AKRON, Ohio - Antwerp's 5-run fifth inning and another dazzling pitching performance from Carlie Hanes propelled the Lady Archers to their first-ever Ohio High School Athletic Association Division IV State Championship on Sunday.
Antwerp (22-2) and Mechanicsburg (21-4) were nip-and-tuck early in the game with Hanes and the Lady Indians' pitcher both working out of jams at various parts of the first 4 innings.
Karsyn Brummet's RBI single in the bottom-half of the 5th finally changed the scoreboard. After McRae safely reached first on a bunt, Mechanicsburg intentionally walked Tierra Gomez, brining Hanes to the plate. Hanes' hit scored 2 runs, making it 3-0 in favor of Antwerp. Subsequent RBI singles from Coppes and Rigsby opened the flood gates at 5-0.
Hanes pitched another gem on the mound, giving up 3 hits. She tied a Division IV title game record record with a 15 strikeouts; and combined for 28 strikeouts in the state semi-final and state championship games. Hanes also surpasses 300 strikeouts on the season. She pitched all 24 games and was on the bump for every out this year.
As a team, the Lady Archers shutout their opponent for the 17th time this year.
The 2019 softball team joins the 1992 volleyball team to win state championships for Antwerp High School.
Antwerp is one of 26 high schools that partners with Parkview Sports Medicine for athletic training, sports performance, nutrition, athletic rehabilitation and orthopedic services for student-athletes. Learn more at ParkviewSportsMedicine.com.