SB Carmel Inv.: 4A #5 host ’Hounds roll to eight-team title

CARMEL – Class 4A fifth-ranked host Carmel breezed through four softball games April 24-25, including a decisive 9-3 romp over defending 4A state champion No. 15 McCutcheon in the title game, to capture the championship of the annual eight-team Carmel Invitational.

The Greyhounds (11-1) got off to a fantastic start with a 5-0 opening victory Friday against West Lafayette as sophomore right-hander Katie Osborn tossed a 15-strikeout no-hitter. Sixth-year coach Emily Good’s girls then continued their shutout parade with a 12-0 win versus Carroll (Fort Wayne) before blanking South Bend Riley 10-0 to reach the final.

McCutcheon (9-6) had a much more difficult path to the championship game after also opening with a shutout win Friday, 6-0 over Indianapolis Cathedral. But the Mavericks had to overcome a pair of ranked foes in 4A No. 22 Munster (winning 16-3) and 4A sixth-ranked Penn (winning 4-3) to reach the finals.

Penn (11-4), which captured its only state title as a 3A school 10 years ago, took home third place with a 10-0 shutout of West Lafayette, the only 3A school in this tournament, in the consolation game.

Click here for my sun-drenched interview with Carmel coach Emily Good!

The complete Carmel Invitational results:

4A #5 Carmel 5, West Lafayette 0

South Bend Riley 3, Carroll (Fort Wayne) 0

4A #5 Carmel 12, Carroll (Fort Wayne) 0

West Lafayette 7, South Bend Riley 4

4A #5 Carmel 10, South Bend Riley 0

Carroll (Fort Wayne) 3, West Lafayette 2

4A #15 McCutcheon 6, Indianapolis Cathedral 0

4A #6 Penn 5, 4A #22 Munster 1

4A #15 McCutcheon 16, 4A #22 Munster 3

4A #6 Penn 7, Indianapolis Cathedral 3

4A #15 McCutcheon 4, 4A #6 Penn 3

4A #22 Munster 11, Indianapolis Cathedral 1

4A #5 Carmel 9, 4A #15 McCutcheon 3

4A #6 Penn 10, West Lafayette 0