Balbach stars as MV stuns G-C

GREENFIELD — With the softball season now over a month old, much of the attention surrounding the Hancock County programs has been devoted to perennial power New Palestine and upstart Greenfield-Central, and rightfully so.

Those two teams entered Friday night with a combined record of 26-5. NP had been ranked in the top 10 of the 4A state poll before a recent swoon and G-C took the field Friday night as the No. 12 4A team in the state.

After Friday night, a third team must now be added to that mix.

Following its impressive effort in an 8-3 triumph over rival G-C, there’s no mistaking that Mt. Vernon will be staying firmly in the softball spotlight the rest of the season.

The Marauders battered Greenfield starter Sami Frazier for eight runs on 13 hits, including five extra-base hits. MV starter Ellie Balbach was nearly dominant, scattering six hits and surrendering three runs (two earned).

MV traveled to Greenfield Friday with its chances for a Hoosier Heritage Conference crown on life support. Though the team sported a 3-1 mark in league play, its conference title chances could have been declared dead with another defeat.

“Once you get to two losses in our conference,” MV coach Mike McGill said, “you’re done.”

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