Holy Family wins 2nd championship in 3 years

AURORA » A first- inning grand slam from Abby Edwards powered Holy Family on Saturday to its second Class 4A softball championship in three years with a 9- 6 victory against Mead.

Edwards, a senior catcher, was more inclined to thank the teammates who were there every step of the way since the beginning.

“The senior class has worked so hard,” said Edwards, also a member of Holy Family’s 2018 state title team. “The connection me and all the pitchers have had is just amazing.”

Fourth- seeded Holy Family reached the title game at Aurora Sports Park after a dramatic semifinal win over third- seeded D’Evelyn, 12- 7, in which it erased a five- run deficit.

Their bats stayed hot in the championship, but Mead didn’t lay down easily, closing the gap after Holy Family’s early grand slam. In the fourth, Mead’s Allie Szablowski crushed a two- run homer to pull within 7- 6.

But Holy Family added two runs late to close it out, including an inside- the- park homer from Edwards in the sixth, to escape. The bench cleared for a celebration. Edwards sprinted toward senior pitcher Jaelen Giron on the mound.

“I just wanted to hug Jaelen, she’s worked so hard this year,” Edwards said. 3A: Eaton wins first state softball title. Eaton coach Dale Hughes has spent 17 years in pursuit of a state championship. The wait ended Saturday.

No. 1 seed Eaton defeated third- seeded Lutheran, 5- 1, to claim the Class 3A title. Eaton freshman Sadie Ross struck out 12 and allowed one run over seven innings. Ross also drove in the game’s first run with a double. Eaton senior Jenny Jarnagin was efficient at the plate ( 2for- 3) and scored two runs.