Springs Valley Community High School

On Tuesday, the Springs Valley softball team suffered its worst loss since 2018, falling to Class 1A No. 10 Northeast Dubois 21-2. Two days later, on Thursday, the Blackhawks took the field against West Washington, a perennial Patoka Lake Athletic Conference power, and played perhaps their best game of the season. They dominated the Senators from beginning to end, riding a stout defense, strong pitching, and some timely hitting to a 4-0 victory. “That was the plan. I didn’t think we would dominate, but I thought that we would come back fresh and ready to go,” Springs Valley coach Jill Stephens said. “This is a conference game, Dubois is a sectional opponent. The score was ugly, but I was okay because we saw some things. This was the plan the whole time.” In the biggest moments of the game, Springs Valley leaned on Tynley Kluesner. On her 18th birthday, the senior had a resurgent performance on the big stage. She went 1-3 with three runs batted in. It was her first multi-RBI performance since April 14, 2022 and her two-out, two-run knock in the first inning not only gave the Blackhawks the lead, it catalyzed the rest of the team. “Tynley’s a leader whether she believes it or not. That hit for her is great because she’s kind of been in a slump herself,” Stephens said. “Once the girls saw that Tynley had turned it around and she could do that, I think that kind of carried over to all the other girls. They knew that they could hit this girl too.” The Blackhawks held onto those two first-inning runs for a long time, but they were determined to add more. They’d finally break through in the bottom of the sixth as Lily Hickman scored on an error after Kluesner put the ball in play, then Kluesner came around to score on a hit by Ashlyn Bonta. Six different Blackhawks ultimately got a hit in the game, including a few who’ve had a harder time contributing at the plate this season. Bonta’s knock was just her third in six games. Paige Sylvester got in the game late as a pinch hitter and delivered as well, picking up her first hit of the season to help set the table for Bonta. “We talked about how two runs, which we held out for so many innings, wasn’t enough. The bats finally came alive, Marissa Marshall came in and did her job, Paige Sylvester came in and did her job, she had one at-bat and she did what she was asked to do,” Stephens said. “The fact that those girls are doing that, I think we’re finally starting to get in our groove and find what’s working for us.” The win was a much-needed one for Springs Valley (3-4, 2-1 PLAC) as it not only snapped a two-game skid, it also gave the Blackhawks new life in the race for the conference title. They’re now tied for second place with county rival Orleans, behind only Perry Central. If Springs Valley wins out and the Commodores drop any of their last four games, it can still clinch a share of the championship or better. Before they worry about the remainder of their conference schedule though, they’ll take on Loogootee on Monday. “I told the girls before the game that there was no pressure, but there kind of was a little bit of pressure. This game would keep us in or totally get us out for the season and that’s one of our goals,” Stephens said. “With Orleans beating Mitchell last night everybody’s got a loss, so we’re still right there.” BLACKHAWKS 4, SENATORS 0 WEST WASHINGTON;|;SPRINGS VALLEY ;AB;R;H;BI;|;;AB;R;H;BI Deaton rf;2;0;1;0;|;Buchanan ss;2;2;2;0 Haub lf;2;0;1;0;|;Allen cf;3;1;1;0 Manship c;3;0;0;0;|;Hickman p;3;1;1;0 Hall 3b;2;0;0;0;|;Dalton lf;2;0;0;0 A Nance ph;1;0;0;0;|;Kluesner 1b;3;1;1;3 L Keltner 1b;2;0;0;0;|;Tucker rf;1;0;0;0 Brown pr;0;0;0;0;|;Sylvester ph;1;0;1;0 E Nance p;2;0;0;0;|;Bonta 2b;3;0;1;1 Johnson ss;3;0;1;0;|;Pantoja c;3;0;0;0 E Schmidt 2b;3;0;0;0;|;Marshall dh;2;0;0;0 A Schmidt cf;3;0;0;0;|;McNeely flex-3b;0;0;0;0 Totals;23;0;3;0;|;Totals;23;4;6;4 West Washington (4-3);000;000;0—0 Springs Valley (3-4);200;002;X—4 E: West Washington 1, Springs Valley 1. LOB: West Washington 6, Springs Valley 4. 2B: Hickman. SB: Allen, Buchanan. CS: Buchanan. S: Haub, Tucker. ;;IP;H;R;ER;BB;SO West Washington;E Nance (2-2);6.0;6;4;4;2;10 Home;Hickman (3-3);7.0;3;0;0;3;12