INDIANAPOLIS (WRTV) -- On Friday afternoon at Bittinger Stadium on Purdue University's campus, Hanover Central defeated New Palestine in the 3A state championship, 6-4.
In the top of the seventh, Hanover Central had a 6-2 lead and needed just three outs to win the state title, but New Palestine wouldn't go down easy.
With two outs, New Palestine rallied back and even brought the tying run to the plate. But in the end, Hanover Central's Jillian DeYoung shut down New Palestine's Claire Fitzgerald in three pitches to seal the Wildcats' win.
To open the game, New Palestine's first baseman, Cara Steele, reached on an error to give her team a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Third baseman Payton Dye and center fielder Callie Cromwell scored the first two runs of the game.
New Palestine jumped on the scoreboard first, but wouldn't score again until the seventh inning.
Hanover Central pitcher Jillian DeYoung threw a complete game on Friday. The sophomore struck out 11 batters and allowed just two earned runs.
Three players from Hanover Central, Sienna Stilley, Brooklyn Oostman, and Jillian DeYoung, all had two hits in Friday's win.
Hanover Central's 2026 softball state title is the school's first softball state championship since 2004. Hanover Central last won the state championship when the Wildcats played in 2A.
This year's Hanover Central run is even more special, considering the program lost to Cathedral in last year's 3A state championship, 5-4.
Hanover Central ended its state title run with an overall season record of 26-6. Five starters from last year's runner-up squad returned this season to win it all.
