CROWN POINT — Crown Point softball star Paige Liezert said it was just about doing “your thing” Friday night versus a potent Penn lineup.
Liezert’s thing was a dominant performance in the pitching circle to lead the No. 2 ranked Bulldogs to a 4-0 victory over the No. 3 Kingsmen in a clash of Class 4A heavyweights on Cynthia Field.
Senior Liezert twirled a gem as the defending state champions improved to 16-3-1 with their eighth straight win. Penn falls to 16-3.
Liezert, a Miami of Ohio commit, fired a three-hitter with 15 strikeouts and one walk in a masterful effort. The diminutive righthander, who stands a generous 5-5, showcased her big skill set in the circle to improve to 12-1 on the season.
Liezert was also the winning pitcher as Crown Point beat Penn 4-2 in the title game of the Harrison (West Lafayette) semi-state in 2025.
Liezert used a devastating rise ball to overwhelm a deep and talented Penn lineup. The Kingsmen, who entered play averaging over nine runs per game and batting .405 as a team, simply could not catch up the pitch above their hands all game long. Liezert now has 165 strikeouts in 88.1 innings with only 10 earned runs allowed.
Liezert set the tone by striking out five of the first six Penn batters she faced.
“Every game is the same for me because I know my team has my back,” said the soft-spoken Liezert. “You can’t go in thinking this is a huge game. It’s just about doing your thing out there. … I think this sent a message in that we have the bats, the hitters and the defense and that we’re ready.”
The Bulldogs wasted no time taking control of the contest. The hosts, who have now outscored their 20 opponents 186-41, plated three runs in the home half of the first inning. Star leadoff hitter Scarlette Tegtman, one of four seniors, smoked a double over the leftfielder’s head to open the frame. The Bulldogs made it 1-0 on an infield single and a Penn error.
Junior cleanup hitter Evi Cuevas then smashed a two-run double to right-center to make it 3-0. Tegtman was batting .500 prior to Friday night’s game.
“It was a nice relief to have that cushion right away,” noted Liezert.
Penn got a single to rightfield by sophomore Harper Rumble to lead off the third inning. The only other Kingsmen hits were a two-out single by senior Phoebe Wood in the sixth frame and a two-out single by senior Addison Bogunia in the seventh.
Liezert, who consistently throws in the low 60’s, fanned the final batter of the game. She issued one walk, just her 13th of the season, in the final inning. Liezert threw 113 pitches, with 72 of them being for strikes. She stifled a Penn lineup that entered play having scored in double digits in 10 games.
Liezert’s philosophy Friday night was simple with Penn not able to connect with her potent rise ball.
“Keep throwing it,” said Liezert of her mindset of her best pitch. “They liked it and they couldn’t hit it.”
Penn coach Beth Zachary, herself a former state champion as a prep pitcher, gave credit right where it was due.
“She did a great job,” said Zachary of Liezert. “She attacked and controlled the game. She kept us off balance and we did not adjust fast enough. But that’s why we come here on a Friday night. We want to see that.
“There are no excuses, but we just felt off tonight. We were not locked in, and I was surprised that we were not ready in that first inning. You take that away and it’s pretty much an even game after that.
“This is a great learning moment for us. You just can’t spot them three runs like we did. I thought our girls responded well with their energy and I was proud of that. But we just did not adjust fast enough at the plate.”
The Kingsmen, who also lost 6-5 to Crown Point in a regular-season home game in 2025, struck out five times looking Friday night.
Crown Point added a final run in the fifth frame on an RBI single by sophomore Lulu Johnston for the 4-0 final. The Bulldogs also had the bases loaded with no outs in the inning, but Penn senior pitcher Caitlyn Denny did a remarkable job with a pair of strikeouts and a groundout to limit the damage.
“Absolutely not,” responded Crown Point coach Angie Richwalski when asked if she ever takes the greatness of Liezert for granted. “We talk all the time about what a giant hole she will leave after this season and that’s not because we don’t have other talented pitchers. That’s just how good Paige is.
“Paige is a great kid and a soldier out there. She will do whatever we ask her to do. She’s learned a lot these past two years. She likes to put the hammer down out there.”
Crown Point, which entered play Friday night hitting .397 as a team with 20 homers and eight players with 10 or more RBIs, handed Denny her first loss this season. Denny, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff recruit, is now 8-1. The hosts, who have scored in double digits 11 times this season, had eight hits, struck out only six times and walked once. Junior lefty Anna Haeck worked the final inning for Penn.
Penn has now lost to Crown Point, Lake Central (14-0) and Daviess County (14-3) from Kentucky. The Bulldogs have lost 2-1 to conference rival Lake Central, 6-5 to Daviess County and 2-1 to Marist from Illinois.
Crown Point is slated to play at Class 4A No. 1 and unbeaten Lake Central (22-0) again on Tuesday night.
Penn, who is atop the Northern Indiana Conference standings at 7-0, will host Elkhart Monday at 5:30 p.m. to resume the game that was suspended Thursday night. The contest is tied 1-1 with Penn batting in the bottom of the first inning.
The Kingsmen and the Bulldogs could see each other again next month in the Harrison (West Lafayette) semi-state. Penn is the heavy favorite in its own sectional and will likely face Elkhart in the regional for the second straight year. The Kingsmen have won a state record 11 straight regional championships. Crown Point will compete in the Lake Central Sectional, but would not see the hosts until the title tilt.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Crown Point shuts out Penn in clash of Class 4A prep softball powers