Northfield’s seasons of first-ever culminates this Friday, when the team takes the field for the 1A state championship.
Following a 13-9 regular season, Northfield is under a playoff resurgence. The Lady Norse knocked off the Top 4 teams in Class 1A--#2 North Miami, #3 West Central, #4 Caston—to win the program’s first sectional. Northfield then handled Fremont to win regional for the first time. At semi-state, the Lady Norse upset #1 Union Mills South Central and #12 Muncie Cowan in extra innings.
“It still doesn’t feel real,” senior outfielder Kyra Kennedy tells ParkviewSportsMedicine.com. “It’s still one of those things that’s like, oh my gosh, we’re here. And we’re going to state.”
Kyra hit all three of Northfield’s RBIs at semi-state, including the walk-off infield single in the bottom of the 11th inning. For the season, Kyra is batting an astonishing .505 with 32 extra base hits, and 34 RBI.
“Our goal the whole year was sectional champs,” senior first base Kenzie Baer adds. “A lot of people didn’t expect us to go this far. It’s awesome that we’re going out with a bang.”
Northfield matches up with #7 Clay City, located between Terre Haute and Bloomington. The Eels (22-6) are making their first trip to the State Finals after last winning regionals in 2014. Game time is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at Center Grove High School in Greenwood.
“It’s sad because it’s going to be my last game,” senior shortstop Addi Baker says. “I’m fortunate that I know it’s coming, because it’s State. It would mean everything, because we’d get banners; and we would bring home a huge trophy for this community.” Softball won’t be over for Addi, who has 13 home runs this season. She signed her national letter of intent to play softball at Southern Illinois University.
When it comes to girls sports, the Class of 2021 has earned a top spot in school history. In addition to this deep playoff in softball, the seniors racked up 84 wins, 2 regional titles and four-straight Three Rivers Conference titles. On the volleyball court this past fall, Northfield won its first TRC title since 2011.
“I think this senior class is going to go down as the most-acclaimed athletes in the history of Northfield,” head coach Brandon Baker says. Baker became softball coach last season, but the season was canceled after 4 practices. A 1994 graduate of Northfield, he is also the head football coach and Addi’s father. “I’m very blessed that I get to make this journey with my daughter. How awesome as a parent, let alone as a coach.”
Of the 18 girls on the roster, eleven play all three of those sports at the Wabash County school with an enrollment of 270 students.
We’ve come in everyday and work super hard,” senior pitcher Abby Hunter says. “I feel like this legacy we’re leaving for the younger kids showing that if you come in every day and work hard, the hard work will pay off.” Abby is 16-3 on the mound this season with 122 strikeouts and a 3.16 earned run average. Abby will play college volleyball at Lakeland University, an NCAA Division III school in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.
“It’s going to be a surreal moment, for sure,” she adds. “I’m just going to have to make sure I do my job and not let my nerves get to me.”
Northfield is one of 25 high schools that partner with Parkview Sports Medicine for athletic training, nutrition, sports performance, athletic rehab and other sports medicine services for Norsemen and Lady Norse student-athletes. Learn more at www.parkviewsportsmedicine.com.
written and produced by Eric Dutkiewicz