FORTVILLE — The Mt. Vernon girls tennis sectional championship is set.
Today, the host Marauders (14-2) will face off against rival Greenfield-Central at 4:30 p.m. with Mt. Vernon chasing a potential seventh consecutive sectional title.
However, to do so, the Marauders will need to halt the surging Hoosier Heritage Conference rival Cougars, who improved to 10-4-1 after defeating Eastern Hancock 5-0 on Thursday night during their sectional semifinal match.
Since late April, the Cougars have amassed nine straight victories with one tie and will now attempt to seize the program’s first sectional since 1992-93.
Mt. Vernon has won 14 sectional titles since 1996-97.
The Marauders and Pendleton Heights met for the second time this season during Thursday’s sectional semifinals. In the first meeting, Mt. Vernon won 5-0 in the season opener for both teams in early April.
The Marauders replicated their 5-0 victory to advance into the sectional finals.
Mt. Vernon’s Lydia Ruegsegger defeated Arabians’ Abigail Cruser at No. 1 singles, 6-0, 6-1. Carly Wilkerson won at No. 2 singles over Jessica Thompson, 6-0, 6-0. Hannah Smith completed the singles sweep with a 6-0, 6-1 win over Camille Spencer.
At No. 1 doubles, the Marauders duo of Lexi Shelton and Ceci Bulmahn won 6-0, 6-0 over Chloe Steinke and Cassidy Brandom. Maddie Swingle and Anna Hawks won at No. 2 doubles, 6-0, 6-1, over Chloe Kean and Faith Bluel.
For the Cougars, Zoe Starks won 6-1, 6-3 over Eastern Hancock’s Chloe McCarty at No. 1 singles. Jaclyn Layton rolled 6-1, 6-2 against Savanah Hardin at No. 2 singles. Brianna McConnell defeated Lexi Swauger, 6-3, 6-2, at No. 3 singles.
Ali Knecht and Hallie Smith won 7-6, 6-1 against Audrey Tice and Tori Parker at No. 1 doubles. The sweep was completed with Makayla Price and Leah Puckett defeating Mikayla Hardy and Kayln Edwards, 6-0, 7-5, at No. 2 doubles.
Greenfield-Central beat New Palestine 3-2 on Wednesday during the sectional quarterfinals to move on.
Mt. Vernon and Greenfield-Central met during the regular season on April 22, with the host Marauders winning 3-2.
The Cougars challenged the Marauders in singles play, claiming wins at No. 2 and 3 behind McConnell and Layton before Mt. Vernon rallied with their doubles teams.
Baseball
Dragons fall to Trojans
The New Palestine baseball team dropped a 13-1 six-inning decision Wednesday to New Castle in a Hoosier Heritage Conference matchup.
New Castle jumped out to a 4-0 lead with two runs in each of the first and third innings. The Dragons’ run came in the bottom of the third, when Nolan Cox walked, stole second and scored on a throwing error.
New Castle added a run in the fourth, two in the fifth and six in the sixth.
The Dragons had four hits — singles by Zayden Stiller, Wes Stiller, Blaine Nunnally and Caleb Davis.
The Dragons are now 11-15 overall and 6-7 in HHC play.
Cougars complete HHC sweep
The Greenfield-Central baseball team completed its two-game HHC sweep over Shelbyville, 4-0, at home on Wednesday night.
The win improved the Cougars’ season record to 15-7 and 11-3 in the conference, which secured the program second in the HHC.
Gavin Atwood led the Cougars’ nine-hit attack, finishing 3-for-3 with a home run, a run and an RBI.
Grant Shepherd was 1-for-3 with an RBI, and Parker Stanley went 1-for-3 with an RBI.
Andrew Zellers, Austin Oden, Conner Sims and Jacob Riegle each recorded a hit apiece.
Stanley earned the win on the mound, pitching 6.2 innings with four hits allowed, two walks and 11 strikeouts.
Royals blank Broncos
Eastern Hancock’s Wyatt Sutton and Chris Craney combined for a two-hit, 1-0 shutout against Mid-Eastern Conference foe Daleville on Tuesday night.
The Royals improved to 5-11 on the season and 2-5 in the MEC after the victory powered by Sutton’s lone RBI.
On the mound, Sutton pitched 1.2 innings with three strikeouts and no hits allowed. Craney went 5.1 innings with two hits, four walks and five strikeouts.
Sutton went 1-for-3 at the plate with a sacrifice. Craney stole a base and was 1-for-3. Landon Kinter went 2-for-3.
Softball
Cougars rout Fighting Irish
The Greenfield-Central softball team jumped out to 5-0 lead against visiting Cathedral on Wednesday night and never looked back, winning 8-1.
The victory improved G-C’s season record to 15-8.
Caroline Gibson (2-for-2) and Megan Wineinger (2-for-3) led the Cougars’ 10-hit night.
Gibson finished with a home run, a double and three RBI. Wineinger drove in two runs. Taylor Smith had an RBI.
Camille Burelison, Ella Redmon, Lilly Stewart and Olivia Roberts each finished with one hit apiece.
Burelison earned the complete-game victory with three hits allowed, a walk and two strikeouts.
Marauders blank Indians
Mt. Vernon’s ace pitching duo of Maddie Taylor and Karlee Franklin combined for a perfect game against Anderson on Wednesday night en route to an 11-0 victory.
The tandem combined for 14 strikeouts, no hits and no walks to help the Marauders improve to 17-5.
Mt. Vernon got things started in the first inning when Haley Kissee’s sacrifice fly scored one run for the Marauders followed by a two-run home run by Molly Buck.
The Marauders totaled 10 hits. Taylor, Buck, and Macey Cox each collected multiple hits.
The Marauders are back in action Saturday at home in the Mt. Vernon invitational. First game is scheduled for 10 a.m.
