CHARLOTTESVILLE — The Class 2A seventh-ranked Eastern Hancock Royals aren’t slowing down anytime soon.
The Royals (14-1) added a third straight win on Friday night, defeating Mid-Eastern Conference foe Blue River Valley by run rule, 17-0, at home after returning from a 10-day COVID-19 quarantine earlier this week.
Eastern Hancock improved to 4-0 in the MEC. The victory marked the program’s 14th consecutive and third in a row since Wednesday.
The Royals are currently riding the program’s longest winning streak in school history and continue to add to their single-season home run record, which Kaylee Kline pushed to 25 total in 15 games on Friday.
Kline led the Royals’ offense, going 1-for-2 with a run scored, two RBI and a home run as Eastern Hancock took a quick 10-0 lead after the first inning.
Seven more runs in the bottom of the second gave the Royals’ pitching staff all it needed.
A trio of hurlers combined for a 12-strikeout, five-inning perfect game. The victory went to Maddie Turner, who went 2.0 innings with six strikeouts. No walks or hits were issued by any of the three Royals pitchers (Madison Stephens (1.0 inning) and Cameron Spegal (2.0 innings).
The Royals drew 17 walks and posted four hits. Kaylee Stewart went 1-for-1 with a double, an RBI and three runs scored. Sammie Bolding and Brooklyn Willis each had hits. Caroline Stapleton was walked three times.
The Royals will shoot for win No. 15 today at home against Lapel with the first pitch set for noon.
Unbeaten Dragons best Tigers
The top-ranked Class 4A New Palestine Dragons kept their perfect season alive on Wednesday with a 6-1 victory over 3A No. 3 Yorktown in the programs’ first meeting since the 2019 IHSAA state finals.
The win improved the Dragons’ season record to 19-0 and 4-0 in the Hoosier Heritage Conference.
The Dragons took the lead in the opening inning and extended it to 4-0 with a three-run third. New Palestine added single runs in the fourth and fifth.
Sam Booe pitched a complete game, allowing three hits, no earned runs and striking out nine.
Allie Blum paced a 13-hit attack, going 3-for-3 with an RBI. Aglaia Rudd and Alaina Miller were each 2-for-4 with a double. Grace Paquette also had two hits. Kinsey Mitchell, Lexi Campbell, Kendal Calvert and Sydney Oliver each had singles.
Tennis
Dragons sweep senior night
The New Palestine tennis team honored its seniors before Thursday’s match, then swept Southwestern (Shelby), 5-0.
Abby Blachly won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 1 singles, Olivia Hasenkamp won 6-1, 6-1 at No. 2, while senior Erica Long won her first singles match 6-0, 6-2 at No. 3.
Lucy Miller/Mia Knoop won 6-1, 6-0 at No. 1 doubles, while Natalee Russell and Lily Haeberle won 6-3, 6-1 at No. 2.
Prior to the match, Long, Miller and Russell were honored as the Dragons’ senior class.
The Dragons are now 6-3 on the season.
Marauders win fifth straight
The Mt. Vernon girls tennis team swept past host Warren Central, 5-0, on Wednesday to improve to 10-1 on the season.
The Marauders’ fifth-straight victory unfolded with two-set wins at each position.
Senior Lydia Ruegsegger remained unbeaten on the season at No. 1 singles with a straight-set win, 6-1, 6-2.
Carly Wilkerson provided an automatic point at No. 2 singles, 6-0, 6-0, while Hannah Smith won 6-0, 6-3 at No. 3 singles.
Lexi Shelton and Cici Buhlman prevailed at No. 1 doubles, 6-0, 6-2. Maddie Swingle and Anna Hawks won at No. 2 doubles 6-0, 6-0.
“First off, good win for our varsity improving to 10-1 this year. Most importantly it was awesome to see our two dubs (player) Anna Isger tonight at the match. It was a boost to our team after she was injured and ruled out for the season,” Mt. Vernon head coach Gabe Muterspaugh said. “We love you, Anna, and we hope for a speedy full recovery.”
Cougars win third straight
The Greenfield-Central girls tennis team won its third straight match in as many days on Wednesday, besting visiting Rushville, 5-0.
On Monday, the Cougars cruised past visiting Lapel, 4-1, and beat HHC foe Shelbyville, 3-0, on the road Tuesday.
Against Rushville, the Cougars used five straight-set wins to collect it’s fifth victory on the season.
Zoe Starks won at No. 1 singles 6-0, 6-0, while Jaclyn Layton collected a team point at No. 2 singles 6-4, 6-0. Brianna McConnell won at No. 3 singles 6-1, 6-1.
Ali Knecht and Hallie Smith teamed to win at No. 1 doubles 6-1, 6-3. Leah Puckett and Makayla Price won 6-3, 6-0 at No. 2 doubles.
The Cougars’ match at Shelbyville was cut short due to rain and delays. However, the Cougars were able to secure three team points to win the match.
Price and Puckett won the first point at No. 2 doubles 6-3, 6-0. Layton won at No. 2 singles 6-4, 6-2, and McConnell locked down the final point 6-4, 6-4 at No. 3 singles.
The teams’ No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles matches were postponed in the third sets.
The Cougars tied visiting Frankton, 1-1, on Thursday before inclement weather postponed play.
Layton was able to finish her match at No. 2 singles, winning 6-2, 6-2.
Baseball
Dragons run rule Eagles
The New Palestine baseball team scored double-digit runs for the third straight game Wednesday, blasting Delta 12-2 in five innings.
The Dragons improved to 8-9 overall and 4-5 in Hoosier Heritage Conference play with the victory.
The Dragons needed just seven hits — Kaiden Kirkwood was 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Maddox Manes and Brendan Tabor each drove in three runs and had a hit. Carter Stogsdill, Wes Stiller and Caleb Davis (a double) also had hits for the Dragons.
Davis got the win with two innings of one-hit shutout relief. Manes started the game, fanning three in two innings and allowing two hits and two runs. Blaine Nunnally allowed one hit in a scoreless fifth to finish the game.
