Daily Reporter staff reports
The Mt. Vernon baseball team grabbed an early lead Wednesday and never surrendered.
The Marauders led 5-0 after five innings and tacked on another run in the top of the sixth to beat Connersville 6-1. Mt. Vernon improves to 6-13 on the season.
Jaden Cappelletti and Jared Shelton each had two hits as the Marauders racked up 10 total hits in the win. Shelton hit his second home run of the season during the team’s two-run fourth inning.
Cole Cain earned the win. He spread six hits over six innings and struck out three and walked one.
Mt. Vernon travels to Greenfield-Central today for a Hoosier Heritage Conference doubleheader.
Tennis
Mt. Vernon earns sweep to end conference play
The Mt. Vernon girls tennis team wrapped up their Hoosier Heritage Conference schedule Wednesday with a 5-0 sweep of New Castle at home.
Alaina Nelson won at No. 1 singles 6-0, 6-0. No. 2 singles went to Olivia Spicer 6-1, 6-0. Kaleigh Helm won at No. 3 singles 7-5, 6-0.
The No. 1 doubles team of Emily Annakin and Maeve Laughlin won 6-0, 6-1. Maeve McCafferty and Sophie Williams cruised 6-0, 6-0 at No. 2 doubles.
Mt. Vernon won four conferences matches 5-0 this season, two at 4-1 and it’s lone loss was to No. 17 Delta 4-1.
The Marauders are 17-1 on the season.
“We played MV tennis tonight. Smart, aggressive when needed and with passion,” Mt. Vernon head coach Gabe Muterspaugh said. “Very proud of Emily Annakin and Maeve McCafferty being our team captains and leading this group.”
Mt. Vernon hosts senior night on Tuesday before sectional play beginnings on Wednesday.
No rain on their parade: New Pal honors seniors
The New Palestine Dragons tennis team was scheduled to play Whiteland on Wednesday for senior night.
The match was canceled due to rain, but the Dragons honored their seniors regardless.
Eight seniors were recognized for their contributions the past four years. Those spotlighted included: Amelia Fleetwood, Lexi Miller, Katie Settergren, Cassie Willhelm, Ashley Stallsworth, Bethany Neeb, Rachel Emminger and Jocie Kleiman.
The Dragons hosted Shelbyville on Thursday and play Pendleton Heights today.
Softball
Junior’s bat powers Dragons to big victory
The top-ranked Class 3A New Palestine Dragons blasted Fishers on Wednesday behind the powerful swing of junior Ashley Prange.
Prange crushed two home runs and drove in seven runs to help the Dragons win big 16-9. The Ohio State recruit has 14 home runs this season to lead the Hoosier Heritage Conference. She also has 41 RBIs. Prange singled and doubled in the game to go 4-for-6.
Abby Davis went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and three runs. Elisha Barker was 3-for-3 with an RBI, while Tatum Biddle had two hits and scored two runs.
Michaela Jones had two hits and an RBI. Kaylee Kropp added two hits, two runs and two RBIs. Madison Whitaker was 2-for-3 with a double, three runs and two RBIs.
Every member of the Dragons’ lineup had at least one hit as New Palestine out-hit Fishers 19-12.
Mackenzie Jones earned the win, pitching five innings in relief. She allowed seven hits, two earned runs and struck out two.
The Dragons are now 18-2 on the season.
