Chapelle wins first softball state championship by defeating John Curtis

SULPHUR — Chapelle senior Kayla Giardina struck out 12 as the Chipmunks won a softball state championship for the first time by defeating John Curtis 2-1 in the Division I select state final Saturday at Frasch Park.

Giardina pitched the final two innings with the lead after she started the sixth inning with a double, and freshman courtesy runner Bayleigh Hammer scored the go-ahead run when Mia Impastato hit a sacrifice fly to right field.

Curtis scored an unearned run in the first inning and Giardina kept the Patriots from scoring the rest of the way. The game ended with a swinging strikeout, after which Giardina threw her glove and facemask in the air as teammates poured out of the first-base side dugout.

Chapelle’s Addy Stein scored the tying run in the fifth inning when she advanced two bases on an infield single. Kam DiMaggio hit the ball in a way that caused it to spin in place between two fielders near first base as each appeared to think the other would pick up the ball.

Curtis scored the first run when Katie Kempton hit a sacrifice fly that drove in Miley Percle, who reached on an infield single.

This story will be updated.