Mt. Vernon’s Ava Lusby reacts after a shot from New Palestine’s Kaitlyn Mitchell during a regular season match on Monday, May 8. The teams will meet again today at 4:30 p.m. in the opening round of the Mt. Vernon Sectional.
Tom Russo | Daily Reporter
Staff report
The third meeting will be the most important.
New Palestine and Mt. Vernon will face off in the opening round match of today’s Mt. Vernon Girls Tennis Sectional at Mt. Vernon High School.
It will be the third time the teams have met this season. New Palestine, winning three of four head-to-head championship matches against Mt. Vernon, won the Hancock County Tournament in April.
In a regular-season match last week, the Marauders swept the Dragons 5-0, but four of the five contests were either three setters or close two-set contests.
A key for Mt. Vernon was the return of No. 1 singles player and 2022 all-stater Kylie Brandes. She was unable to play in the county tournament.
The IHSAA announced pairings for the postseason tournament Monday evening.
The Mt. Vernon Sectional is a five-team tournament. The New Palestine/Mt. Vernon match is the lone contest today. On Wednesday, Pendleton Heights takes on Greenfield-Central and Eastern Hancock plays the winner of the New Palestine/Mt. Vernon match. The championship contest is Thursday. All matches start at 4:30 p.m.
Basketball
Changes coming to high school basketball
The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) announced Monday it has amended rules for free throws and foul administration for high school basketball.
Beginning next year, high school basketball teams will shoot two free throws for common fouls when in the “bonus.” This change to Rule 4-8-1 eliminates the one-and-one scenario and sets new foul limits each quarter for awarding the bonus free throw.
Rules changes were approved by the NFHS at its annual meeting April 24-26 in Indianapolis. The recommendations were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.
In addition to awarding two foul shots for all common fouls, teams will reach the bonus when their opponent commits five fouls in each quarter and team fouls will reset at the end of each quarter. Previously, teams were awarded the one-and-one bonus when their opponents committed seven fouls in a half and two foul shots when 10 fouls were committed each half.
Softball
Dragons have hot bats
New Palestine’s softball team upped its record to 19-4 with a 20-1 win at Zionsville Monday.
The Dragons were coming off a doubleheader sweep in Northern Indiana on Saturday with wins over Munster (12-4) and Crown Point (8-5).
New Palestine is ranked No. 7 in Class 4A in the Softball Coaches Association of Indiana poll, released Monday.
Against Zionsville, Allie Blum and Alyssa Mumaw each had a home run and four RBIs. Aglaia Rudd had four hits, a pair of doubles, and three RBIs.
The combined pitching efforts of Courtney Study, Sadey Hughbanks and Cailyn Hurst threw a one-hitter.
On Saturday, Paige Ernstes hit a pair of home runs in the win over Crown Point. She had four RBIs. Blum had two doubles and two RBIs.
Against Munster, Katie Hirschy had three hits, including a home run and a double, and five RBIs.
New Palestine hosts Connersville Thursday.
Cougars win classic
With victories over Seymour (9-2), Frankton (11-0) and Warren Central (14-4), Greenfield-Central won its Cougar Classic Saturday.
Greenfield-Central is 17-6 on the season heading into Monday’s Hoosier Heritage Conference game against Shelbyville.
In the win over the Owls, Camille Burelison just missed hitting for the cycle. She had three hits, a homer, double and triple, and also drove in three and scored three runs. Faith Butler had three hits and two RBIs.
In the shutout over the Eagles, Madysen Herbert threw a three-hitter and struck out nine. Olivia Roberts had a home run and three RBIs. Burelison had two doubles. Savannah Riall and Leilani Forshey each had two hits and two RBIs.
In beating the Warriors, the Cougars jumped out with an eight-run first inning. Forshey had two doubles and three RBIs.
Royals go 1-2
Eastern Hancock’s softball team, ranked No. 8 in the Class 2A Softball Coaches Association of Indiana poll, released Monday, went 1-2 in a Saturday tournament.
Eastern Hancock (17-6) beat Hauser (18-6) and lost twice to No. 7 Cascade (20-4).
Against the Jets, Eastern Hancock won 12-4. Sammie Bolding had two home runs and four RBIs. Emily Hodges had two hits and two RBIs.
Eastern Hancock lost 4-0 and 3-2 to the Cadets.
Bolding and Lilli Ringer had the only hits in the shutout loss. Cascade’s Grace Gray, a sophomore, had 17 strikeouts.
In the second game, Cascade scored a run in the sixth inning to break a 2-2 tie.
For the Royals, Madison Stephens gave up two earned runs and struck out six.
Grace Stapleton had a triple and scored a run. Addisyn Trackwell had an RBI. Kaylee Kline hit a double.
The Royals host Wes-Del today.
Marauders win big
Easton Wampler had a home run to help lead the Mt. Vernon Marauders softball team to a 21-6 victory at Anderson Monday.
Mt. Vernon improved to 12-9 with the win. The Marauders welcome Greenfield-Central today.
Baseball
MV winning streak ends
Mt. Vernon had its 12-game winning streak come to an end at Bloomington North Saturday.
In the first of two games, Mt. Vernon (18-5) lost 12-6 to Bloomington North (18-4). The Cougars broke open a close game with an eight-run sixth inning.
For the Marauders, DJ Scheumann had two hits, including a home run, and three RBIs.
Mt. Vernon lost 21-6 to Evansville North (21-4). Gavin Johnston hit a home run. Nathan Criss had a triple and two RBIs. Russell Weaver had two RBIs.
On Monday, the Marauders lost 3-2 at Carmel (14-7).
Johnston had two hits, a double, an RBI and a run scored.
Carmel scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Criss threw 6 1/3 innings and struck out nine.
Mt. Vernon is scheduled to play at Yorktown today, the first of a two-game Hoosier Heritage Conference series.
The Marauders have a two-game lead over the Tigers and a win either night —they host Yorktown Wednesday — will clinch the conference title.
Mt. Vernon would be the first team in HHC history to win three straight outright championships.
Cougars outscored by Guerin
Greenfield-Central lost an 11-10 slugfest Saturday at Guerin Catholic, the first game of a doubleheader.
The second game ended in a 4-4 tie. It was the Cougars second tie of the season. They are 12-8-2 overall.
In the opener, G-C rallied for seven runs in the top of the seventh inning but came up short when the tying run was thrown out at home. Eight different Cougars had hits. Alex Sanchez, Lane Wadle, and Landon Brooks each had a double.
Guerin Catholic is 22-2-1.
Greenfield-Central begins a two-game Hoosier Heritage Conference series today at Shelbyville. The Cougars host the Golden Bears Wednesday.
Ankney shuts out Scecina
New Palestine improved to 17-7 with a 6-0 victory over Scecina Monday.
Chase Ankney struck out 11 and gave up five hits and no walks.
Brayden Marrow went 2-for-2 with an RBI. Gavin Neal had a hit and two RBIs. Brock Whitaker had a hit and an RBI.
The Dragons play their final Hoosier Heritage Conference series today and Wednesday. The Dragons travel to New Castle today and host the Trojans Wednesday.
Royals lose close one
Eastern Hancock’s baseball team lost 4-3 to visiting Northeastern (16-7) Monday.
The Royals dropped to 8-14 with the loss.
Colton Dishman had three hits, a double, and two RBIs.
Eastern Hancock welcomes Wes-Del today.
Volleyball
NP spikers finish second
New Palestine’s boys volleyball team ended its season with a runner-up finish at Saturday’s Roncalli Sectional.
The Dragons lost to state No. 1 seed Roncalli 3-0 in the sectional championship match by set scores of 25-9, 25-7, 25-9.
To reach the final, New Palestine defeated Beech Grove 3-0 by scores of 25-16, 25-14, 25-18 in the semifinal round of the tournament.
New Palestine ends the season 12-16.
Boys Golf
Eastern 7th at MEC
The Eastern Hancock boys golf team finished seventh at Saturday’s Mid-Eastern Conference tournament at Crestview Golf Club in Muncie.
The Royals shot a 376.
Jacob Jackson shot a personal-best round of 91 and was honorable mention All-MEC. Ronnie Johnson had a personal best round of 92. Corey Leece had a 95. Parker Atkins shot a 98.
Shenandoah won with a 334.
On Monday, the Royals lost a nine-hole dual to North Decatur, 158-176. Johnson and Jackson each carded 42s. Leece had a 45 and Atkins shot 47.
