IHSAA softball: Energized by 'eye-opening' loss, No. 2 Center Grove downs Shelbyville

SHELBYVILLE — Last Saturday's loss to Pendleton Heights, one in which they allowed five runs in the bottom of the sixth en route to a 5-3 setback, "left the taste of blood" in the mouths of the Class 4A No. 2 Center Grove Trojans. That's how coach Alyssa Coleman described it and in talking with her players following Wednesday's 3-1 win over Shelbyville, it's safe to say that's a pretty apt explanation.

"It was an eye-opener," senior Hannah Haberstroh said.

"We kind of used it as an energy boost," junior Riley Henson added. "That performance brought us down, so we picked ourselves back up. It helped us out."

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Haberstroh, an Ohio State commit, ensured a strong start batting lead-off, reaching base on a hard-hit line drive that deflected off Kylee Edwards' glove at third. Haberstroh moved to third on a hit to center by Brynn Meyer, then came around to score two batters later on an Ashlynn Wolff groundout.

It was Center Grove's first first-inning run in three games and provided a much-needed spark for the lineup, which put a runner on in four of the first five innings.

"We came out with a lot more energy than we did last game," said Haberstroh, who tripled in a run then scored herself in the fifth. "We scored in the first inning, which has been a struggle for us, and I think we just had fun."

That was more than enough run support for Henson, who allowed just one run on four hits with a walk and 10 strikeouts over seven innings pitched. The lefty ace was dialed in from the start, allowing just one hit (a bunt single) through the first 3.1 innings.

Shelbyville put two on with no outs in the bottom of the sixth, but Henson minimized the damage, getting a flyout and back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning.

"We were working on going inside and outside a lot, trying to mix it up; make it different for every batter," Henson said.

Henson's Golden Bear counterpart, junior Cheyenne Eads, was also sharp, allowing just three runs on six hits with three strikeouts.

Edwards, Abby Brenner, Hailey Pogue and Hailey Maulden registered hits for Shelbyville, with Pogue driving in their lone run.

Haberstroh finished 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI and two runs scored. Meyer and Mae Munson also went 2-for-3, with Meyer accounting for the team's other RBI.

"The energy after (the Pendleton Heights loss) — we were all out for blood once we took that loss," junior Ava Mardis said. "Now we're back on our winning streak and our energy is high. We all just want this for each other more than anything. It doesn't really matter about the losses. We know this season is going to be a good one."

Center Grove (7-1) hosts Brownsburg on Thursday; Shelbyville (5-3) hosts Delta on Friday.

Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Softball: Energized by 'eye-opening' L, Center Grove tops Shelbyville