HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN CLAIMS SECOND STATE TITLE
Hamilton Southeastern battled Terre Haute North and the elements en route to the 2010 4A softball state championship that concluded Tuesday evening at Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis. The Royals defeated the Patriots of Terre Haute North 3-1 for their second softball state championship and first time back to the championship game since they won it all in 2007.
After a half inning played on Saturday evening, weather forced the contest to be pushed to Monday. Play resumed on Monday evening and after three scoreless innings, Hamilton Southeastern jumped on the board in the fourth after a single from freshman Alyssa Buchanan. Buchanan took second after a Terre Haute North fielding error, and freshman Roni Patterson crossed the plate for the first score of the night.
Terre Haute North responded in the bottom half of the fourth with a single from senior Danielle Ketner. Ketner advanced to second on a wild pitch and was brought in by an RBI double from junior Kelsey Coffey, knotting the score at 1-1. With a runner on second and one out, play was once again postponed due to weather.
Hamilton Southeastern came out of the gates with intensity as play resumed Tuesday evening. With a runner on second and one out in the top of the fifth, senior Taylor Rager doubled down the left field line to bring in senior Jenna Abraham, putting the Royals up by one. Sophomore Kelsey Cornilla was sent in to pinch run for Rager and advanced to third after a Patriot throwing error. A single to center field from Alyssa Buchanan scored Cornilla, and it was all Hamilton Southeastern would need to claim the 4A softball state championship by a score of 3-1.
It was the second state finals appearance for Terre Haute North, the Patriots' first since 1988. Skipper Jack Kirchner led his squad to a 27-9 record. Head coach David Cook and Hamilton Southeastern ended the 2010 campaign with a mark of 27-4.
HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN'S JENNA ABRAHAM NAMED MENTAL ATTITUDE AWARD WINNER
Jenna Abraham of Hamilton Southeastern was recognized by members of the IHSAA Executive Committee as this year's recipient of the Mental Attitude Award in Class 4A softball.
The four-year letterwinner was a member of the Royals' 2007 state championship team. This year she was selected to the Hoosier Crossroads Conference First Team, was recognized as an ICGSA (Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Association) South All-Star, and was named to the ICGSA All-State Second Team.
Abraham graduates with a 3.9 cumulative GPA. The honors student has received Hamilton Southeastern's Scholar Athlete Award for four straight years and was selected to take part in the IHSAA Role Model program, where she spoke to elementary school students about being a role model and the importance of staying tobacco free.
Abraham is a four-year member of the Student Council, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and Student Leadership Team. She has also been a part of the Student Athletic Council and National Honor Society, each for two years at HSE. She is active in the Adopt A Family Program, Hamilton Southeastern Food Drive, and has volunteered as a elementary school tutor and as a coach for DeVeau's Darlings, a cheerleading program for children with special needs.
She will attend Indiana University to study Nursing. Jenna is the daughter of Steve and Marcia Abraham of Fishers.
Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, the corporate partner of the IHSAA, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Hamilton Southeastern in the name of Jenna Abraham.