The 19^th Annual IHSAA Softball State Finals

June 13-14, 2003

Eastern (Greentown) Outlasts Tecumseh In 12 Innings For Championship

Scoring its only run in the bottom of the 12^th inning, Eastern (Greentown) captured its first girls softball title Saturday, June 14, 2003 at Hamilton Southeastern High School, in a 1-0 game against Tecumseh.

The two teams had battled through 11 scoreless innings, before Cayleigh Harvey reached on an error to lead off the bottom of the 12^th. She advanced to second on a passed ball and after Breanna Howell lined out to the pitcher and Kasee Spangler struck out swinging, Vanessa Eikenberry singled to right, sending Harvey across the plate with the winning run.

Howell was the winning pitcher, going 10 innings and allowing only four hits, while striking out eight. Spangler pitched the first two frames, giving up only one hit and striking out a pair.

Eastern (Greentown) had earned the right to play in the title game with a 4-0 win over Whiting earlier in the day in the rain-delayed semifinals. Tecumseh advanced via a 1-0 triumph over Riverton Parke on a one-hitter by Jessica Miller.

Eastern (Greentown), coached by Jerry Haines, concluded the season with a 30-4 record. Tecumseh, under Jennie Herrenbruck, finished at 26-5.

The game was delayed 29 minutes due to a physical problem encountered by home plate umpire John Hunter, who was forced to leave the game, giving way to Steve Morris from Terre Haute, the 2003 recipient of the Interscholastic Officials Association Award for excellence in softball, who was on hand at the game.

Lauren Curosh Of Whiting Named Class A Softball Mental Attitude Winner

Lauren Curosh of Whiting High School was named winner of the Class A Softball Mental Attitude Award following the championship game at Hamilton Southeastern High School.

At the conclusion of each state championship game, the IHSAA Executive Committee presents an award for mental attitude to an outstanding senior participant. The recipient of this award, who was nominated by her principal and coach, must excel in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability.

Lauren was also a member of the school volleyball and basketball teams, capturing Academic All-State honors by the Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Association in both sports. She was honored as the Lake Athletic Conference Athlete of the Year and Scholar Athlete of the Year during the 2002-03 season.

Academically, Lauren ranks second in her class of 51 and was Salutatorian of her 2003 graduating class. A member of the National Honor Society, she maintained a position n the Principal’s Honor Roll and is a National Merit Commended Scholar. She is a member of Who’s Who of American High School Students and National Honor Society of High School Scholars, as well as being named a Whiting High School Scholastic All-Star for all four quarters during her senior year.

Other awards bestowed upon Lauren during her final year at Whiting include the Principal’s Leadership Award, Hoosier Scholar, Daughters of the American Revolution Award, National Nominee for the Wendy’s High School Heisman, President’s Award for Educational Excellence, Kiwanis Scholar, Colonel Henry Crown Scholarship, Jack Taylor Scholarship and Centier Bank Scholarship.

Lauren is the daughter of Charlene and Joseph Curosh of Whiting.

Farm Bureau Insurance, IHSAA corporate partner, presented a check for $1,000.00 to Whiting High School in the name Lauren Curosh.