Leah Prewitt provides diamond glitter

Franklin Township softball standout Leah Prewitt joins her father, Phil Prewitt, and other members of their family as softball vagabonds. FTONEWS.com photo.

For members of the Flat Earth Society, the world, quite obviously, appears flat. For others, like Franklin Township teenager Leah Prewitt and her family, surely the world is diamond-shaped.

Leah Prewitt and her fast-pitch teammates, during a 1 2 -month period ending this past July, took to the softball diamond only one game shy of the century mark. And countless other times, of course, for practices. The championship accomplishments plated by Leah and members of her two teams – the Indy Diamond Chix (ages 1 6 and under) contingent and the Franklin Central Flashes – are quite remarkable.

Never mind the price of gasoline, the Prewitt automobiles routinely have remained packed by parents Phil and Bobbie, and pointed toward softball configurations throughout Indiana and adjoining states. One car with dad at the steering wheel might be headed out to where Leah is playing; the other with mom behind the windshield might be targeted for a field in the opposite direction where little sister Eleni is participating with a younger age group team.

The most recent success enjoyed by Leah and her Indianapolis-based travel team is particularly notable. The Indy Diamond Chix in late July captured the NSA (National Softball Association) World Series title in Columbus, Ohio, tying a first-place bow on the final tourney package of an elongated 1 2 -month stretch.

What makes the feat even more outstanding? A field of 9 8 teams from all over the eastern half of the United States began the double elimination national extravaganza – all in the hunt for the coveted World Series championship. The Indy Diamond Chix went unblemished for the weeklong tourney, polishing off nine straight opponents representing seven different states ( Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia).

The nine-game title run in the Buckeye State featured some outstanding play by the Indy Diamond Chix, including some brilliant pitching, timely hitting and solid fielding. The Diamond Chix eased past the Mattoon ( Illinois ) Pride 6 -0 in the championship game, after easing past the Pittsburgh ( Pennsylvania ) Spirit Black 1 -0 in a white-knuckle semifinal match-up.

But it was Prewitt's bat in an earlier game that week that helped advance the Diamond Chix through the winners' bracket. Storms threatened play in one early morning contest against Ohio Ice Blue. With two Chix runners on base and two outs already recorded in the opening inning, Prewitt stepped to the plate and delivered a memorable three-run, fence-clearing homer. Lightning soon halted action, with the two teams returning the following day at 6 : 3 0 in the morning to complete play. The Chix wound up winning 3 - 2, with Leah's long poke accounting for all of the scoring for the eventual winners.

Individually, Prewitt put up impressive numbers at Columbus, collecting eight hits in 2 2 official at-bats for a. 3 6 4 average to rate among the team's top hitters.

In addition to Prewitt, the team's regular third baseman, the Indy Diamond Chix roster featured talented performers from high schools throughout Central Indiana (Center Grove, Columbus North, Greenwood, Hamilton Southeastern, New Palestine and Pendleton Heights ) and one player from New Prairie High School located about 1 5 miles west of South Bend near the Michigan state line.

Ed Marcum, the girls varsity softball coach at New Palestine, managed the Diamond Chix, with help from coaches Phil Prewitt and Greg Huey and scorekeeper Dick Falkenberry. The Chix – including a 2 0 0 5 fall segment and the 2 0 0 6 summer slate – compiled an overall 5 6 - 1 2 record, with two games winding up in stalemates.

In addition to winning the NSA World Series championship among the 7 0 games played, the Chix also parked two other Indiana state tourney titles – the ASA (American Softball Association) state 1 6 and under and the NSA state tourney 1 6 and under crowns.

For Leah Prewitt, an incoming junior at Franklin Central this fall, the 1 2 months on the diamond through this past July also included a splendid spring season with the FC Flashes. The starting third baseman as a sophomore, Leah helped Coach Kathy Stricker's highly touted squad to an impressive 2 1 - 8 record that included the Flashes capturing the 2 0 0 6 Marion County Tournament championship.

While the diamond sport played at a high level by both Leah and Eleni has become the best friend of the entire Prewitt family, the prospects for friendlier logistics are on the horizon. Phil Prewitt is inheriting the managing reins of the Indy Diamond Chix 1 6 and under team, and shortstop Eleni – an eighth-grader this fall at Franklin Township Middle School – is moving up to play alongside her big sister.

“Having both girls on the same team should help out a lot, what with the price of gasoline being so high,” Phil Prewitt says. “Now all we might need is a trailer to pack up all our belongings and the team equipment.”

As for the new 12 -month season – it begins almost immediately for the Franklin Township diamond vagabonds, with Phil Prewitt mentioning something about a fall softball trip to Tennessee for the Diamond Chix.

The Indy Diamond Chix 16 and under softball team, featuring many area players, recently captured the NSA World Series championship in Columbus, Ohio. Members of the team include: f ron t row from left, Jamie Story, Danielle Prince, Alyssa Marcum, Kayla Gray, Sara Evans and Alyssa Doyle; second row from left, Leah Prewitt, Erin Falkenberry, Ashley Nelson, Jessica Huey and Krystan Schwomeyer; back for from left, Coach Greg Huey, scorekeeper Dick Falkenberry, Manager Ed Marcum and Coach Phil Prewitt. Submitted photo.

- FTONEWS.com -