Paige Liezert led Crown Point to a decisive victory over Penn in softball, effectively silencing their bats. The game showcased Liezert's standout performance on the mound.
Key points
Paige Liezert pitched for Crown Point
Crown Point defeated Penn
Game held on May 7, 2026
Location: Penn High School, Mishawaka
Mentioned in this story
Penn High School
Crown PointPenn
Penn players huddle up in the infield during a softball game against Elkhart Thursday, May 7, 2026, at Penn High School in Mishawaka.
The Elkhart dugout gets fired up during a softball game against Penn Thursday, May 7, 2026, at Penn High School in Mishawaka.
Penn junior Trinity Culp throws a pitch during a softball game against Elkhart Thursday, May 7, 2026, at Penn High School in Mishawaka.
Penn junior Carson Petty tries to throw a runner out at first during a softball game against Elkhart Thursday, May 7, 2026, at Penn High School in Mishawaka.
Elkhart sophomore Addie Reid (7) scores the first run of the game during a softball game against Penn Thursday, May 7, 2026, at Penn High School in Mishawaka.
Q&A
What was the score of the Crown Point vs. Penn softball game?
The specific score of the game is not provided in the excerpt.
Who is Paige Liezert and what was her role in the game?
Paige Liezert is a pitcher for Crown Point who had a significant impact on the game by silencing Penn's bats.
When did Crown Point play against Penn in softball?
Crown Point played against Penn on May 7, 2026.
Where did the Crown Point vs. Penn softball game take place?
The game took place at Penn High School in Mishawaka.
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Elkhart senior Ava Sanders celebrates after driving in a run during a softball game against Penn Thursday, May 7, 2026, at Penn High School in Mishawaka.
Elkhart junior Ava Walker gets a lead off third base while her father, Lions head coach Matt Walker, looks on from the coach's box during a softball game against Penn Thursday, May 7, 2026, at Penn High School in Mishawaka.
Penn senior catcher Phoebe Wood, right, tags out Elkhart junior Ava Walker at a play at the plate during a softball game Thursday, May 7, 2026, at Penn High School in Mishawaka.
Elkhart senior Anna Knight throws a pitch during a softball game against Penn Thursday, May 7, 2026, at Penn High School in Mishawaka.
Penn junior Carson Petty (9) celebrates after reaching third base during a softball game against Elkhart Thursday, May 7, 2026, at Penn High School in Mishawaka.
Penn senior Logan Rumble swings at a pitch during a softball game against Elkhart Thursday, May 7, 2026, at Penn High School in Mishawaka.
Heavy rain in the area, as shown here hitting off one of the light posts at the field, forced the Penn and Elkhart softball game Thursday, May 7, 2026, to be delayed and ultimately postponed. The reschedule date is unknown as of this publishing.
Penn junior Emilia Ducret, right, holds a handful of teddy bears. Penn and Elkhart softball combined for a "teddy bear toss" ahead of their game Thursday, May 7, 2026, with the bears being donated to Beacon Children's Hospital.
Penn and Elkhart softball combined for a "teddy bear toss" ahead of their game Thursday, May 7, 2026, with the bears being donated to Beacon Children's Hospital.
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Our best photos of rain-shortened Penn vs Elkhart softball
Penn players huddle up in the infield during a softball game against Elkhart Thursday, May 7, 2026, at Penn High School in Mishawaka.
1 / 14
Our best photos of rain-shortened Penn vs Elkhart softball
Penn players huddle up in the infield during a softball game against Elkhart Thursday, May 7, 2026, at Penn High School in Mishawaka.
2 / 14
Our best photos of rain-shortened Penn vs Elkhart softball
The Elkhart dugout gets fired up during a softball game against Penn Thursday, May 7, 2026, at Penn High School in Mishawaka.
3 / 14
Our best photos of rain-shortened Penn vs Elkhart softball
Penn junior Trinity Culp throws a pitch during a softball game against Elkhart Thursday, May 7, 2026, at Penn High School in Mishawaka.
4 / 14
Our best photos of rain-shortened Penn vs Elkhart softball
Penn junior Carson Petty tries to throw a runner out at first during a softball game against Elkhart Thursday, May 7, 2026, at Penn High School in Mishawaka.
5 / 14
Our best photos of rain-shortened Penn vs Elkhart softball
Elkhart sophomore Addie Reid (7) scores the first run of the game during a softball game against Penn Thursday, May 7, 2026, at Penn High School in Mishawaka.
6 / 14
Our best photos of rain-shortened Penn vs Elkhart softball
Elkhart senior Ava Sanders celebrates after driving in a run during a softball game against Penn Thursday, May 7, 2026, at Penn High School in Mishawaka.
7 / 14
Our best photos of rain-shortened Penn vs Elkhart softball
Elkhart junior Ava Walker gets a lead off third base while her father, Lions head coach Matt Walker, looks on from the coach's box during a softball game against Penn Thursday, May 7, 2026, at Penn High School in Mishawaka.
8 / 14
Our best photos of rain-shortened Penn vs Elkhart softball
Penn senior catcher Phoebe Wood, right, tags out Elkhart junior Ava Walker at a play at the plate during a softball game Thursday, May 7, 2026, at Penn High School in Mishawaka.
9 / 14
Our best photos of rain-shortened Penn vs Elkhart softball
Elkhart senior Anna Knight throws a pitch during a softball game against Penn Thursday, May 7, 2026, at Penn High School in Mishawaka.
10 / 14
Our best photos of rain-shortened Penn vs Elkhart softball
Penn junior Carson Petty (9) celebrates after reaching third base during a softball game against Elkhart Thursday, May 7, 2026, at Penn High School in Mishawaka.
11 / 14
Our best photos of rain-shortened Penn vs Elkhart softball
Penn senior Logan Rumble swings at a pitch during a softball game against Elkhart Thursday, May 7, 2026, at Penn High School in Mishawaka.
12 / 14
Our best photos of rain-shortened Penn vs Elkhart softball
Heavy rain in the area, as shown here hitting off one of the light posts at the field, forced the Penn and Elkhart softball game Thursday, May 7, 2026, to be delayed and ultimately postponed. The reschedule date is unknown as of this publishing.
13 / 14
Our best photos of rain-shortened Penn vs Elkhart softball
Penn junior Emilia Ducret, right, holds a handful of teddy bears. Penn and Elkhart softball combined for a "teddy bear toss" ahead of their game Thursday, May 7, 2026, with the bears being donated to Beacon Children's Hospital.
14 / 14
Our best photos of rain-shortened Penn vs Elkhart softball
Penn and Elkhart softball combined for a "teddy bear toss" ahead of their game Thursday, May 7, 2026, with the bears being donated to Beacon Children's Hospital.
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 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.
Penn's Phoebe Wood (14) celebrates getting an out at first during a high school softball game between New Prairie and Penn at New Prairie High School on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in New Carlisle.
Penn's Phoebe Wood (14) celebrates getting an out at first during a high school softball game between New Prairie and Penn at New Prairie High School on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in New Carlisle.
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.
