Tennis
Sectional set at Mt. Vernon
Hancock County tennis teams learned their sectional draws Monday evening, with all four local teams taking part in the Mt. Vernon sectional starting today.
Greenfield-Central and New Palestine will square off in the first round at 5 p.m. today, with the winner playing Pendleton Heights on Thursday at 5 p.m. in the semifinals.
Eastern Hancock will take on host Mt. Vernon on Thursday at 5 p.m. as well. The winner will advance to Friday’s championship game, also slated for 5 p.m.
Marauders get clean sweep
Mt. Vernon finished the regular season Monday with a resounding 5-0 win at Anderson. The Marauders didn’t lose a single game in either the varsity or JV match in finishing the regular season with a 15-3 record.
At singles, No. 1 Alaina Nelson, No. 2 Lydia Ruegsegger and No. 3 Kaleigh Helm each won 6-0, 6-0. At doubles, No. 1 tandem of Olivia Spicer and Sophie Williams and No. 2 duo of Maeve Laughlin and Alexis Lane won 6-0, 6-0.
“We didn’t lose a game in varsity or JV,” coach Gabe Muterspaugh said. “I have never had that happen in 22 years. Our girls are locked in and ready for sectional play. Everyone is 0-0 and it’s time to go get the title.”
Baseball
Royals bounce back from early deficit
Eastern Hancock fell behind 4-0 in the first inning but bounced back quickly, outlasting Northeastern en route to an 11-7 win Monday.
The Royals rallied for four runs in the top of the second to tie the game, then put up another four in the fourth to take the lead. Joey Starrett led the way for the offense with a 4 for 4 day, knocking in three RBIs.
Jarett Lewis had three hits and an RBI. Ryan Burris and Payton Wilkinson each had a pair of hits, with Burris driving in three RBIs. The Royals outhit the Knights 12 to eight.
A.J. Muegge picked up the win on the mound, going five innings and striking out eight while allowing six hits and six runs. Andy Locker pitched two innings in relief, allowing two hits and a run.
Softball
Freshman’s big day paces Marauders
Mt. Vernon rolled to a five-inning win against Anderson on Monday, 15-3, on the strength of a freshman’s bat.
Haley Kissee went 2 for 4 for the day, with seven RBIs and two home runs. She hit a grand slam in the second inning and followed that with a three-run homer in the fourth.
Anelise Worden was 2 for 2 with two RBIs, and Kaitlyn Nugent was 3 for 4 with a solo home run.
Nugent got the win on the mound, holding the Indians to three runs despite scattering nine hits.
Cougars fall to Roncalli
Greenfield-Central held the lead Monday through three innings against host Roncalli, but a nine-run Rebels fourth sent the Cougars to a 14-5 defeat.
Lexi Rankin had two hits, including a double, for the Cougars, who were outhit 19 to eight by Roncalli. Madge Weidner had two RBIs, and Macy Francis and Maria Kihega each added an RBI.
Macy Fultz and Sydney Williams pitched for the Cougars, walking four and allowing the 18 hits and 11 earned runs.
