By James Howell, Jr.
For The Daily Reporter
INDIANAPOLIS — With the Hoosier Heritage Conference title still hanging in the balance, the Greenfield-Central Cougars put their minds to work in a non-conference game Friday night against the Class 3A Brebeuf Jesuit Braves.
Against a team with one of the toughest schedules in the state, the 4A Cougars (13-7) not only held their own but pulled off a convincing 4-2 win over Brebeuf (14-10).
“This win looks great and feels great,” Greenfield-Central head coach Mark Vail said. “We don’t get to come over to Indy that often for big games like this, but it’s fun when we do. And getting the win makes it better.”
Cougars’ pitcher Jacob Riegle and Braves’ Sam Reed were tough to crack on the mound. In the end it was Riegle pulling out the stronger performance, outlasting Reed.
Riegle went 5.2 innings, giving up seven hits and three walks. He did not pick up an earned run while on the mound.
“Man he looked good tonight,” Vail said. “He has looked that good a few times here lately, and it’s helped us out a lot. He isn’t an overpowering guy, but he knows where to put the pitches to keep other guys guessing and it works. It doesn’t always work, but when it does it looks as good as it did tonight.”
Reed on the other hand, was charged with two runs by the Cougars.
In the third inning, Cougars senior Gavin Atwood (1-for-2, 2 RBI) drove in Jaden McGee for the first run of the game with a single.
Atwood picked up his second RBI in the fifth inning by driving in senior Brandon Jenkins, pushing the lead to 2-0.
Grant Shepherd (3-for-4, 2 RBI) opened things up for the Cougars and extended the lead 4-0 in the top of the sixth when he drilled a hit to deep right field and brought home Jenkins and Parker Stanley.
The Braves did not lay down on their home field, however.
After notching a hit and a walk against Riegle to force him out of the game, the Braves were able to bring in two runs to tighten the margin ahead of a pressure-packed seventh inning.
Cougars sophomore Andrew Zellers closed it out with spectacular defensive plays behind him.
Shepherd was the Cougars leader offensively with three big hits. He fell just a home run short of going for the cycle.
Vail was proud of his team’s continued ability to focus on the game in front of them, without looking to the future or dwelling on the past.
“We had some big conference games this week, too, and the last one didn’t go our way,” Vail said. “But our guys are good at putting losses behind us and focusing on things in front of them. We have a couple of big ones next week that will decide stuff for us, but again the guys are great about just going out there and playing baseball.”
The Cougars keep the season moving and turn their attention back to a potential HHC title repeat on Tuesday and Wednesday night with back-to-back games with Shelbyville.
With a sweep of the Golden Bears, the Cougars could be looking at a split of the conference title with rival Mt. Vernon or possibly an outright win if the Marauders falter and they finish strong.
