Daily Reporter staff reports
The Mt. Vernon boys golf team had a three-pronged goal entering the season, and they nearly achieved the second on Saturday during a competitive Hoosier Heritage Conference Tournament.
Falling one stroke short to eventual HHC champion Delta, the Hancock County champion Marauders turned in an 18-hole team score of 312. Delta was first at 311 while host New Castle was third at 321.
New Palestine was fifth at 329, and Greenfield-Central was eighth at 396.
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Mt. Vernon’s Oliver Mast earned medalist honors at Westwood Golf Course in New Castle by shooting a 2-under par 68. Xavier Dunham was 14th overall at 80.
Senior Will Dant shot an 81 for 15th overall, while Max Heitman added an 83. John Husar recorded an 86.
Quinn Dobbins of New Palestine earned All-HHC honors with a 77, tying for fifth-best in the 40-golfer field.
Blake Barnette carded an 81 for the Dragons, Nick Lyons added an 85 and Elijah Domogala posted an 86. Matt Kelley turned in a 90.
Baseball
Royals drop a pair
The Eastern Hancock baseball team lost two games on Saturday during the John Howden Memorial Tournament in Mooresville.
The host Pioneers narrowly defeated the Royals 1-0, and Valparaiso nipped them in nine innings 6-5.
The Royals are now 11-10 on the season.
Against Mooresville, the Pioneers winning run crossed the plate in the bottom of the seventh. The Royals had seven hits, including a double by Clayton White but couldn’t bring anyone home.
White suffered the tough loss, going 6.1 innings with four hits allowed while striking out three.
Against Valpo, the Royals led 3-1 after one inning and tied the game 4-all and 5-all in the bottom of the seventh and eighth.
Eastern Hancock posted 13 hits with A.J. Muegge going 4-for-4 with two doubles. Joey Starrett had a double.
Softball
Royals split tourney
The Class 2A No. 12 Eastern Hancock softball team split a pair of games on Saturday, defeating Blackford 12-2 and losing to No. 3 Union County 5-3.
Cougars, Marauders win at Classic
The Class 4A No. 11 Greenfield-Central Cougars lost two and won one during their own Cougar Classic on Saturday.
The Cougars lost to Seymour 6-2 and to rival Mt. Vernon 11-6. They beat Greensburg 10-5.
The Mt. Vernon Marauders led the Cougars 5-4 and erupted for six runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a commanding lead during their victory.
The Marauders had 14 hits, and Anelise Worden was 3-for-3 with three RBIs. Cassidly Parker went 2-for-3 with a home run and four RBIs. Jadan Fithian and Mackenzie McCann were both 2-for-4 with an RBI each. Tori Whyde had an RBI, and Kaitlyn Nugent and MaKenzie Gee were 2-for-3.
Nugent earned the win for the Marauders.
The Marauders lost to Franklin County 2-1. Nugent held Franklin County to three hits and struck out 10 despite the loss.
Mt. Vernon finished the day with two wins, defeating Milan 6-5. They had 11 hits in the game led by Sydnee Perry, who was 2-for-3 with an RBI.
Morgan Scruggs was 2-for-4, and Gee had two RBIs.
