn a berth in the title game.