MICHIGAN CITY | Hannah Bond made her parents cry on Wednesday afternoon. The 8-year-old from Crown Point had a game-winning single to center to give Crown Point a 5-4 win over Schererville in the National Softball Association's "B" World Series championship game.
Bond's game-winning hit caused her parents, Jeff and Kim, to cry. Then, the players got a fire truck ride around the Crown Point square and ate pizza courtesy of C.P. mayor Dave Uran.
"It was good," Hannah Bond said of her hit. "It was good that we won."
The World Series began in Northwest Indiana on Monday and is scheduled to conclude on Friday, when the championship games for 10-, 12-, 14- and 16-and-under age groups will be held. There were 211 teams entered in the event.
More than 5,000 players converged on Michigan City's Washington Park beach on Wednesday night for a "pin exchange" party. The players for each team have about 30 metal pins with their logo on it, and, during the week, they trade their pins with other players from all around the Midwest. Most of the pins are attached to towels or cloth bags that the players take with them to all the events.
"This is a great event," said Illinois NSA director Bob Biehl of Champaign, who directed the 8-and-under tournament that was played in C.P. He praised the play of both teams in the final.
"The 8-and-unders never give up, they play with high intensity," Biehl said. "They are the future of fast-pitch softball. And watching those two teams play lets you know the future is bright."
In the top of the sixth inning, Schererville scored a run to take a 4-3 lead and had the bases loaded with only one out. But C.P. pitcher Kari Bauner struck out the next two batters to end the inning.
"I was happy to strike them out," Bauner said.
C.P.'s Emma Van Prooyen then had a game-tying single in the bottom of the sixth, setting up Bond's game-winner with two outs and an 0-2 count.
"The girls went crazy, absolutely nuts," C.P. coach Kevin Frazier said.
The large crowds at the RailCats game on Sunday, the Opening Ceremony in C.P. on Monday, the swim party at Deep River Water Park on Tuesday and the pin party in Michigan City on Wednesday had Jason Sands, Director of Sports Development for South Shore Sports Promotions, thrilled while standing near the packed beach.
"This shows what Northwest Indiana is all about," Sands said. "Look at all these people. Look at these kids having a great time here. When Northwest Indiana comes together and opens its doors to events like this, it's a party. We are very pleased with the way this week is going."
YOUTH SOFTBALL
NSA World Series
8-and-under championship game
Crown Point 5, Schererville 4
Hannah Bond had the game-winning single.
