CHALMERS — North Newton senior pitching sensation Sydney Rainford struck out a combined 27 batters and the Spartans went on a power surge in the semi-state finale to make school history last Saturday at Frontier High School.

The Spartans (23-3-1) took down both Southwood and Riverton Park to win the softball program’s first semi-state title and advance to the Class A state championship game at Purdue University this Friday.

North Newton will face Clay City (21-6), which blanked Indianapolis Lutheran, 3-0, in a semi state final at North Davies on Monday.

The game was pushed to Monday due to poor weather.

In the semi-state title game against Southwood (21-11), the Spartans parked six home runs over Frontier’s fence in a power hitting display not seen by any team this season. Paige Culbreth had two home runs, including a two-run shot and a solo homer, and had three RBIs to propel the offense.

Adding solo homers were Caylee Oxley, Riley Higgins, Addison Culbreth and Rainford, who added a double. Oxley was also 2 for 3.

North Newton jumped ahead 1-0 in the top of the first inning, which was more than enough for Rainford, who is considered one of the top pitchers in Northwest Indiana. She struck out 14 batters over seven innings and allowed just two hits. She walked one.

Southwood’s Izzy Ashba had a double and teammate Alivia Pershing singled for the team’s lone hits. Knights starter Natalie Sutphin suffered the loss, allowing all seven runs, including six earned, on 10 hits over five innings of work.

The East Carolina (Greenville, N.C.) University recruit struck out two and walked one.

North Newton reached its first semi-state final with a 5-0 shutout of Riverton Parke earlier in the day.

Rainford was just as dominant in leading the Spartans to victory, striking out 13 batters over seven innings. She allowed just one hit to Emma Ugoletti.

Macy Busboom had a solo blast for the only offense Rainford would need. Higgins added an RBI double and finished 2 for 4.

Rylynn Klemz had a two-run single in her team’s four-run seventh inning.

The Spartans held a slim 1-0 lead through six innings before busting out in the seventh to give Rainford some wiggle room in the bottom half of the inning. But Rainford mowed through Riverton Parke’s lineup to send her team to the semi-state title game.

Rainford will carry a 21-1 mark into Friday’s state finals.

Riverton Park finished the season with a 26-5 record.