It was a victory for the ages.
Penn’s Kingsmen fought to claim one of the greatest victories in Indiana High School Softball by defeating No. 1-ranked and two-time defending State Champion Indianapolis Roncalli, 2-1, in a nine-inning thriller to earn the Class 4-A State Championship on Saturday, June 10.
Roncalli entered the match ranked No. 3 in the nation, and featured the No. 1-ranked college prospect, Florida signee Keagan Rothrock.
Sophomore Ava Zachary lined a triple to center field in the top of the ninth inning, and scored on a two-out passed ball.
Sophomore pitcher Olivia Signorino finished off the Royals in the bottom of the ninth inning to earn the victory and trigger a jubilant Kingsmen celebration.
Signorino pitched 5.2 innings, striking out five.
Junior Aubrey Zachary started the game in the circle and pitched 3.1 innings, striking out three.
The Kingsmen only allowed four hits.
Penn defeated national powerhouse Roncalli twice in the 2023 season, knocking off the Royals 13-3 in the regular season.
Penn took a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning. Abby Widmar singled and advanced to second on a walk by Alexis Riem. Widmar advanced to third on passed ball but was out at home on a fielder’s choice, with Riem advancing to third. Riem scored on a error.
It was Penn’s second State Championship in Softball, the first one earned in 1999.
Coach Beth Zachary’s Kingsmen finished the 2023 season with a 28-4-1 record.
