Knights face heartbreaker in Regional championship

Senior Kaitlyn Heinzen digs in, ready to drive in some runs for her Cornell-Lake Holcombe team June 17, as the Knights hosted the Regional championships at Mill Yard Park. It was a close game to the end and the Knights fell just short of advancing, with the contest going to Fall Creek, 5-3. Photo by Ginna Young

Spirits were high for the Regional championship in Cornell, June 16, as the Cornell-Lake Holcombe Knights Softball team faced off against Fall Creek. The Knights came in seeded No. 2, while the Crickets were No. 3 in the bracket.

The game remained scoreless until the fifth inning, when the Crickets drove in a run. The Knights would answer to take a 2-1 lead, but Fall Creek wasn’t finished and added a run to tie the game, then three more runs.

In an effort to get back in the game, the Knights came up with a run, but the season slipped away and the Crickets handed the home team a 5-3 loss.

“We had that game won, we just couldn’t finish it,” said coach Andy Lorenzen.

Ending her high school career on the mound, senior Izzy Clark went all seven innings, allowing 6 hits and 2 walks, while coming away with 9 strikeouts. She also added a hit on offense.

Also coming up with a hit each, were seniors Alyssa Helland and Kaitlyn Heinzen, junior Teaira Spaeth and freshman Makya Heatherington.

For Clark, Helland, Heinzen and Michaiah Galster, the final game was bittersweet, as they lost a season last year, when it was canceled. The question of what could have been, quite possibly lingers in the minds of the players and their fans.

“We obviously made it as far as we did, with the seniors,” said Lorenzen. “We wouldn’t be able to do it without them.”