The No. 8 Northmor Golden Knights are sectional champions after beating No. 10 Grove City Christian 8-1, led by Mahaila Strobel, who knocked in two runs and had a pair of doubles.
Northmor got on the board in the first inning when Madison Simpson scored on an error. She doubled earlier in the inning, and Kallie Wright followed with a single. Kate Kissling then hit an RBI single to score Wright, and following a Raelyn Fulk single, Strobel smashed an RBI double to right field to go up 3-0.
They put three more runs on the board in the second inning. Katalina Roseberry started the inning with a walk, and Simpson drove her home on a double. Cooper followed with an RBI single, scoring Simpson. Kissling walked and then Cooper scored on a sacrifice fly by Fulk.
Grove City Christian scored a run in the third to make it 6-1, but in the top of the seventh inning, the Golden Knights put two more insurance runs on the board. Strobel hit an RBI double and then later scored on a passed ball.
Northmor tallied 11 hits in the win, with Strobel going 2-for-4 with a run scored. Madison Simpson was 2-for-3 with a both hits being doubles. She drove in a run, scored twice and walked once. Kallie Wright was 2-for-4 with a run scored and Raelyn Fulk was 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Shelby Cooper got the win for Northmor in the circle, going all seven innings, allowing three hits and an unearned run.
Two days earlier, Northmor beat No. 18 Northridge 10-0 in the opening round of the playoffs. Cooper was the star with a 10 strikeout shutout over six innings, allowing five hits and no walks.
Simpson homered in a 1-for-3 day where she drove in two runs and scored once. Cooper was 2-for-4 and Kissling was 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI. Fulk went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run. Strobel had a double and went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run. Wright doubled in a 1-fo-3 day, and scored twice.
Northmor moves on to face No. 10 West Jefferson in the District semifinals of the Division 3, Central 2 tournament.
