Riverton Parke Wins State Championship

Two of the best softball programs in Class 1A softball met at Ben Davis High School on Saturday for the Class A Softball State Championship. Indy Lutheran was making their 7^th appearance at the state finals since 2000 while Riverton Parke was making its 6^th trip in school history to Indianapolis.

The two teams met in the Regional championship game last year with Lutheran winning a 1-0 pitcher’s duel in 11 innings. And this match up was again a pitcher’s duel between Lutheran’s Morgan Lewis and Riverton Parke’s Haley Chambers.

But this time the Lady Panthers scored the game’s only run and claimed their first ever State Championship with a 1-0 victory.

Riverton Parke scored the games only run in the first inning. Sara Dickey tripled off the fence in left field for a one out triple. After a pop out, Ashley Kinne delivered an RBI single just inside the left field line to give RP a 1-0 lead.

Lutheran’s best scoring chance was also in the first inning. After a walk, a sac bunt and a fielder’s choice, the Sainta had runners at 2^nd and 3^rd with one out. But Chambers struck out the next two batters to get out of the jam.

Chambers allowed only two hits in the game. Amanda Korb singled to lead off the fifth and Chambers retired the next three batters. Brandi Lawson singledwith one out in the 6^th and again Chambers gets the next two batters to close out the inning.

With two away in the bottom of the seventh, the Lutheran batter hit a fly ball to center field and Sheldan Falls catch gave the Panthers a state championship.

“We’re just really excited about being the first championship team for the school altogether,” Riverton Parke coach Joe Cox said. “It’s going to be big for the community. We’re looking for a big turnout for a parade when we get back home. We’re going to get picked up and taken around the county. This is really something big for the county. We’re just glad to be a part of it.”