GREENSBURG — The Eastern Hancock softball team kept its record-setting, win streak going Monday night, shutting out host North Decatur, 5-0.
The victory marks the Class 2A Royals 16th consecutive since March 24.
At 16-1 overall this season, the Royals are ranked sixth in the state, according to the latest ICGSA 2A softball poll, and No. 1 in their division by Maxpreps.
Against Decatur Central, the Royals got the job done the old fashion way, without a home run, totaling a pair of extra-base hits and base knocks seven overall.
Kaylee Stewart led the offense, finishing 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI. Taylor Koch drove in a run and Grace Stapleton was credited with an RBI, going 1-for-3. Kaylee Kline was 1-for-4 with a double.
The Royals battled their hosts through a scoreless tie until the top of the fifth when Eastern Hancock plated three runs to take the lead. Two more runs, one in each of the next two frames, finalized the score.
Caroline Stapleton, Sammie Bolding and Emma Bolding each logged one hit apiece.
Madison Stephens earned the win in the circle, pitching seven-shutout innings with three hits allowed, one walk and 11 strikeouts.
On Saturday, the Royals won their 15th consecutive game, defeating visiting Lapel, 14-3, in six innings.
The Royals overcame a 2-0 and 3-2 deficit with 12 unanswered runs through the bottom of the third until the sixth. They led 9-3 after the fifth inning and closed out the run-rule victory with five runs in the bottom of the sixth.
The Royals blasted five home runs during the game, including two from Kline and one apiece by Sammie Bolding, Brooklyn Willis and Emma Bolding.
Willis went 3-for-4 with six RBI and also had a double. Stewart and Sammie Bolding each finished with doubles as well.
Marauders win on senior day
The Class 4A Mt. Vernon softball team picked up its second straight victory, defeating visiting 2A No. 8 Alexandria-Monroe 9-2 at home on Saturday.
The Senior Day win was led in part by Molly Buck, who drove in four runs. The victory increased Mt. Vernon’s season record to 13-4.
Buck drove in her runs on a home run in the bottom of the first and a double in the fourth. The Marauders’ offense caught fire early, plating five runs in the fourth inning alone.
Karlee Franklin, Buck and Mia Robbins all had RBI hits in the decisive inning.
Overall, Mt. Vernon posted 11 hits with Macey Cox, Franklin and Buck each finishing with multiple hits. Buck’s home run, a three-run shot, unfolded in the first inning. Franklin added another homer in the fourth, giving the Marauders 36 on the year to break the school’s single-season record.
Dragons sweep weekend
The Class 4A top-ranked New Palestine softball team swept Jennings County in a Saturday doubleheader, beating the Panthers 12-2 and 12-1.
The Dragons’ 12-2 victory was wrapped up in six innings. New Palestine needed no time to get started, plating seven runs in the opening frame.
The Dragons added a run in the third and four in the sixth. Kinsey Mitchell went 4-for-5 with a double, a triple, a run and three RBI. Grace Paquette was 2-for-4 with a run and three RBI.
Alexa Holman was 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI. Lexi Campbell was 3-for-3 and scored twice. Alaina Miller, Aglaia Rudd, Kendal Calvert and Delaney Barton also had hits.
Sam Booe got the win, allowing no earned runs and one hit in four innings, fanning eight. Katie Kottlowski pitched two innings of relief, allowing two hits and one earned run. The Dragons outhit the Panthers 15-3.
In the second game, the Dragons needed five innings to down the Panthers 12-1, using a 10-run fourth after plating single runs in the first and third. New Pal outhit the hosts 17-4. Alexa Holman allowed one earned run and fanned four in a complete-game win.
The Dragons had six extra-base hits, with Allie Blum doubling twice and driving in two.
Alaina Miller was 3-for-3 with a double, three runs and two RBI. Aglaia Rudd hit a double and drove in three. Kendal Calvert was 2-for-2 with two runs, a triple and two RBI. Holman was 3-for-4 with a triple and a run. Mitchell was 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI. Campbell, Vivian Long, Barton and Sydney Oliver also had hits.
The Dragons are now 21-0.
Golf
Cougars take down Bears
The Greenfield-Central boys golf team rolled past host Lawrence Central on Monday night, winning 170-241.
Josh Alley led the Cougars with a 41. Tyler Young shot a 42, followed by a 43 from Bryce Hasty. Averell Wooten-Brown carded a 44.
On Saturday, the Cougars finished fourth with a score of 367 during the Delaware Invitational.
Richmond won the event with at 335, followed by New Castle with a 337 and Delta third with a 339.
The Cougars were led by Alley’s season-best score of 80. Tyler Osborn shot a 95. Hasty and Matt Kaser both carded 96s.
Dragons win Batesville Invite
The New Palestine boys golf team carded a 334 Saturday to win the Batesville Invitational title at Hillcrest Country Club.
Matt Barada was second overall in the tournament, shooting a 79 over 18 holes. Braeden Baker finished fourth overall, shooting 82. Sammy Chifalo added an 85 and Evan Griffith an 88.
Tennis
Cougars tame Tigers
The Greenfield-Central girls tennis team bested host Yorktown, 4-1, Monday night during their Hoosier Heritage Conference matchup.
Jaclyn Layton won at No. 2 singles, 6-2, 6-2, while Brianna McConnell was victorious at No. 3 singles, 6-4, 6-4.
Ali Knecht and Hallie Smith won a three-set battle at No. 1 doubles, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. Leah Puckett and Makayla Price worked quickly at No. 2 doubles, 6-1, 6-2.
On Saturday, the Cougars swept HHC foe New Castle, 5-0, on the road.
Zoe Starks won at No. 1 singles, 6-2, 6-1. Layton and McConnell both cruised 6-0, 6-0 at No. 2 and 3 singles, respectively.
Knecht and Smith prevailed 6-0, 6-3, while Puckett and Lauren Chastian teamed to win at No. 2 doubles, 6-1, 6-1.
Baseball
Dragons take one of three
The New Palestine baseball team won the first of its three games at this weekend’s Hall of Fame Classic in Jasper.
The Dragons beat Daleville 5-0 Friday night before falling 9-3 to Edgewood and 12-8 to host Jasper in two games Saturday.
The Dragons are now 9-11 on the season.
The Dragons opened the weekend in stellar fashion, as Blaine Nunnally threw a complete-game one-hitter to blank Daleville Friday night.
Nunnally struck out 12 batters in the contest. Carter Stogsdill led the Dragons’ eight-hit attack, going 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Brendan Tabor was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Maddox Manes doubled, while Zayden Stiller and Nunnally also had hits.
In Saturday’s first game, the Dragons took an early 2-0 lead, but a seven-run second by Edgewood gave the Mustangs the lead en route to a 9-3 win. The Dragons had five hits, as Adam Rickey and Zayden Stiller each doubled, with Stiller driving in a run. Tabor, Nunnally and Reise Quillen all had singles, with Quillen driving in a run. Manes also had an RBI.
Against Jasper, Stogsdill was 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI. Wes Stiller was 3-for-4 with a double, a run and an RBI. Eli Bruns was 2-for-2 with a run and an RBI. Zayden Stiller and Nunnally each had a single and an RBI.
Marauders sweep Cambridge City
The Mt. Vernon baseball team improved to 15-5 overall on the season with a doubleheader sweep of visiting Cambridge City Lincoln on Saturday.
The host Marauders won the first game 10-0 in five innings. They swept the two-game set with a 12-3 victory in the afternoon.
Mt. Vernon used a seven-hit attack to win the first game, led by two-RBI games from AJ Swingle (1-for-1) and Jake Stank (1-for-2), who hit a home run.
Hunter Dobbins finished 1-for-1 with an RBI. Gavin Sullivan went 1-for-1 with an RBI, and Landon Clark was 1-for-1 with an RBI and a triple.
The Marauders drew eight walks and had four extra-base hits with doubles going to Joel Walton and Swingle.
Eli Bridenthal pitched the complete-game shutout with one hit allowed and eight strikeouts over 5.0 innings.
The Marauders had 11 hits in the second game with four doubles, a triple by Tyler Sumner and a home run for Stank.
Payton Bovard (1-for-2, RBI), Carson Augustinovicz (1-for-2, 2 RBI), Nate Weaver (1-for-2, RBI) and Dobbins (2-for-2, RBI) each had doubles.
Austin Hear had an RBI, while Clark and Caleb Bell each recorded a hit.
Weaver earned the win, pitching 4.0 innings with a walk, two earned runs charged against and three strikeouts.
The Marauders are 9-1 in the HHC, one game ahead of rival Greenfield-Central (11-5, 8-2 HHC) in the standings. The two programs clash for a two-game series beginning today at Greenfield-Central at 6 p.m. The second game is Wednesday at Mt. Vernon at 6 p.m.
