Daily Reporter staff reports
The Hoosier Heritage Conference baseball title is Yorktown’s to lose.
With a New Palestine-Pendleton Heights weekend spilt, Yorktown (17-3 overall, 9-3 HHC) has a two-game lead over both teams with two games left to play.
The Dragons outlasted Pendleton Heights on Friday, then lost Saturday, 8-0, in Game 2 of the doubleheader, which was postponed by rain late Friday night.
New Palestine had five hits Saturday. Keegan Watson had two hits. Wes McBride, Andy Edwards and Hogan Fulkerson each had a single.
Pendleton Heights is 16-8 overall and 7-5 in league play. New Palestine is 15-9 on the year and 7-5 in the HHC. The second-place teams must sweep their HHC doubleheader opponents Friday and hope Yorktown is swept by Delta in the HHC season-ending doubleheader.
The Arabians finish at home Friday against Shelbyville, while New Palestine hosts Mt. Vernon on Friday.
Royals’ offense thrives then sputters in 2 games
The Eastern Hancock offense was a roller coaster in its games last week. During Friday’s 15-7 win against Mid-Hoosier Conference rival North Decatur, the Royals pounded out 16 hits. On Saturday, though, the offense could muster only two in the 9-1 loss versus Frankton.
Against the Chargers (4-10, 1-5 MHC), Austin Lacy, David Johnson and Cole Fout notched three hits apiece. Lacy scored a team-best three runs, stole three bases and drove in one. Johnson scored twice and knocked in two, and Fout tripled and also walked twice.
Austin Clutinger contributed two hits and a team-high three RBIs.
Brandon Reid and Devon Wagoner combined to pitch all seven innings for Eastern Hancock (12-9, 6-2 MHC), allowing seven earned runs, while striking out eight.
On Saturday, in search of a program record-tying 13th win, the host Royals came up short against Frankton.
Garek Ferguson and Johnson collected the team’s only hits. Johnson also scored a run, while Addison True recorded his team’s lone RBI.
Eastern Hancock hosted Northeastern (13-6) on Monday.
golf
Eastern Hancock 8th at conference tourney
Eastern Hancock shot a 396 en route to an eighth-place finish at Saturday’s Mid-Hoosier Conference meet at North Branch Golf Course in Greensburg.
North Decatur claimed the MHC title with a 320, 20 shots better than runner-up Indian Creek (340). South Decatur (349) rounded out the top three. Edinburgh (352) finished fourth, followed by Hauser (359), Southwestern (370), Waldron (385), the Royals, Knightstown (408) and Morristown (416).
Leading the way for Eastern Hancock on Saturday was Cole Allen, who carded an 87. Nelson Dulin followed with a 96. Jait Shultz (106) and Kenny Bunnell (107) wrapped up the Royals’ scorers.
Mt. Vernon edged by Golden Bears
The Marauders dropped Friday’s contest to the visiting Shelbyville Golden Bears 150-160.
Leading the way for Mt. Vernon was Will Dant, who shot a 39. Oliver Mast and Jacob Ault followed with their 40s, and Jack Harker carded a 41.
The match medalist was Shelbyville’s Tyler Kirk, who hit a 35.
The Marauders tee off again May 27 at Daleville.
SOFTball
Cougars, Marauders play in shortened event
Mother Nature did not allow for Greenfield-Central’s Cougar Classic to be completed; however, a few games were played before the tournament was canceled.
Mt. Vernon fell 3-0 against Cambridge City Lincoln and 8-2 versus Franklin County. The Cougars downed Seymour 7-4.
Against the Golden Eagles (7-11), the Marauders were limited to the three hits belonging to Makenzie Gee, Lauren Montgomery and Kristin Connors.
Sarah Pridgen pitched six innings for the Marauders, surrendering three runs on hits.
Pridgen struck out five.
Stats were not available for Mt. Vernon’s loss against Franklin (8-5).
For Class 4A No. 12 Greenfield-Central, Darcie Huber, Deena Miller and Brie Whitaker each collected three of the Cougars’ 14 hits in their victory against the Owls.
Miller, Huber and Michaela Ballman each drove in a pair, while Whitaker and Sarah Morris scored twice apiece.
Huber pitched five innings of scoreless softball, conceding just one hit and one walk and striking out three.
The remainder of the Cougar Classic will not be made up.
The Marauders (9-11, 2-4 Hoosier Heritage Conference) play again Thursday at New Castle (13-9, 1-4 HHC). The Cougars (21-3) were back in action Monday against Roncalli (19-6).
Dragons’ doubleheader contest washed out
New Palestine’s doubleheader against Bishop Chatard was rained out last weekend. The twinbill will not be rescheduled.
Tennis
Pendleton Heights sweeps Dragons
Visiting New Palestine fell 5-0 at the hands of Hoosier Heritage Conference rival Pendleton Heights.
The JV team also lost 9-2.
The Dragons varsity team finished the regular season with a 5-7 record.
