Pioneer beats Rensselaer behind Cripe’s no-hitter, will play North Newton next

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

Hailey Cripe pitched a no-hitter with five strikeouts and added a double and an RBI at

the plate to lead the top-ranked Pioneer softball team to a 10-0 win in five innings over Rensselaer in a Class 2A, Sectional 34 quarterfinal at North Judson Tuesday.

Kamryn Newby had three hits and an RBI, and Crystabelle Blickenstaff had two hits and two RBIs. Adeline Cripe had a double and two RBIs. Kylie Attinger had a single and an RBI.

Carlie Morris had two singles, and Kylie Farris, Mackenzie Robinson and Shaylee Goings had one hit each.

Pioneer (23-4) snapped a three-game losing streak. The Lady Panthers lost to Caston, Benton Central and Kankakee Valley last week but maintained their Softball Coaches Association of Indiana top ranking going into the state tournament.

Pioneer eliminated Rensselaer from the state tournament for the second straight year.

Pioneer will play No. 9 North Newton in the semifinals at 6 p.m. Eastern Wednesday. North Newton beat North Judson 18-0 in five innings on Monday.

In Tuesday’s first game at North Judson, No. 5 Boone Grove beat No. 3 Hebron 6-1 in a semifinal.

The sectional final is scheduled for 6 p.m. Eastern Thursday.

Pioneer has not lost a sectional game since 2015.