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'We've made so many memories.' Center Grove softball falls one step short of state

BEDFORD — Smiles preceded the tears as the Center Grove softball team huddled in left field Saturday night.

Coach Alyssa Coleman's commentary for those outside her immediate vicinity was drowned out by Queen's "We Are The Champions" blaring over the Bedford North Lawrence speakers, while the scoreboard still displaying the line score of 6-2 Class 4A semistate championship win sat in the background against the pink-and-blue sky.

"They just love each other," Coleman said afterwards. "They're ridiculously in love with each other in just a great way. They care, they're real and they're raw. And (those emotions afterwards) speak to how important it is to them."

Those same smiles were seen on the bus ride to Bedford earlier in the day, interspersed with laughter (and some cringiness) as the girls continued their away game day tradition of reminiscing on their youth softball days with videos and photos from when they were little.

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"Seeing how much we've grown and how much we've changed, it's just awesome to know we still have each other's backs and that friendship through softball and outside the sport," said senior outfielder Kiersten Hardin, who has been playing with fellow seniors Brynn Meyer, Erica Burris and Riley Fuhr, and juniors Taylor Barrett and Ava Krupa since she was eight.

Freshman Hollie Haberstroh and senior Kiersten Hardin following Center Grove's 6-2 loss to Terre Haute North in the Class 4A semistate championship game on Sat., June 6, 2026 in Bedford.

"We've made so many memories," she continued. "Even when we didn't play on the same team, I could call them whenever I needed something and knew they would be there for me. So getting to play together at Center Grove has been so amazing, because whenever we were separated for travel ball, we got to come back here and relive those moments."

Barrett recalled the countless memories: The dance videos, TikToks and slime videos.

Asked what these seniors — a group which also includes Addy Reed, Ella Timmons and Addison Wolff — have meant to her, the junior IU commit was overcome with emotion.

"They mean everything to me," Barrett began. "The memories of everything — just everything they've done, I'll never forget. It's so hard knowing they're leaving, but yeah. I don't know. I'm really going to miss them."

Even within the framework of Center Grove's rich softball tradition, what its Class of 2026 accomplished is remarkable.

After losing in sectionals as freshmen (2023), they reached the state semifinals a year later then ran it all the way to the 4A state championship game last spring, falling agonizingly short in a nine-inning classic vs. Crown Point.

With this year's 23-7 finish, they compiled a four-year record of 96-24 (.800), an especially impressive accomplishment considering the schedule Coleman constructs each season.

"I just couldn't be prouder," Coleman said. "To think that we've had a final four with this group, a runner-up and a final four — they just give us everything and they don't ever push back in a sense of like 'no.' They just keep going. This group has done more than they could ever imagine. And then on the front of the relationships and the connections. Not every team gets what they have and I think that's what makes it so hard."

This year's Center Grove Trojans had the pieces to match, maybe even exceed, last year's finish.

They just ran into the buzzsaw that is Terre Haute North.

The Patriots answered CG's opening salvo (a first-inning Barrett sacrifice fly) with six unanswered runs over the next five innings. Senior ace Jaleigh Lindley worked with her rock-solid defense to suffocate any glimmers of momentum the Trojans mustered.

In the fourth, it was a strike 'em out, throw 'em out double play with catcher Marci Parker followed by a diving catch by right fielder Kambry Sparks to preserve a 3-1 lead.

In the sixth, Lindley carved through the heart of the order with back-to-back strikeouts followed by a diving play by Kenzie Zigler at short to end the frame and strand two.

Lindley's final line: 7 innings, 2 runs (one earned) on five hits with seven strikeouts and two walks.

Her rise ball was on point and she was hitting her corners, while going in-and-out, which made it hard to establish any consistency, Hardin said.

Added Barrett: "She's a great pitcher. We did alright. Could have done better, but props to her."

Center Grove's chemistry was forged over the course of the season, Coleman observed. Asked for the players' perspective, Hardin referred back to the beginning of the season: A 6-5 start that began with three straight losses and concluded with a 10-9 loss at Brownsburg wherein the team trailed 10-1 through three innings.

They recognized their potential, but realized they needed to "get it together."

"We all started hanging out outside of softball," Hardin said. "All of our personalities are so similar, so knowing that and knowing we could make it far, that brought us a lot closer. The beginning wasn't what we wanted, but we came together and wanted it for each other."

Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen. Get IndyStar's high school coverage sent directly to your inbox with the High School Sports newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IHSAA softball: Center Grove softball falls one step short of state finals

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