Northeastern won the 2016 TEC girls softball title with a 6-0 win over Lincoln. Photo by Darla Erwin.
FOUNTAIN CITY, Ind. – With a victory and some help on Monday, the Northeastern softball team could walk away with the Tri-Eastern Conference title.
Northeastern took care of its business with a 6-0 win over Lincoln before getting the needed help as Centerville won 5-2 at Union County leaving the Knights alone at top of the standings for the first time in school history with a 6-1 mark.
“These types of championships are won by the players,” Northeastern Head Coach Mike Roeder said. “We’ve got some great players. The great players came through at the plate and in the field.”
“Our pitcher was phenomenal,” Roeder added. “That’s what it takes to win championships.”
Katie Schneider
Katie Schneider shut down the Golden Eagles (9-7, 4-2) on one hit as she went the distance on the mound for the Knights with 10 strikeouts.
“She was on,” Lincoln Head Coach Scott Griffin said. “We didn’t have an answer for her.”
Lincoln’s hit was a single by Sydney Miller in the third inning.
“Every time I go to the mound I know my team is going to back me up,” Schneider said.
By contrast, Northeastern’s offense got started with a home run by Sierra Gilmore in the bottom of the first.
“We’ve been doing great offensively,” Schneider said of her run support. “Our team has been stringing hits together.”
Sierra Gilmore
After Gilmore’s blast, the Knights followed with five more hits and three more runs to take control of the contest.
“That start was huge,” Roeder said. “We talked about that. We said if we could get off to a quick start it might really work to our advantage. You can’t ask for more than that.”
Lauren York, Schneider, Leah Hoskins, Katlyn Williams and Mikayla Hornung all had hits for the Knights as they finished the frame with a 4-0 lead.
Northeastern, now 11-6 overall, also scored a run in the fifth and another in the sixth.
Lena Smith had a RBI single in the fifth, while York singled to knock in Gilmore in the sixth after she tripled for her third hit of the affair.
“Gilmore had a heck of a day,” Roeder said. “In my opinion, she is the best shortstop in this side of the state that I’ve seen.”