Lady Bulldogs fall 4-0 to Chesterton in Sectional semifinals to end season

A USA-365 special report by Mark Smith
5-24-2007 

Thursday, May 23, 2007 - 90 degrees, (4A) Sectional Semifinal at Merrillville, IN

LP - Jackie Beilfuss (4-9) 7K, 1 walk (5 innings)
WP - Dawn McClellan (19-4) CG, 10K, 3 walks

Chesterton (20-5)
Amanda Gough (RF) HR, 3 RBIs
Dawn McClellan (P) single, run scored
Emma Lawson (1B) 3 singles, run scored

CROWN POINT (16-14)
Kara Gulvas (3B) Single, walk
Jessica Martinez (SS) single
          

Tuesday, May 21, 2007 - 85 degrees, (4A) Sectional Quarterfinal at Merrillville, IN

WP -  Jackie Beilfuss (4-8) CG, 6K, 1 walk
LP - Amy Vargas (2-16) CG, K, 3 walks, 2 HBP

MERRILLVILLE (3-22)
Rebecca Hoover (SS) Single
Lisa Saberniak (DP) single

CROWN POINT (16-13)
Allison Adank (2B) 3 singles, sac bunt
Amber Pierce (LF) Single, walk, sac bunt
Lindsey Gurnenz (1B) 2 doubles, RBI
Taylor Perry (DP) Single, HBP
Jessica Martinez (SS) Single, 2 RBIs, walk
Anna Stephens (CF) Single, 2 RBIs

MERRILLVILLE (5-23-2007) -  There's a lot to be said in a positive context about the future of both Chesterton and Crown Point after the two teams met in the 4A Merrillville Sectional softball semifinals Wednesday.  The difference is that with Chesterton, we're talking about the immediate future.  Under sunny skies and in 90-degree temperatures, the Trojans (20-5) re-established themselves as the favorite in NW Indiana with a 4-0 shutout of one of the five teams to beat them during the regular season.  An unearned run gave Trojan all-state senior pitcher Dawn McClellan (19-4) the only run she would need out behind Merrillville high school and Amanda Gough's three-run, fifth-inning homer clinched it as CP could not stop the defending champions from returning to the sectional title game.

CP's 3-2 win over Chesterton in 13 innings in early May was one of five Trojan losses in their last 10 games, but Chesterton head coach Lou Ann Hopson didn't think much of momentum.

"We were playing close games," she explained of the three extra inning losses and a 6-3 loss to Lake Central where her side led 3-1.  "The bloops and bounces that went your way last year (when the Trojans were 30-2) are going against you now.  I just told them to think about how many times you've been there and got the job done.  I just think we were a little snake bit for awhile and hopefully it won't happen again.  I'm proud of them.  We're playing good ball."

So was CP (16-14), which lost the last five games of the regular season, but rebounded to shut out Merrillville 8-0 and battle Chesterton on fairly even terms until the fifth inning.

"We're so young," said first year CP coach Brett Crutchfield, "and we ended up battling these top line programs on even terms every time we played with just a couple of exceptions.  Portage, Lake Central and Chesterton.  Other than once against Portage and once against LC, we competed with everyone we played.  The heart of their order did a lot better against us this time than they did the last time we played.  And it hurt with (Gough) hitting that 250-foot home run."

Crown Point did not get a hit in the first three innings off McClellan, who is 41-5 in the last two seasons, mostly against 4A schools.  In the top of the fourth, Amber Pearce walked and Amy Fairchild tried to bunt her to second.  But Fairchild popped the bunt up, McClellan grabbed it and doubled Pierce off first base.  CP shortstop Jessica Martinez followed with a single to center field but McClellan struck out CP's Anna Stephens.

In the bottom of the fourth, after CP freshman righthander Jackie Beilfuss retired the first two batters, Kristin Mann singled to right field and Lauren Wright singled down the third base line.  Leadoff batter Julie Farmer then hit a hard ground ball in the hole at short.  Martinez tried to backhand the quick bouncer, but the ball glanced off her glove into left field and Mann scored the first run of the game.

Beilfuss struck out five of the first nine batters against her, but the Trojans got four hits the second time through the order and four more, including Gough's three-run homer the third time through the batting order.

"Jackie pitched a heckuva game," said Crutchfield, who had tall freshman Taylor Perry warming up in the he first inning and soph right-hander Kelsey Rather (10-3) warming up in the second inning.

"I didn't see much tiring from her.  I thought about throwing a couple of different pitchers today.  But she was in such a groove.  She was hitting the inside corner and the umpire was giving it to her.  I don't know if it was her being tired or she just missed a couple of spots.  But, with the adrenaline flowing on a hot day, it's hard to conserve energy."

It's also hard to be the young team overcoming the older champs.  CP had just one senior on the field, center fielder Anna Stephens, who had an outstanding game defensively with three tough catches.  Chesterton's starting lineup included four seniors including McClellan (pitcher) and Farmer (SS) at key positions.

"I don't think we gave them any runs," said Crutchfield.  "The ball that was hit to Jessica... it was a tough one in the hole and it took a bad hop.  They had their fastest runner going to first.  The ball that was hit up into the wind.  It was just going a long way."

Hopson has been concerned about her team adjusting to pitching.  The Trojans start a totally right-handed hitting team with some very solid swingers.  Chesterton doesn't bunt that much.  The hitters have to get it done and they'd not been getting late runs in the last three weeks.

"We took them aside at practice yesterday," said Hopson, "and I told them, 'I fully expect that all of you are going to step into the box tomorrow like you always have and take your cuts like you always have and go at it the way you always have.  When it doesn't work, here is an adjustment you can make.'"

Crown Point doesn't have to make many roster adjustments for 2008.  Most of their lineup and all of the CP pitching staff returns next season.  But Crutchfield was sad to see his coaching debut season end.

"This is going to hurt for awhile," he said.  "They've seen the success they can have.  The success they had against Chesterton.  This is just the beginning.  But this is a team I'll never forget.  My first team.  They did so much for me.  But we'll be back with most of them."

DOG NOTES:  Portage senior right-hander Megan Gutierrez pitched the Indians to a 2-0 shutout of Valparaiso in Wednesday's other 4A Merrillville Sectional semifinal game.  Arch rivals Chesterton and Portage meet for a third time in Thursday's title game.

Chesterton defeated Crown Point 3-0 in the championship game of the 2006 sectional, which was played at Portage.  The Trojans have played CP six times in the last two seasons and Chesterton has a 5-1 edge.

Merrillville could not score against CP freshman Jackie Beilfuss when they had the bases loaded in the third inning and CP then scored six third-inning runs in an 8-0 sectional quarterfinal romp.  Lindsey Gurnenz had two doubles including an RBI double in the decisive third inning.

"I like the pressure," said Beilfuss, who pitched 11 innings in CP's 3-2 win over Chesterton in early May.  "I was a little nervous but it makes me play better."

"I have faith in her," said junior catcher Amy Fairchild.  "We were a little nervous tonight, but I think all the freshmen have stepped up this year.  The freshmen and sophomores both have played well.  There's been a few 'girl' things on the team, but I think we've all come together and improved a lot this year."

2007 CROWN POINT (16-14, 7-5 DAC)
Coach Brett Crutchfield  (1st Year) -  DAC games in CAPS

3-27 (L) 1-7  Hobart (17-11)
3-27 (L) 3-7  at New Prairie  (21-7)
4-2 (W) 17-0 (5 innings) at Morton (10-15)
4-3 (W) 2-0 MICHGAN CITY  (6-18)
4-5 (L) 4-2 PORTAGE  (21-7)
4-7 (W)  16-0 West Central (2-20).
4-10 (L) 2-10 LAKE CENTRAL  (21-6)
4-12 (W) 8-2 at VALPARAISO  (6-19)
4-14 (W) 6-1 North Newton (10-18)
4-14 (L) 4-6 (9 innings) Lowell (27-6)
4-16 (L) 0-2 at CHESTERTON (20-5)
4-18 (W) 3-2 (8 innings) at MERRILLVILLE  (3-22)
4-20 (W) 9-3 at LaPORTE  (16-10)
4-21 (W) 7-3 at Elkhart Central (12-18)
4-24 (W) 8-1 at MICHGAN CITY  (6-18)
4-26 (L) 5-12 at PORTAGE  (210-7)
4-28 (W) 2-0 Morgan Township (16-5)
4-28 (W) 7-2 Morgan Township (16-5)
4-30 (L) 1-2 (8 innings) at LAKE CENTRAL  (21-6)
5-2  (W) 11-0 (5 innings) VALPARAISO   (6-19)
5-4 (W) 3-2 (13 innings) CHESTERTON (20-5)
5-5 (W) 10-0 Morton (10-15)
5-8 (W) 4-3 (8 innings)  MERRILLVILLE (3-23)
5-10 (L) 4-5 LaPORTE (16-10)
5-14 (L) 2-4 at Boone Grove  (15-11)
5-16 (L) 1-2 at (South Bend) Riley (21-5)
5-18 (L) 4-5 Highland  (14-13)
5-19 (L) 1-3 at Hanover Central  (20-9)

4A Sectional
5-21 (W) 8-0 Merrillville (3-23)
5-23 (L) 0-4 Chesterton (20-5)

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Revised: May 26, 2007.