Camryn Reichenbacker said when she fielded a ground ball and stepped on first base for the final out of Tuesday’s softball game against Bedford North Lawrence, it meant a lot to her.
“It was a very great feeling to know that we came out and beat Bedford when they haven’t lost against anyone else,” Reichenbacker said. “It felt really good. We had lots of energy tonight. It was a team win.”
The 8-2 win enabled the Owls and the Stars to tie for the Hoosier Hills Conference title with records of 6-1.
Seymour won the HHC softball title outright in 2019.
“This is back-to-back,” Coach Jerry Burton said. “I’m happy for the girls because they made their mind up that this is what they wanted to do. They came out and played the game they had to play.
“All the credit in the world goes to the girls and the way they played out there. They came out and they took it to them. I told them it would take seven innings, but I was a little bit off.
“We had a lot of opportunities and several people came through with big hits to drive them in. It was really a good team effort to pull this off.”
Reichenbacker was playing third base earlier in the season and she said she switched to first base when Alexia Rieckers suffered a knee injury.
The Owls scored a run in the first inning to lead all the way. Kynadee Warner led off the bottom of the first with a single. She moved to second on a hit by Grace Meyer. Kendrick Sterling hit into a fielder’s choice, and when the Stars committed an error on the play Warner scored.
After the Stars scored a run in the top of the third, Alyssa Perry singled and Meyer doubled in the bottom of the third inning, and both scored on a hit by Sterling.
Reichenbacker and Warner had back-to-back singles in the fourth inning. Perry hit into a fielder’s choice and when the shortstop threw wide of third base, Reichenbacker was safe and the bases were loaded.
Meyer singled to drive in 2 runs, and Sterling grounded out to second, scoring Perry for a 6-2 game.
The Stars used 2 hits and a walk to score their second run in the top of the fifth.
The Owls added 2 insurance runs in the sixth. Warner singled, Meyer walked and both scored on a hit by Sydney Stewart.
Stephanni Kleber went the distance on the mound for the Owls as she allowed 5 hits, walked 4 and had 7 strikeouts.
“Stephanni did a great job,” Burton said. “She battled in there. They had some runners in situations and she pitched out of them. She really did a nice job.
“I think we made all the routine plays on defense. “
The Owls had 10 hits with Warner and Meyer each getting 3. Meyer and Sterling both had doubles, Warner scored 3 runs, and Perry and Meyer both scored 2 runs.
Reichenbacker said a team effort and having a lot of energy have been the keys to the Owls winning.
“lf we don’t have energy we’re down, and our hitting is down. Energy is the main thing we need. It’s a great advantage to score first.
Seymour (14-6) will travel to Greensburg Thursday.
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Bedford;001;010;0;-2;5;3
Seymour;102;302;x;-8;10;0
Seymour hits: Grace Meyer 3, Kynadee Warner 3, Alyssa Perry, Kendrick Sterling, Sydney Stewart, Camryn Reichenbacker; 2B: Meyer, Sterling; runs: Warner 3, Perry 2, Meyer 2, Reichenbacker; RBI: Sterling 4, Stewart 2, Meyer 2
Seymour pitching: Stephanni Kleber 7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 7 K, 4 W
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