Freshman Payton Cherep turbo charges Chesterton’s first sectional championship since 2019 with a first-inning grand slam on way to a 16-6, five-inning win over Hobart

Tom Keegan
Onwardtrojans.com

Sectional host Chesterton turned the tournament into its very own home run derby and trotted its way to the school’s first softball sectional championship title since 2019.
The Trojans did it by avenging a season-opening loss to Hobart in convincing fashion with a 16-6 win over the Brickies in five innings Friday, when the mercy rule kicked in.
Freshman Payton Cherep, an important addition to a team already well equipped to hit the long ball, ensured the Trojans wouldn’t have to sweat this one out by crushing a grand slam over the fence in left field in the first inning and pitching well enough to keep the Brickies at a safe distance.
Setting the table for Cherep in the first, Alexia Franco reached on a one-out walk and consecutive singles by Hannah Florian and Jillienne Pittman loaded the bases for Cherep. She responded with her team-leading fifth home run, pushing her team-best RBI total to 25.
Afterward, Cherep said hitting a grand slam never crossed her mind. It was a long time coming for a hitter with so much power.
“I haven’t had one since I was 11,” Cherep said. “It feels so good, so good. I didn’t even realize it was bases loaded, if I’m being honest. I was just thinking get a hit, get a hit, get runners in because they have big bats, so we want to take advantage early and it went, first pitch I saw.”
Cherep improved her pitching record to 5-4 by allowing five runs (two earned) on seven hits and two walks without any strikeouts in four innings. Hannah Florian finished it, allowing a run and striking out two in her lone inning.
The Trojans don’t have a dominant, strikeout pitcher. Their lack of power in the circle means they must generate it at the plate. They were up to the challenge.
Not all teams that hover around .500 most of a season have a distinct identity, but these 13-11 Trojans do. They are sluggers who tend to go hot streaks with their bats.
Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco of the late 21st century were the Bash Brothers. If Chesterton’s collection of softball sluggers had a nickname, The Bash Sisters would fit. They hit home runs in bunches.
“It’s very contagious,” Cherep said. “When one’s up, we’re all up.”
They were all up for the sectional, scoring 27 runs and hitting five home runs in two games.
The Trojans defeated Valparaiso in the semifinal 11-9 on Hannah Florian’s walk-off home run Thursday. Pittman had gotten them started in that one with a two-run home run to left-center in the first inning. The Trojans led 8-4 after a six-run third, but Valpo caught up 8-8 and then 9-9 before Florian put an end to it.
Chesterton didn’t let Hobart back in it in the title game and topped its semifinal final power display with three home runs in the championship game. Florian hit her third and Lexi Smith her third.
So, the five home runs in two days came from four different hitters: Florian (2), Pittman 1, Cherep 1, Smith 1.
Both teams pitched carefully enough to Cherep that she drew four walks in two games, and she went 2 for 4 with five RBI. Florian also drove in five runs in the sectional. Franco contributed snazzy defense from center field and went 4 for 7 with two RBI. Pittman went 4 for 6 and drew two walks. Olivia Milton contributed standout plays from her catcher position and went 5 for 9 with three doubles. Smith and Claire Demeter each contributed three hits and drove in three runs.
The defense wasn’t perfect but there were some slick plays, including two in the title game from Pittman, a third baseman with a strong arm.
The Trojans had a scary moment in the final inning when Cherep, playing first base, chased a foul ball to the chain link fence near first base dugout. She crashed into the fence and fell to the ground. Teammates all gathered in a circle on one knee in the pitching circle until it Cherep was helped back onto her feet and the spectators cheered.
“I hit my right knee in the pole that connects the fences, but it’s OK. I’m up, I’m walking,” said Cherep, who stayed in the game. “I think it’s just going to bruise. It was just in the moment it hurt. Now I’m fine. It doesn’t hurt, it’s just a little numb, that’s it, which is kind of bad, but I should be fine.”
The win gave Erin Cochran a sectional title in her first year as the Trojans’ head coach.
“I’ve really enjoyed Coach Cochran,” Cherep said. “She’s a very understanding coach and she really knows what to do to win. I really appreciate her.”
The win extended the Trojans’ season to Tuesday, when they travel to face the host of the Crown Point regional. Home runs will be harder to come by there. The Bulldogs (27-4) have seven no-hitters and 11 shutouts. They have allowed eight home runs and hit 34. Ace junior pitcher Paige Liezert is 17-2, 0.83 with six no-hitters and nine shutouts. She has struck out 251 batters and walked 21 in 118-1/3 innings.
Crown Point was ranked fourth in the final 4A poll conducted by the Softball Coaches Association of Indiana. Lake Central, the team Crown Point defeated 4-2 in the sectional final, was ranked No. 1.
In two games against Chesterton, Crown Point outscored the Trojans 25-3.
Each team has a girl named Lexi Smith. Crown Point’s Smith was the winning pitcher in the Bulldogs’ 15-3 win vs. Chesterton. Liezert pitched a six-inning shutout, allowed two hits and a walk and struck out 12 in the 10-0 Crown Point victory. Milton and Lila Miller had the hits for the Trojans.
Regardless of what happens Tuesday at Crown Point, one thing won’t change then or forever: The Trojans are 2025 Chesterton sectional champs.