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.
file photo
FORTVILLE — The Greenfield-Central baseball team didn’t go quietly Monday afternoon.
Down 3-0 early against Hoosier Heritage Conference rival Mt. Vernon, the Cougars clawed back with a five-run third inning and an eight-run sixth, but the defending champion Marauders escaped 16-15 in the Class 4A Sectional 9 semifinals.
The Cougars led late in the game and posted 12 hits overall, including six extra-base hits to push the Marauders to the brink.
A.J. Oden and Conner Sims each blasted home runs in the game, while Andrew Zellers, Brodie Mayberry, Sims and Grant Shepherd all recorded doubles.
Oden finished 1-for-3 with three RBI. Kirk Knecht went 1-for-4 with two RBI. Sims was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI.
Shepherd finished 2-for-4 with an RBI, Mayberry was 2-for-5 with an RBI and Zellers went 3-for-5 with an RBI.
Jaden Markus and Zach Austin each drove in runs for the Cougars, who end the season 12-15.
Greenfield-Central lost their two-game HHC series with Mt. Vernon this season 10-0 and 17-11.
Sims’ home run in the bottom of the fifth nearly gave the Cougars some revenge, up 7-6, and they refused to give up, turning a 16-7 deficit into a one-run game after the sixth.
The Marauders advanced to face Anderson in the Sectional 9 title game Monday night.
Royals fall to Crusaders
The Eastern Hancock baseball team lost a heartbreaker, 2-0, on Saturday to host Indianapolis Scecina Memorial during the Class 2A Sectional 42 semifinals.
The Crusaders scored one run in the top of the first and another in the fourth.
The Royals had four hits, but they couldn’t get any runners across home plate, finished the season 7-21.
Wyatt Sutton ended the game 2-for-3 for the Royals, while Landyn Carter went 1-for-3. Colton Dishman was 1-for-3.
Chase Stewart suffered the loss, pitching six innings with seven hits allowed, two strikeouts and no walks.
