CANTON — Thriteen seems to keep coming up for Crown Point.
Fresh off a 13 strikeout performance by #13 (Katlin Ross), the Panthers defeated the Hammond Red Devils, 13-1, Saturday.
“We’ve had a jam-packed season, with our first game being April 28 against Bolton,” Crown Point head coach Mike Ross said. “We’ve had very little time to catch our breath, but the girls have been fantastic.
“They’re a very special group of ladies, and they’re enjoying the game and being around each other.”
It started early for the Panthers as they scored four runs in the first and five more in the third.
Starting pitcher Kaitlin Ross got things going in the top of the first with a sacrifice fly, followed by Reagan Thomas hitting into a fielder’s choice, which scored two more.
Laurel Peters added a fourth run and Crown Point was off.
Madison Wayman started the scoring in the third with a triple, as Makenna Munson closed out the five run inning with a triple herself.
“The girls were confident at the hotel, heading to the game and stepping on the field,” Mike Ross said. “They knew they had this one.”
The Panthers added two runs in the fifth and sixth innings to end the game and advance to their first Final Four appearance since 2019.
Like Ticonderoga, Crown Point will know its opponent later Monday as Section II’s Argyle and Section IX’s Eldred face off.
When looking at this weekend, Mike Ross mentioned the significance of 13.
“We are set to play at 1300 hours (1 p.m.),” he said. “The game is on Friday, Friday the 13th.”
Sometimes, these things don’t make themselves up.
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Crown Point 13, Hammond 1
CP 405 022 – 13 9 0
HCS 100 000 – 1 4 4
Ross and Munson. Howie, Greene (3) and Graveline. WP- Ross. LP- Howie. 3B- Wayman (CP), Munson (CP), Hurlburt (CP).