Pontiac softball wins first state softball title in school history

Posted on June 10, 2024

*Pontiac was crowned the IHSA Class 3A state softball champions Saturday in Peoria. (Photo courtesy WMBD-TV)*

PEORIA – The Pontiac Indians won their program’s first-ever IHSA state softball championship Saturday, defeating Antioch 6-0 in a game which was much closer than the score suggested.

Indians star pitcher, and Stanford commit, Elena Krause worked her way out of multiple jams in the early innings while Pontiac took advantage of their opportunities.

Krause allowed eight runners in the first three innings, seven of them with less than two outs. But she hurled several strikeouts and Krause’s defense made huge plays behind her to keep Antioch from scoring.

In the top of the third, with the Indians leading 2-0, Antioch loaded the bases with only one out. Krause forced a line drive at shortstop Bailey Masching who then doubled off the runner at third.

Meanwhile, Pontiac got their scoring started in the first on a Krause single that scored Gourley after she stole second. Another run came home in the same inning after an error on a sacrifice bunt.

In the third, Krause was brought home on a squeeze bunt by Cadence Helms to make it 3-0. In the fourth, the Indians added their fourth run on a Maddie Gourley triple after she fouled off roughly 10 straight pitches.

Krause wrapped up the scoring with a two-run single in the sixth to push the lead to 6-0.

Over the course of the entire playoff run, Krause and the Indians defense didn’t allow a single run in six of their seven games.

Just in shock, I still haven’t processed the whole thing that we won yet. Just complete joy like being with the best team I could’ve asked for. ELENA KRAUSE

First inning when we scored I knew we had it right then and there. I wasn’t comfortable with two runs. I wasn’t even comfortable with four runs. I wanted to keep it going and going. But I knew Elena would shut them down in the circle like she always does. MADDIE GOURLEY

Oh it was awesome, crazy. Like it doesn’t even feel real right now. But it’s the best feeling ever. BAILEY MASCHING

They deserve it. They’ve worked hard. Like I said all the emotions going on. Nobody deserves it more than this group. The seniors going from top to bottom, freshman stepping up playing big roles, everybody deserves it. NICOLE HAYNER

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