Eastern Hancock’s Sammie Bolding , left, and Brooklyn Willis celebrates Bolding’s home run against New Palestine on Monday, March 21, 2022.
CHARLOTTESVILLE — The Eastern Hancock softball team dropped its first game of the season Wednesday at home, 15-6, to visiting Indianapolis Bishop Chatard.
The Royals (1-1-1) led the Trojans 5-3 after five complete innings, but a seven-run top of the sixth by Bishop Chatard turned the tide.
The Trojans added five more runs in the top of the seventh behind 14 hits overall.
Eastern Hancock tallied eight hits and were charged with three fielding errors.
Brooklyn Willis paced the Royals’ offense by finishing 3-for-4 with four RBI and a home run. Sammie Bolding went 2-for-3 with a home run and an RBI.
Emma Bolding drove in a run, while Caroline Stapleton, Kaylee Kline and Grace Stapleton each recorded a hit.
Trojans senior pitcher Hailee Howe earned the complete-game victory, walking two and striking out 12.
Madison Stephens pitched 6.1 innings with seven strikeouts and a walk in the loss.
The Royals host the Lawrence North Wildcats on Saturday at 10 a.m.
Tennis
Dragons win season opener
The New Palestine girls tennis team won its season opener Wednesday, beating host Whiteland 3-2 on a chilly afternoon.
Senior Abby Blachly led the Dragons with a strong 6-2, 6-1 victory at No. 1 singles. At No. 2 doubles, junior Lily Haeberle and freshman Bethany Blachly won a close 6-3, 7-6(3) match to clinch the second point for the Dragons.
The match came down to a super-tiebreaker at No. 2 singles, where junior Olivia Hasenkamp prevailed 6-1, 3-6, 10-4, to give the Dragons the victory.
The Dragons travel to Hoosier Heritage Conference foe New Castle on Friday for a match at 5 p.m.
Track & Field
Marauders win tri-meet
The Mt. Vernon boys track team defeated Greenwood and Roncalli in a tri-meet on Tuesday night.
The Marauders tallied 119 points, while Greenwood finished with 40 and Roncalli 8.
Winning for the Marauders were Keagan La Belle in the long jump with a leap of 20-feet, 2-inches and in the pole vault at 11-6; Caden Wildey in the 100-meter dash in 11.22 seconds and the 200 in 22.66; and Reyce Morgan in the 1,600-meter run in 4:43.93 and the 3,200 in 9:54.71.
The Mt. Vernon 4×800 relay team of Daylon King, Will Morris, Tristan Trevino and Colin Strachman also won in 9:04.68. George Burhenn was first in the high hurdles at 15.35. The 4×100 relay of La Belle, Wildey and others won in 43.89.
Trevino was first in the 800 in 2:01,07, the 4×400 relay of Trevino, Morris, Burhenn and Andres Langston also were victorious.
Langston also won the high jump with a new school record of 6-4, breaking the old record of 6-3.5 set in 1984 by the late Mike McComas at the Hancock County meet.
Mt. Vernon competes at the Terre Haute Invitational on Saturday next.
Cougars take second in opener
The Greenfield-Central girls track and field team placed second in a tri-meet with Southport and Beech Grove on Tuesday.
The Cougars scored 72 points during their outdoor season opener. Southport won with 75 points. Beech Grove was third with 20.
G-C’s Kayana Maroska was first in the 100 hurdles and 400. Savana Lake won the 100, Regan Crouch was first in the high jump. Lauren Silcox won the shot put, Maddy Mies took first in the pole vault. Addison Buckly won the 300 hurdles. The 4×100 relay team also won.
The Cougars hosted New Palestine and Shelbyville on Thursday.
Cougars boys place second
The Greenfield-Central boys track and field team narrowly lost their outdoor season opener in a tri-meet against Southport and Beech Grove.
The Cougars scored 69 points behind Southport (71) and ahead of Beech Grove (26).
G-C winners included: Jacob Presser (1,600), Cash Looper (300 hurdles), Aaron Lee (200), Griffen Wheeler (800), Liam Brinkruff (3,200) and the 4×400 relay team (Michael Runions, Ian Jack, Lee and Wheeler).
Looper was second in the 110 hurdles and pole vault. Lee was runner-up in the 100 and long jump. Wheeler (400), Jack (300 hurdles) and Elliot Ryba (high jump) also finished second.
Payton Foley, Hudson McGuire, John Stuckey and Looper team to take second in the 4×100 relay.
McGuire (100), Carter Crouch (3,200), Reese Hill (discus), Seth Hudson (high jump) and Dakota Herald (pole vault) placed third for the Cougars.
