By DAVID WOOD, for The Democrat
Brown County varsity softball team checked one more goal off their list May 15, defeating Northview 2-1 to secure the Western Indiana Conference championship.
Leading up to the game, the Eagles had secured the East Division with a conference record of 5-1 and a total record of 13-3. The crossover match pitted them against the West Division’s Northview, which the Eagles had defeated earlier in a grueling 3-2 game spanning 13 innings.
The rematch was just as competitive; the Eagles and Knights were only 1-1 by the beginning of the seventh. Batters struggled to find their rhythm as both teams put on near-errorless defensive clinics.
However, in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Eagles finally hit their stride, stringing together multiple successful at-bats. With one out and bases loaded, Sophomore Allison Stogsdill smashed a pitch into left field, sending Aubrey Hollander home for the game-winning score.
“All I kept telling myself was, ‘Base hit Allison, base hit. You can do it!’ I knew I had my coach and team behind me and it just kind of happened,” Stogsdill said.
The 15-year-old second baseman said it felt amazing to land the game-winning hit, but it couldn’t have happened without the efforts of her team. “I’m just really proud of my team and we couldn’t have done it without every single one of them,” she said.
Despite the narrow scoreline, Stogsdill said they never doubted their ability to win.
“My team really pulled through and I never thought that we were going to lose. I knew it in my heart and my team knew it in theirs that we were going to push through it,” she said.
Senior and right fielder Emma Quackenbush said it’s rare for them to be able to finish a close game so effectively.
“Usually, we can’t pull out games like that. I just think we all did a really good job of finishing it tonight,” she said.
The 18-year-old had additional reason to celebrate, as the game took place on senior night.
Quackenbush never believed her final year would reach such heights.
“It’s amazing. My freshman year, I never imagined we would be this good, and I’m so happy I get to be here in my senior year. I’m just so happy I can’t put it into words,” she said.
While ecstatic for winning, Quackenbush isn’t settling. She plans on achieving much more in her final weeks of Brown County softball.
“Sectionals, for sure; I want a sectional title. … I think we’re ready to take it on,” she said.
Kevin Greve, head coach for the Eagles, couldn’t have been more proud of his team.
“Championships don’t come easy and these girls have embraced that, they worked so hard and are so dedicated to this,” he said.
“You get the results from that, and it pays off. I’m very proud of them and happy.”
Though the team has earned the right to celebrate, they shouldn’t lose sight of additional goals, he said.
“Appreciate and embrace that moment. It’s something you’ll never forget.
“But it’s only checking off one box on our team goals. The next thing we have our eyes on is sectionals.”
The Eagles’ first sectional game will be at Edgewood Monday night, May 21, against Sullivan.
