The Chesterton softball team couldn’t make another comeback on Saturday and dropped a 3-1 decision to Huntington North at the IHSAA West Lafayette Semistate.

“I’m proud of the season our girls ended up putting together,” Chesterton coach LouAnn Hopson said. “We peaked and came together at the right time.”

The Trojans did take a 1-0 lead in the first as they scored off of Huntington North starter Erin Rethlake.

Sammie Howard got a one-out walk and moved to second on a passed ball. Howard scored when Sydney Cooley reached on an error.

The Vikings answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first thanks in part to an RBI single and double against Chesterton starter Megan Tymorek.

The Trojans did have a couple of chances to solve the Kentucky-bound sophomore’s riddle, but failed to score with a runners on the corners in the third. Chesterton also had a runner on third in the fifth.

Rethlake would strike out 10 batters and allowed just four hits.

“My disappointment for the girls is that we didn’t put out our best offensive effort,” Hopson said. “We just let too many pitches go.”

Huntington North set the final score with a solo run in the sixth inning.

Tymorek led the Trojan offense with a pair of doubles as Mallory McKee and Sarah Richards each added a single.

“Next year’s challenge will be collectively working together toward our end of the season goals,” Hopson said. “A lot of people will be expecting a lot from us. We need to not get caught up in that. There are still some parts of our game that we need to improve together on with a purpose.

“I like the possibilities.”

The Vikings won the Semistate title with a 1-0 victory over Northridge in the nightcap. Huntington North will face Plainfield for the Class 4A State Championship next Saturday.

SCORING BY INNINGS

Chesterton 100 000 0 -- 1 4 1

Huntington North 200 001 x -- 2 6 1

2B -- Megan Tymorek 2 ©. Pitching Summary -- Chesterton -- Megan Tymorek (6 IP, 6 K, 0 BB, 6 H); Huntington North -- Erin Rethlake (7 IP, 10 K, 1 BB, 4 H). WP -- Rethlake. LP -- Tymorek.

Posted 6/4/2012