HSSB: Dwenger wins state!

INDIANAPOLIS (WANE) - Video of Bishop Dwenger's state championship win as well as interviews with head coach Dave Moyer, senior Maureen Denihan and junior Andrea Filler available by clicking "Play."

It looked all but over for the Bishop Dwenger Saints at Ben Davis High School Saturday in the 3A state championship.  The softball team was making its first-ever appearance at the state finals and they were down 7-1 after four innings.  Then the tables turned.

Bishop Dwenger exploded for five runs in the fifth inning powered by a 3-run homerun from junior Andrea Filler.  The Saints would come back to tie the game in the sixth inning, but top-ranked Boonville would score in their half of the inning to take a one-run lead into the final inning.

With their backs up against the wall, Bishop Dwenger would score twice in the seventh inning to take a 9-8 lead with just three outs to secure the school's first-ever softball state championship.

With ace Filler back on the hill after coming out earlier in the game, Boonville would ground out to the second baseman as Bishop Dwenger captured the 3A state title, 9-8.  The victory marked the 23rd straight win by the Saints.

It was an amazing comeback, but to see that the Saints overcame six errors in the game is even more amazing.  Boonville came into the game ranked #1 touting a 34-1 record, but the Saints kept that never-say-die attitude to win the title.

Senior Maureen Denihan, one of only two seniors on the roster for Bishop Dwenger, was named the Mental Attitude Award winner for class 3A.

Bishop Dwenger finishes the year 27-2.

 

IHSAA RECAP
BISHOP DWENGER’S COMEBACK WIN SECURES SCHOOL’S FIRST STATE SOFTBALL CROWN
Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger scored eight runs over the final three innings including two in the top of the seventh to overtake No. 1 Boonville for a 9-8 victory and the 3A state championship.

It was the first state title for Dwenger (27-2) in its initial trip to the state finals.

With Boonville leading 7-1 after four innings, Dwenger exploded for five runs in the top of the fifth keyed by Andrea Filler’s three run homer with one gone. The Saints added one more in the sixth inning and score twice more in the seventh.

In the top of the seventh and one gone, Dwenger’s Erin Boedeker singled to centerfield scoring Elaine Rorick who had doubled to lead off the inning. With two gone, Erica Miller reached on a throwing error to first base that allowed Erin Boedeker to score from second base, on what would prove to be the eventual winning run.

Rorick would go 4-4 on the day, with two runs scored and two runs batted in. Her four hits tied the 3A state championship game record.

Dwenger was led by seventh-year head coach Dave Moyer.

Boonville and head coach Mike Wilson finished the season at 34-2 and were making their third appearance in the championship game after winning it all in 2006.

Several 3A championship game records were established during the contest, among them: Most Hits by Team (15 by Bishop Dwenger), Most Combined Hits (24), and Most Combined Runs (17).

MAUREEN DENIHAN OF FORT WAYNE BISHOP DWENGER WINS MENTAL ATTITUDE AWARD
Maureen Denihan of Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger High School was recognized by members of the IHSAA Executive Committee as this year’s recipient of the Mental Attitude Award in Class 3A softball.

Denihan was named to the Summit Athletic Conference First Team for her accomplishments during her junior and senior seasons. The Saints’ team captain was named as the team’s mental attitude award winner her junior and senior seasons, and was selected to play in the 2010 East-West All-Star game. In addition to softball, she has been a member of the Saints basketball team for four years.

Denihan is a member of the National Honors Society, Social Justice Club, and is president of the Pilgrims of John Paul II Youth Group. She has achieved honor roll status each semester at Bishop Dwenger.

Denihan was the co-founder of the “Peace of the Puzzle” 5k Run and Walk, co-founder and co-president of the Invisible Children Committee, and organized a fundraiser for classmate Shelby Gruss. She was the recipient of the Mother Teresa Service Award and One Human Family Award, among other service awards.

She will attend the University of Dayton in the fall to major in Communications.

Maureen is the daughter of Patrick and Patricia Denihan of Fort Wayne.

Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, the corporate partner of the IHSAA, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger High School in the name of Maureen Denihan.