Daily Reporter staff reports
Eastern Hancock battled back from deficits twice in Monday’s game against Northeastern but could not overcome the Knights, falling 10-7 in 10 innings.
Trailing 4-2 heading into the fourth, the Royals scored once before Cole Fout delivered a two-RBI double to give the Royals a 5-4 lead.
Northeastern (14-6) would retake the lead in the sixth, posting three runs, but the Royals answered with two of their own in their half of the inning. Fout again produced the big blow for Eastern Hancock, swatting an RBI double off the left field fence that knotted the game at 7-7.
That would be the final runs the Royals would score, though, and the Knights finally broke the tie with three runs in the 10th to win the game 10-7.
The Royals fell to 12-10 on the season, one win shy of the program-record 13 wins. They go for it again today at Triton Central.
Marauders drop duel vs. Carmel
Despite the best efforts of Kennedy Parker, Mt. Vernon lost a tough 1-0 decision Monday night at Carmel (14-10).
Parker pitched five innings, allowing five hits and striking out two.
Max Wills led the hitting attack, going 2-for-4. Noah Powell, Zach Spears, Christian Smith, Wyatt Vestal and Tyler Franklin contributed one hit apiece.
Mt. Vernon (13-11) hosts Elwood (4-15) today.
Dragons can’t hold off Avon
Despite outhitting the Orioles 13-9, the Dragons fell 7-5 against Avon on Monday afternoon at New Palestine.
New Palestine built a 4-0 lead but saw the Orioles rally and eventually pull ahead on a two-out, two-run home run in the seventh inning, breaking a 5-all tie.
Zach Lovell retired the first seven batters he faced and was spotted a four-run lead in the third, when Andy Edwards and Evan Hickman sandwiched doubles around a walk to Keegan Watson. Jason Hall-Manley and Cody Chandler followed with RBI singles, and an error allowed another run to score.
Avon (15-10) rallied when the leadoff batters reached and scored in four straight innings. In the fifth, three hits led to two more runs. In the sixth, the Orioles took advantage of three Dragons errors to score twice and take a 5-4 lead.
New Palestine rallied in the bottom of the inning when Lovell reached on an error, then scored on Watson’s two-out single down the left field line, but Avon retook the lead with a homer in the seventh.
Lovell struck out four and allowed five hits in five innings. Chandler pitched the final two innings of relief, allowing two unearned runs and striking out one.
Edwards led the Dragons on offense, going 3-for-4 with a run and a double. Watson was 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Chandler was 2-4 with an RBI. McBride also had two hits, going 2-4 with a double.
The Dragons (15-10) play Thursday at Greenwood (13-11).
Cougars win rain-delayed game
Greenfield-Central earned a split in its Hoosier Heritage Conference doubleheader against Shelbyville.
The Cougars lost Friday’s opener 8-2 but won the second game, which was resumed Monday after thunderstorms postponed the 1-1 game in the seventh inning late Friday night, 2-1 against the Golden Bears (11-12, 5-7 HHC).
Greenfield-Central starter Drey Jameson pitched 6.1 innings of one-run ball on Friday, striking out six. He was relieved Monday by Seth Adams, who picked up the victory.
Jameson also delivered at the play, knocking in the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning with his double.
Next up for the Cougars (10-14, 6-6 HHC) is today’s home game against Franklin Central (5-13).
SOFTball
Dragons roll Woodmen
New Palestine posted another run-rule victory, beating host Greenwood 14-1 on Monday afternoon.
It was another five-inning victory for the Class 4A No. 8 Dragons, who scored at least one run in every inning.
Pitchers Kaylin McMurray and Elisha Barker combined on the win, as McMurray struck out one in two hitless innings, and Barker pitched the final three, allowing three hits.
Adie Lorsung and Madison Whitaker both swatted home runs for the Dragons. Lorsung’s longball came with a big day at the plate, as she went 3-for-4 with three runs and five RBIs. Whitaker drove in three runs.
Abby Davis was 3-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI. Ashley Prange was 2-for-2 with a double, a run and an RBI.
The Dragons are now 20-3 overall. They played Tuesday at home against Indian Creek (10-9).
Mt. Vernon wins in extras
It took an extra inning, but the Marauders were finally able to defeat host Anderson 8-7 on Monday night.
MacKenzie McCann led the attack for the Marauders, going 4-for-5 with a home run and three runs scored.
Sadie Baugh got into the action with three hits in five at-bats to go along with a pair of RBIs.
The Marauders (10-11) play again Saturday at their own Mt. Vernon Invitational.
Cougars lose vs. Roncalli
Michaela Ballman put Greenfield-Central out front early with a two-run home run in the first inning of Monday’s game against Roncalli, but the long ball also signaled the end of the Cougars’ scoring.
The visiting Class 4A No. 14 Rebels (20-6) rallied to score seven unanswered runs, winning the game 7-2.
The No. 12 Cougars drop to 21-4 on the season. They take on No. 10 Carmel on Thursday.
Royals get 2 straight
After Eastern Hancock decimated Mid-Hoosier Conference foe South Decatur 13-2 on Friday, the Royals picked up another win Monday at home against Hagerstown.
Led by Peyton Neisler’s complete game shutout, the Royals won 2-0.
“Their pitcher was faster than some of the others we’ve seen, but I feel like our hitters did a great job adjusting,” said Eastern Hancock assistant coach Erin Billstrom. Billstrom is filling in for Sue Anderson while the head coach attends to family business.
Eastern Hancock (16-4, 6-1 MHC) is one of two teams left in the MHC with only one league loss. The other is Class A No. 3 Hauser (18-4, 8-1 MHC), which is finished with its league schedule. The Royals look to stay in the conference title hunt Thursday against Edinburgh (10-8, 6-2 MHC).
Tennis
Marauders get shut out
The Marauders picked up yet another sweep Monday evening, taking down Anderson 5-0.
Mt. Vernon is now 14-3 with a school-record 12 wins coming in shutout fashion.
The Marauders victory was their final tune-up before today’s first-round sectional matchup against Eastern Hancock at Mt. Vernon.
Cougars pounce on rivals
Greenfield-Central picked up a 5-0 victory at home against Eastern Hancock on Monday evening.
Emma Vowell (7-5, 6-4), Lindsey Mccord (6-4, 6-1) and Kendall Barr (6-2, 6-0) picked up straight set singles wins for the Cougars, while Claire Talbott/Kate Henderson (6-2, 6-2) and Rachel Berish/Sara Hudson (6-1, 6-3) scored doubles victories.
Both teams play again today, as Greenfield-Central will take on county rival New Palestine in the first round of the Mt. Vernon sectional, while the Royals will battle the Hancock County champion Marauders.
The Cougars won their regular-season matchup against the Dragons 5-0.
