Greenfield-Central’s Connor Sims (22) delivers a pitch in the first inning of the Cougars’ game against Pendleton Heights during the Class 4A Sectional 9 quarterfinals at Pendleton Heights High School on Tuesday, May 26, 2021.
FRANKTON — The Greenfield-Central baseball team kicked off the 2022 season with a dominating 10-3 victory over host Frankton on Wednesday.
The visiting Cougars posted 10 hits, including six extra-base knocks, and junior Conner Sims pitched three shutout innings with eight strikeouts to secure the season-opening win.
Sims faced 10 batters, walked one and didn’t allow a single hit. He teamed with junior Andrew Zellers (3.0 IP, one walk and six strikeouts) and junior Jaden Markus (1.0 IP, two walks, two strikeouts) to limit the Eagles to three hits over seven frames. The trio combined to strikeout 16 and walk four.
Sims helped his own cause at the plate, finishing 1-for-2 with two runs scored, three RBI and a home run. He also drew a walk and stole a base.
The Cougars worked the count for seven walks overall with Zellers (1-for-3) connecting for a double, Joe Roland (2-for-3, RBI) with a triple, Landon Brooks (2-for-3, two RBI) with a double, Markus (2-for-2, stolen base) with a double and Grant Shepherd (1-for-3) with a triple.
A.J. Oden went 1-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI.
The Cougars (1-0) hosted Wapahani at Molinder Field on Monday night and return to their home diamond today to open Hoosier Heritage Conference play against visiting New Castle at 5:30 p.m.
Softball
Cougars win second straight
The Greenfield-Central softball team picked up a pair of road wins to open the 2022 season.
The Cougars (2-0) knocked off host Hamilton Southeastern, 14-13, on Tuesday, March 29, and won their second straight on Thursday at Richmond, 19-2, in five innings.
Frosh Madysen Herbert picked up the win against Richmond, pitching 3.0 innings with one hit allowed, one earned run, one walk and six strikeouts. Junior Faith Butler threw two innings of one-hit softball with two strikeouts.
At the plate, the Cougars logged six doubles and three walks.
Ella Redman (3-for-4), Butler (3-for-4), Lilly Stewart (3-for-4) and Morgan Hornaday (3-for-4) each drove in three runners apiece.
Frosh Josie White went 2-for-4 with two RBI and two doubles. The Cougars collected 20 hits overall.
A three-run top of the sixth powered the Cougars to their season-opening victory over host HSE.
Down 12-11 after five frames, the Cougars charged ahead and fended off the Royals. G-C led 7-5 after two innings and 10-5 before HSE rallied back from an 11-8 deficit.
The Cougars had 13 hits, nine drawn walks, three doubles and a triple by White (2-for-3, three RBI).
Redman (2-for-4, double) drove in three runs. Stewart (1-for-3) had two RBI. Megan Wineinger (4-for-6) scored three runs and drove in two. Olivia Roberts went 3-for-4 with three runs, two doubles and an RBI.
Marauders drop season opener
The Mt. Vernon softball team lost its season opener, 3-1, at Zionsville on Tuesday, March 29.
The host Eagles scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Mt. Vernon broke up the shutout attempt with a run in the top of the sixth, but the Marauders could get no closer.
Mt. Vernon (0-1) was held to two hits, coming from Easton Wampler (1-for-3, double) and Shelby Rakosky (1-for-3).
Frosh Graci Hines absorbed the tough loss, pitching 6.0 innings with three hits surrendered, three walks and five strikeouts.
The Marauders played host to Pike on Monday for their home opener.
Track and Field
Marauders take second in tri-meet
The Mt. Vernon boys track and field team finished second at a tri-meet hosted by Fishers on Tuesday, March 29.
Fishers won the meet with 97 points, followed by Mt. Vernon (70) and Pendleton Heights, which didn’t score.
Winning for the Marauders were George Burhenn in the high hurdles with a time of 15.84 seconds, Andres Langston in the high jump at 6-feet, Tristan Trevino in the 800-meter run in 2:05.15 and Samuel Wilson in the 3,200 in 10:24.71.
Mt. Vernon returns to the track at Greenwood for a tri-meet today with Roncalli.
