John Glenn softball has built a winner. Their fans responded accordingly Tuesday
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WALKERTON ― Lexi Baugher paused for a second.
She was about to chase down a foul ball hit by one of her Glenn softball teammates. This is customary at high school softball and baseball games ― they don’t have unlimited resources like college or the pros.
The way the Glenn dugout is designed doesn’t allow the players to see much of the crowd. That’s why Baugher hesitated for a second as she saw the scene down the leftfield line.
“Holy cow, there’s a lot of people here,” she remarked.
The iconic “if you build it, he will come” line uttered in the film Field of Dreams applies to Glenn softball as well.
The Falcons have built a winner. Their fans showed up in force Tuesday, June 3 for an IHSAA Class 3A one-game regional championship contest against Columbia City because of it.
It was the first time Glenn hosted a regional, coming six days after claiming the program’s first-ever sectional title. Unfortunately for the Falcons, the storybook season came to an end, losing 8-3 to the Eagles.
“This crowd was unbelievable, to be honest with you,” Glenn coach Brian Laskowski said. “We’ve had an outpouring of support come in the last couple of weeks.”
FINAL: Columbia City 8, John Glenn 3. The Eagles are IHSAA 3A regional champions. pic.twitter.com/gKy04l1hiv— Austin Hough (@AustinRHough) June 4, 2025
After winning the sectional final over South Bend Saint Joseph last week, the team rode the bus through downtown for an improvised parade. Laskowski couldn’t believe how many people stepped out of their houses to wave in celebration.
There was a moment before the start of the sixth inning Tuesday where one fan shouted, “C’mon ladies, you’ve got the whole community behind you!” A round of applause soon followed, trying to rally the home team to a win.
Maybe not everyone from Walkerton was there Tuesday, but it sure felt like it. When asked how many tickets they sold, Glenn athletic director Eric Stephens simply said, “a lot.”
“I talked to 30, 40 people either today or yesterday that said they were going to the game,” Laskowski said. “I was like, ‘You ain’t ever watched a softball game in your life.’ … I love that support. We were singing the national anthem, getting ready to do lineups and there was a line of people trying to get in.”
The fans almost saw their team pull an upset. Glenn (14-13) scored three runs in the bottom of the second. Sophomore Sophia Lizzi had a two-RBI double, while senior Makayla Laskowski drew a bases-loaded walk.
Columbia City (19-5) scored seven unanswered, though, to advance to this weekend’s semi-state tournament.
Seniors Laskowski, MaKinzie Kline and McKenzie Timm laid the groundwork for a season like this, leading the Falcons to sectional glory. Although they were unable to get one last win at home, their legacy is the estimated 300 people in attendance Tuesday to watch a program that has been an afterthought for decades.
“To put (Glenn softball) on the map, I’m proud of that, but I’m proud of these girls for doing that more than I ever did,” Brian Laskowski said.
Follow Austin Hough on X (formerly Twitter) @AustinRHough and on Facebook at "Austin Hough - South Bend Tribune." Hough can be emailed at ahough@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: John Glenn softball is officially on the map following regional run
