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Softball: Teamwork key as Hebron takes sectional title
Updated: May 28, 2011 11:52PM
At the beginning of the season, first-year Hebron coach Mike McLindon gave each of his 19 players a bracelet.
There were three letters on each bracelet — W.I.N., which stands for “When I’m needed.”
It was meant to remind each player that they were part of a team that was going to win together or lose together.
More than two months later, the Hawks are still winning, and Saturday’s 9-0 trouncing of Winamac in the Class 2A Boone Grove Sectional final illustrated how well McLindon’s W.I.N. concept is working.
Eight of the nine spots in the lineup got base hits. Six different players scored runs. And two pitchers with different styles contributed to holding Winamac to just one hit — a harmless infield single in the first inning — and one other baserunner — a meaningless walk in the seventh inning. In between they combined to retire 16 straight.
“I wanted to give them something that would stay with them all the time,” McLindon said about the bracelets. “It’s been such a team concept — these 19 girls have come together.”
The offense was impressive, scoring three runs in the fourth inning and four runs in the fifth. But it was the pitching of starter Carrie Combs, who earned the win, and Mollie Lindeman, who threw the last three innings for the save.
“I’ve been saying all year, I’m the most blessed coach in the state with two outstanding pitchers,” McLindon said. “They both do a great job and they do different things well.”
Combs worked quickly Saturday, keeping hitters off balance and the defense behind her on their toes.
Lindeman blew hitters away, striking out six in her three innings, including three straight to end the game after walking the leadoff hitter.
“If that’s what we have to do to win, I’m OK with it,” Combs said.
Even when Combs was pinch-hit for in the bottom of the fourth inning, it resulted in a RBI single from Ashlyn Wheeler.
McLindon’s team concept also shined through in Kyle Doelling, who was back for her first varsity game after only having partial eligibility (JV) most of the season due to transferring from Boone Grove. The sophomore had two hits and scored two runs.
“It feels awesome,” Doelling said. “I’ve been waiting for this day. I was a little nervous jumping back into the varsity thing.”
The togetherness concept also came through in the Lindeman sisters, who both doubled in the fifth inning. Junior Mollie led off with her two-base hit off the top of the wall while freshman Maggie drove in two runs with her double the culminate the scoring in the inning.
Hebron will host the 2A regional Tuesday, facing fellow Porter County Conference team Hanover Central.
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