BASKETBALL: Langford, Team USA win two World Cup exhibition games

By KEVIN HARRIS

kevinharris1972@gmail.com

CAIRO, Egypt – New Albany standout Romeo Langford and his USA Basketball Men’s U19 World Cup teammates competed in two exhibition games Wednesday and Thursday in preparing for the FIBA U19 World Cup that will start Saturday.

On Wednesday, Langford scored two points in Team USA’s 89-66 victory over Lithuania. Las Vegas native PJ Washington led the Americans with 18 points, followed by University of Kentucky player Hamidou Diallo with 17. Auburn player Austin Wiley added 15.

On Thursday, Team USA beat France 82-60. Langford had two points, shooting 1-of-2 from the field. He made two steals and one assist as he played 8 minutes and 52 seconds.

Diallo scored 15 points as he made 6-of-9 field-goal attempts. Washington had 13 points, four rebounds and four assists.

Team USA will face Iran in preliminary round action at 11:30 a.m. Saturday. The American will compete in Group D.

BOYS’ BASKETBALL: Langford earns roster spot on USA U19 World Championship squad

By KEVIN HARRIS

kevinharris1972@gmail.com

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Basketball announced Thursday morning that New Albany incoming senior Romeo Langford has made the final 12-man roster of the USA U19 World Championship team.

Langford and his U19 teammates will play in the World Championships in July in Cairo, Egypt. The USA U19 squad is coached by University of Kentucky head men’s basketball coach John Calipari.

Langford averaged 28.7 points and 8.9 rebounds per game for the Bulldogs last season as a junior. He led New Albany to a fourth straight Hoosier Hills Conference championship and a fourth Class 4A Seymour Sectional title in a row.

As a sophomore, Langford helped the Bulldogs win the 2016 Class 4A state championship. It was the second state title in school history, with New Albany capturing its first state crown in 1973.

BOYS’ BASKETBALL: Langford trying to earn spot on USA U19 World Championship team

By KEVIN HARRIS

kevinharris1972@gmail.com

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The USA Basketball committee announced Tuesday that New Albany standout Romeo Langford is among the 16 finalists for the USA U19 World Championship team, which is being coached by University of Kentucky head men’s basketball coach John Calipari.

Langford became a finalist by performing well during 5-on-5 scrimmages at the Team USA U19 training camp this week. The final 12-man roster is expected to be determined later this week. The USA U19 team will be competing in the World Championships in July in Cairo, Egypt.

Last season as a junior, Langford averaged 28.7 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. He led the Bulldogs to a 25-4 record, a fourth consecutive Hoosier Hills Conference championship and a fourth Class 4A Seymour Sectional title in a row.

Langford’s outstanding season earned him several honors on the local, state and national levels. He is the front-runner to be named Indiana Mr. Basketball next season when he is a senior at New Albany.

FOOTBALL: Cooley named New Albany’s head coach

By KEVIN HARRIS

kevinharris1972@gmail.com

NEW ALBANY – Steve Cooley is getting another opportunity to lead a Southern Indiana high school football program.

Cooley was approved as the new head coach at New Albany on Monday by the New Albany-Floyd County school board. Cooley was the Bulldogs’ offensive coordinator last season under his predecessor Sean Coultis, who resigned as the New Albany head coach earlier this month for personal reasons.

Cooley brings 22 years of head coaching experience to the Bulldogs, as he has a career record of 127-134.

Cooley’s first coaching stint, which was his most successful, was at Harding High School in Fort Wayne. During his six seasons at Harding, Cooley posted a 58-33 record, claimed three sectional championships and won two regional titles.

Cooley became the head coach at Jeffersonville in 2000 and was at the Red Devils’ helm for 10 seasons. He accumulated a 53-55 record at Jeff and guided the Devils to their last sectional championship in 2007. Cooley’s 53 victories are the second-most in school history.

After leaving Jeff in 2009, Cooley became the boss at Clarksville. He led the Generals for six seasons from 2010-15, where he was 16-46.

Cooley had only one winning season at Clarksville. That was in 2012 when the Generals posted a 6-5 record.

Cooley’s New Albany offense last season averaged 340.5 total yards and 31.7 points per game. That production enabled the Bulldogs to post a 5-5 record.

Cooley is expected to have two of his best offensive players back in senior running back Darquan Richardson and junior quarterback Dylan Clark. Last season, Richardson rushed for 1,389 yards and 23 touchdowns and Clark had 1,182 passing yards.

Plus the Bulldogs are expected to have 10 of their 11 defensive starters returning.

BASEBALL: Lanesville redeems itself with first state championship 5-1

By KEVIN HARRIS

kevinharris1972@gmail.com

INDIANAPOLIS – Lanesville’s year-long redemption mission to return to the IHSAA State Finals and capture the 2017 Class A state championship has ended up as a successful one.

One year after losing the Class A state title game to Daleville 4-0, the eighth-ranked Eagles claimed the long-awaited state crown Saturday at Victory Field by defeating No. 3 Rossville 5-1.

It was Lanesville’s first state championship in any sport. In addition, it was the first state title for a Harrison County school.

“It’s been our goal since we lost last year because we knew we had the potential to come back again. It’s been our No. 1 goal,” Eagles’ starter Cameron Harvey told the IHSAA Champions Network shortly after the game. “As a team, we worked harder than we’ve ever worked before. It’s just a huge accomplishment for us.”

Third-year Lanesville head coach Zach Payne mentioned in his post-game interview with the IHSAA Champions Network that his team handled this year’s state championship contest like any other game during last week’s practices. Payne feels last season’s experience in getting ready for the state finals aided in his players’ mental preparation this time around.

“We didn’t really talk about the feeling of playing at Victory Field all week,” said Payne, a Providence alumnus and former Pioneer assistant coach. “We just talked about playing a baseball game today and it was a huge difference for us.”

Arguably, the most focused Eagle was Harvey.

The 6-foot-4 senior right-hander pitched a three-hitter to complete his record at 9-2, surrendering one earned run. Harvey, a Providence transfer, struck out four and walked two.

After yielding two hits in the bottom of the first inning, Harvey gave up one knock the rest of the way. The Indiana Wesleyan University recruit retired 11 Rossville batters in a row, which was from the final out in the first to the first out of the fifth.

In his four postseason starts, Harvey allowed two earned runs on 11 hits with 37 strikeouts.

A five-run fifth inning by Lanesville (20-6) to give it a 5-0 lead helped Harvey get more comfortable on the mound.

“It’s just such a relief as a pitcher knowing you’ve got support behind you,” Harvey said. “It’s a little bit of a stress reliever on the mound. You don’t have so much pressure on you trying to hold them. If you’re up 5-0 and they score one run, hey that’s one run – it’s not going to hurt you.”

All of the Eagles’ five runs in the top of the fifth came with two outs.

The scoring spurt started with Lanesville’s No. 9 hitter, freshman Isaac Casabella, drawing a walk against Hornet starter Trevor Waggoner.

Casabella advanced to third base on a single to left field by No. 1 batter Greg Daly. That prompted Rossville head coach Brad Scott to relieve Waggoner with sophomore righty Dawson Jacoby.

But Jacoby’s luck versus the Eagles’ lineup was not much better.

Following a stolen base by Daly to put runners at second and third, catcher Evan Peele delivered a two-run base hit to center to put Lanesville up 2-0.

Courtesy runner Ethan Purdy, who substituted for Peele, moved to second on a wild pitch. The Eagles got two on base again when left fielder Ryan McCubbins drew a walk against Jacoby.

The next batter, junior Mitchell Bailey, extended the Lanesville lead to 4-0 when he smacked a double near the warning track in left to plate Purdy and McCubbins. Then Harvey helped his winning effort with an opposite-field single to right to knock in Bailey.

Hornet senior right-hander Matt Homco, who relieved Jacoby following Harvey’s hit, stopped the bleeding by forcing Eagle third baseman Noah Jones to pop out to second.

“We’ve been hitting the ball well with two outs all year. We’re confident with two outs,” Payne said. “The bottom of our lineup has started several two-out rallies for us as well. Our guys never quit. We’re always ready to hit the ball and score some runs, no matter how many outs there are.”

Rossville (24-9) got its lone run in the bottom of the fifth. With the bases loaded and two out, sophomore Mark Soiseth came home from third on a wild pitch by Harvey. The Hornets’ rally concluded, though, when Waggoner grounded out to second. Rossville only got two runners on base in the final two innings.

Lanesville did the ceremonial dogpile on the Victory Field diamond once the game’s final out – a Jacoby groundout to second – was made. While his players celebrated on the field, Payne ran into the stadium’s grandstands to be with some important people in his life.

“I had to go see my dad,” Payne said on Father’s Day weekend. “That guy has pushed me and done a lot for me. I’m so happy that he was able to experience this. And of course, I had to see my new wife.”

Ten Eagle seniors concluded their high school careers as state champions. They were Daly, Harvey, McCubbins, Peele, Tristin Brown, Brenden Bube, Dakota Fonda, Ridge Hess, Tim Oberdieck and Tommy Tidstrom. Bube, a standout player throughout his career at Lanesville, missed most of the 2017 season because of an ACL injury.

Waggoner was the losing pitcher as his record dropped to 11-2. In 4 2/3 innings, he allowed two runs (both earned) on three hits and one walk.

The Eagles will move up to Class 2A next season because of the IHSAA’s success factor rule.

CLASS A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

AT VICTORY FIELD, INDIANAPOLIS

LANESVILLE 5, ROSSVILLE 1

Lanesville              000 050 0-5 6 1

Rossville                000 010 0-1 3 1

W – Cameron Harvey (9-2). L – Trevor Waggoner (11-2). 2B – Ryan McCubbins (L), Mitchell Bailey (L).

Records – Lanesville 20-6, Rossville 24-9.

CLASS A JASPER SEMISTATE

LANESVILLE 6, INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN 2

JASPER – Lanesville repeated as semistate champions for the first time in program history on June 10 at Ruxer Field by defeating Indianapolis Lutheran 6-2 in the Class A Jasper Semistate.

Harvey continued his great postseason on the mound. He allowed two runs on one hit in six innings of work. Harvey posted 12 strikeouts and four walks. Bube wrapped up the semistate title by pitching a scoreless seventh inning, giving up one hit and fanning two.

Harvey helped his winning cause at the plate, going 3-for-3 and scoring twice. Lanesville freshman Zach Fink was 2-for-3 with a double, while Bailey wound up 2-for-4.

The Eagles plated two runs in the top of the second to go up 2-0. Fink drove in both runs with a double to right field to plate Bailey and Harvey.

Lanesville added four more runs in the third to extend its advantage to 6-0. The Eagles got three consecutive RBI base hits from Tidstrom, Fink and Casabella, and Peele drew a bases-loaded walk to drive in another run.

CLASS A JASPER SEMISTATE

AT RUXER FIELD

LANESVILLE 6, INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN 2

Lanesville             024 000 0-6 9 3

Lutheran              001 001 0-2 2 1

W – Harvey (8-2). L – Matthew Alter. 2B – Zach Fink (La).

Records – Lanesville 19-6, Lutheran 18-8.

FINAL POSTSEASON UPDATE

BASEBALL

IHSAA STATE FINALS

At Victory Field, Indianapolis

Friday, June 16

Class 2A: Indianapolis Ritter 10, Wapahani 4

Saturday, June 17

Class A: Lanesville 5, Rossville 1

Class 3A: South Bend St. Joseph 4, Jasper 0

Class 4A: Indianapolis Cathedral 4, Penn 3, 8 innings

SEMISTATES

SATURDAY, JUNE 10

CLASS 4A

At Kokomo: Penn 6, Zionsville 2

At Plainfield: Indianapolis Cathedral 6, Columbus North 0

CLASS 3A

At Plymouth: South Bend St. Joseph 8, NorthWood 5

At Jasper: Jasper 3, Northview 2, 10 innings

CLASS 2A

At Kokomo: Wapahani 9, Hebron 2

At Plainfield: Indianapolis Ritter 5, Providence 1

CLASS A

At Plymouth: Rossville 3, South Newton 0

At Jasper: Lanesville 6, Indianapolis Lutheran 2

REGIONALS

SATURDAY, JUNE 3

CLASS 4A EVANSVILLE REITZ REGIONAL

AT BOSSE FIELD

SEMIFINALS

Evansville Central 3, Bedford North Lawrence 1

Columbus North 3, Martinsville 0

CHAMPIONSHIP

Columbus North 7, Evansville Central 1

CLASS 3A NORTH HARRISON REGIONAL

SEMIFINALS

Jasper 13, Silver Creek 3, 6 innings

Lawrenceburg 7, Boonville 5

CHAMPIONSHIP

Jasper 4, Lawrenceburg 2

CLASS 2A PROVIDENCE REGIONAL

SEMIFINALS

South Spencer 8, Linton-Stockton 1

Providence 9, Austin 1

CHAMPIONSHIP

Providence 3, South Spencer 1

CLASS A LOOGOOTEE REGIONAL

SEMIFINALS

Lanesville 6, Loogootee 0

Northeast Dubois 6, Trinity Lutheran 1

CHAMPIONSHIP

Lanesville 7, Northeast Dubois 1

SECTIONALS

CLASS 4A BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE SECTIONAL

FIRST ROUND

Thursday, May 25

New Albany 1, Jeffersonville 0

Floyd Central 5, Seymour 1

SEMIFINALS

Saturday, May 27

Floyd Central 6, New Albany 5

Bedford North Lawrence 7, Jennings County 1

CHAMPIONSHIP

Monday, May 29

Bedford North Lawrence 9, Floyd Central 3

CLASS 3A SILVER CREEK SECTIONAL

FIRST ROUND

Thursday, May 25

Silver Creek 3, Charlestown 1

Friday, May 26

Brownstown Central 9, North Harrison 7

Corydon Central 6, Salem 1

SEMIFINALS

Monday, May 29

Silver Creek 2, Scottsburg 1

Corydon Central 4, Brownstown Central 0

CHAMPIONSHIP

Monday, May 29

Silver Creek 13, Corydon Central 5

CLASS 2A PROVIDENCE SECTIONAL

FIRST ROUND

Thursday, May 25

Providence 16, Eastern 2, 5 innings

Henryville 7, Paoli 1

SEMIFINALS

Saturday, May 27

Providence 11, Henryville 1, 5 innings

Clarksville 9, Crawford County 2

CHAMPIONSHIP

Monday, May 29

Providence 12, Clarksville 2, 5 innings

CLASS A SOUTH CENTRAL SECTIONAL

SEMIFINALS

Saturday, May 27

Borden 4, South Central 1

Lanesville 14, New Washington 1, 5 innings

CHAMPIONSHIP

Monday, May 29

Lanesville 1, Borden 0

SOFTBALL

IHSAA STATE FINALS

SATURDAY, JUNE 10

At Indianapolis Ben Davis

Class A: Tecumseh 3, Tri 0

Class 2A: Indianapolis Scecina 6, Elwood 2

Class 3A: New Palestine 13, Kankakee Valley 6

Class 4A: Crown Point 2, Avon 1

SEMISTATES

SATURDAY, JUNE 3

CLASS 4A BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE SEMISTATE

SEMIFINALS

Avon 7, Greenfield-Central 3

Gibson Southern 4, Center Grove 1

CHAMPIONSHIP

Avon 2, Gibson Southern 0

CLASS 3A JASPER SEMISTATE

SEMIFINALS

New Palestine 16, Edgewood 0, 5 innings

Evansville Memorial 6, Silver Creek 0

CHAMPIONSHIP

New Palestine 10, Evansville Memorial 1

CLASS 2A FOREST PARK SEMISTATE

SEMIFINALS

Indianapolis Scecina 1, South Spencer 0

Henryville 5, Northeastern 4

CHAMPIONSHIP

Indianapolis Scecina 10, Henryville 4

CLASS A NORTH DAVIESS SEMISTATE

SEMIFINALS

Indianapolis Lutheran 2, Edinburgh 1

Tecumseh 2, Lanesville 1

CHAMPIONSHIP

Tecumseh 8, Indianapolis Lutheran 2

REGIONALS

TUESDAY, MAY 30

CLASS 4A

Gibson Southern 2, Floyd Central 1

CLASS 3A

Silver Creek 6, Connersville 5

CLASS 2A

Henryville 4, Milan 3

CLASS A

Lanesville 6, Orleans 0

SECTIONALS

CLASS 4A FLOYD CENTRAL SECTIONAL

FIRST ROUND

Monday, May 22

Seymour 9, Jeffersonville 5

Jennings County 11, Bedford North Lawrence 0, 6 innings

SEMIFINALS

Tuesday, May 23

Seymour 3, Jennings County 1

Floyd Central 10, New Albany 0

CHAMPIONSHIP

Friday, May 26

Floyd Central 1, Seymour 0

CLASS 3A SCOTTSBURG SECTIONAL

FIRST ROUND

Monday, May 22

Silver Creek 9, Scottsburg 0

Tuesday, May 23

Salem 9, Brownstown Central 0

Corydon Central 5, Charlestown 0

SEMIFINALS

Friday, May 26

Silver Creek 10, North Harrison 0, 5 innings

Salem 6, Corydon Central 1

CHAMPIONSHIP

Monday, May 29

Silver Creek 3, Salem 2, 8 innings

CLASS 2A PAOLI SECTIONAL

FIRST ROUND

Tuesday, May 23

Crawford County 17, Eastern 3

Paoli 14, Clarksville 2, 5 innings

SEMIFINALS

Thursday, May 25

Paoli 8, Crawford County 1

Henryville 13, Providence 0, 5 innings

CHAMPIONSHIP

Friday, May 26

Henryville 8, Paoli 0

CLASS A LANESVILLE SECTIONAL

SEMIFINALS

Monday, May 22

Lanesville 16, New Washington 0, 5 innings

Borden 10, South Central 0, 6 innings

CHAMPIONSHIP

Thursday, May 25

Lanesville 3, Borden 2

GIRLS’ TENNIS

SILVER CREEK REGIONAL

SEMIFINALS

Tuesday, May 23

New Albany 5, Silver Creek 0

Providence 5, Floyd Central 0

CHAMPIONSHIP

Thursday, May 25

Providence 5, New Albany 0

JASPER SEMISTATE 1

Saturday, May 27

Providence 3, Columbus North 2

JASPER SEMISTATE 2

Saturday, May 27

Jasper 4, Evansville Memorial 1

IHSAA STATE FINALS

QUARTERFINALS

FRIDAY, JUNE 2

At Carmel

Providence 3, Center Grove 2

South Bend St. Joseph 3, Jasper 2

At Center Grove

Carmel 5, Terre Haute South 0

Indianapolis Cathedral 4, Fort Wayne Carroll 1

SEMIFINALS

SATURDAY, JUNE 3

At Indianapolis North Central

Providence 3, South Bend St. Joseph 2

Carmel 4, Indianapolis Cathedral 1

CHAMPIONSHIP

SATURDAY, JUNE 3

At Indianapolis North Central

Carmel 5, Providence 0

BASEBALL REGIONAL ROUNDUP: Lanesville repeats as Class A Loogootee Regional champion June 3

By KEVIN HARRIS

kevinharris1972@gmail.com

LOOGOOTEE – Eighth-ranked Lanesville repeated as the Class A Loogootee Regional champion June 3 with a 7-1 victory over Northeast Dubois in the regional championship game. It was the Eagles’ third regional title in program history and the first time they have ever claimed two consecutive regional crowns.

Lanesville pitcher Cameron Harvey got the win. In his first four postseason games this season, Harvey allowed a combined two runs.

The defending Class A state runner-up Eagles (18-6) defeated host Loogootee in the semifinals 6-0. Lanesville pitchers Brendan Bube, Mitchell Bailey and Greg Daly combined to throw a no-hitter with 16 strikeouts.

The Eagles’ Tommy Tidstrom smacked a home run in each game.

CLASS 3A NORTH HARRISON REGIONAL

SEMIFINAL: JASPER 13, SILVER CREEK 3, 6 INNINGS

RAMSEY – Silver Creek got down 7-0 after four innings and proceeded to suffer a 13-3 loss to No. 2 Jasper in the Class 3A North Harrison Regional semifinals June 3.

The Dragons (23-10) collected just six hits. Dylan Whitt was Creek’s lone multihit player, going 2-for-3 with an RBI. Dragon starter Tyler Wheeler got his first loss of the season, giving up six runs (five earned) on seven hits in one-plus innings

The Wildcats’ Trevor Krapf and Austin Simmers each had three hits. Teammate Reece Kleinhelter was the winning pitcher.

Jasper                     330 106-13 13 2

Silver Creek           000 030-  3   6 2

W – Reece Kleinhelter (8-2). L – Tyler Wheeler (8-1). 2B – Trevor Krapf 2 (J), Austin Simmers (J), Evan Aders (J), Justin Brown (SC).

Records – Silver Creek 23-10, Jasper 28-4.

CLASS 4A EVANSVILLE REITZ REGIONAL

SEMIFINAL: EVANSVILLE CENTRAL 3, BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE 1

EVANSVILLE – No. 6 Bedford North Lawrence only collected two hits off Evansville Central starter Cory Bosecker in its 3-1 semifinal loss in the Class 4A Evansville Reitz Regional semifinals June 3 at Bosse Field.

Bosecker allowed one earned run, struck out seven and walked six in a complete-game performance. The Stars’ record wound up 22-5.

Bedford NL               100 000 0-1 2 1

Ev. Central                001 002 x-3 5 0

W – Cory Bosecker (7-2).

Records – BNL 22-5, Evansville Central 21-8.

POSTSEASON UPDATE

(As of 9:50 a.m. Friday, June 16)

BASEBALL

IHSAA STATE FINALS

At Victory Field, Indianapolis

Friday, June 16

Class 2A: Indianapolis Ritter (27-3) vs. Wapahani (19-11), 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, June 17

Class A: Lanesville (19-6) vs. Rossville (24-8), 11 a.m.

Class 3A: Jasper (31-4) vs. South Bend St. Joseph (24-4), 2 p.m.

Class 4A: Indianapolis Cathedral (28-0) vs. Penn (27-6), 5 p.m.

SEMISTATES

SATURDAY, JUNE 10

CLASS 4A

At Kokomo: Penn 6, Zionsville 2

At Plainfield: Indianapolis Cathedral 6, Columbus North 0

CLASS 3A

At Plymouth: South Bend St. Joseph 8, NorthWood 5

At Jasper: Jasper 3, Northview 2, 10 innings

CLASS 2A

At Kokomo: Wapahani 9, Hebron 2

At Plainfield: Indianapolis Ritter 5, Providence 1

CLASS A

At Plymouth: Rossville 3, South Newton 0

At Jasper: Lanesville 6, Indianapolis Lutheran 2

REGIONALS

SATURDAY, JUNE 3

CLASS 4A EVANSVILLE REITZ REGIONAL

AT BOSSE FIELD

SEMIFINALS

Evansville Central 3, Bedford North Lawrence 1

Columbus North 3, Martinsville 0

CHAMPIONSHIP

Columbus North 7, Evansville Central 1

CLASS 3A NORTH HARRISON REGIONAL

SEMIFINALS

Jasper 13, Silver Creek 3, 6 innings

Lawrenceburg 7, Boonville 5

CHAMPIONSHIP

Jasper 4, Lawrenceburg 2

CLASS 2A PROVIDENCE REGIONAL

SEMIFINALS

South Spencer 8, Linton-Stockton 1

Providence 9, Austin 1

CHAMPIONSHIP

Providence 3, South Spencer 1

CLASS A LOOGOOTEE REGIONAL

SEMIFINALS

Lanesville 6, Loogootee 0

Northeast Dubois 6, Trinity Lutheran 1

CHAMPIONSHIP

Lanesville 7, Northeast Dubois 1

SECTIONALS

CLASS 4A BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE SECTIONAL

FIRST ROUND

Thursday, May 25

New Albany 1, Jeffersonville 0

Floyd Central 5, Seymour 1

SEMIFINALS

Saturday, May 27

Floyd Central 6, New Albany 5

Bedford North Lawrence 7, Jennings County 1

CHAMPIONSHIP

Monday, May 29

Bedford North Lawrence 9, Floyd Central 3

CLASS 3A SILVER CREEK SECTIONAL

FIRST ROUND

Thursday, May 25

Silver Creek 3, Charlestown 1

Friday, May 26

Brownstown Central 9, North Harrison 7

Corydon Central 6, Salem 1

SEMIFINALS

Monday, May 29

Silver Creek 2, Scottsburg 1

Corydon Central 4, Brownstown Central 0

CHAMPIONSHIP

Monday, May 29

Silver Creek 13, Corydon Central 5

CLASS 2A PROVIDENCE SECTIONAL

FIRST ROUND

Thursday, May 25

Providence 16, Eastern 2, 5 innings

Henryville 7, Paoli 1

SEMIFINALS

Saturday, May 27

Providence 11, Henryville 1, 5 innings

Clarksville 9, Crawford County 2

CHAMPIONSHIP

Monday, May 29

Providence 12, Clarksville 2, 5 innings

CLASS A SOUTH CENTRAL SECTIONAL

SEMIFINALS

Saturday, May 27

Borden 4, South Central 1

Lanesville 14, New Washington 1, 5 innings

CHAMPIONSHIP

Monday, May 29

Lanesville 1, Borden 0

SOFTBALL

IHSAA STATE FINALS

SATURDAY, JUNE 10

At Indianapolis Ben Davis

Class A: Tecumseh 3, Tri 0

Class 2A: Indianapolis Scecina 6, Elwood 2

Class 3A: New Palestine 13, Kankakee Valley 6

Class 4A: Crown Point 2, Avon 1

SEMISTATES

SATURDAY, JUNE 3

CLASS 4A BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE SEMISTATE

SEMIFINALS

Avon 7, Greenfield-Central 3

Gibson Southern 4, Center Grove 1

CHAMPIONSHIP

Avon 2, Gibson Southern 0

CLASS 3A JASPER SEMISTATE

SEMIFINALS

New Palestine 16, Edgewood 0, 5 innings

Evansville Memorial 6, Silver Creek 0

CHAMPIONSHIP

New Palestine 10, Evansville Memorial 1

CLASS 2A FOREST PARK SEMISTATE

SEMIFINALS

Indianapolis Scecina 1, South Spencer 0

Henryville 5, Northeastern 4

CHAMPIONSHIP

Indianapolis Scecina 10, Henryville 4

CLASS A NORTH DAVIESS SEMISTATE

SEMIFINALS

Indianapolis Lutheran 2, Edinburgh 1

Tecumseh 2, Lanesville 1

CHAMPIONSHIP

Tecumseh 8, Indianapolis Lutheran 2

REGIONALS

TUESDAY, MAY 30

CLASS 4A

Gibson Southern 2, Floyd Central 1

CLASS 3A

Silver Creek 6, Connersville 5

CLASS 2A

Henryville 4, Milan 3

CLASS A

Lanesville 6, Orleans 0

SECTIONALS

CLASS 4A FLOYD CENTRAL SECTIONAL

FIRST ROUND

Monday, May 22

Seymour 9, Jeffersonville 5

Jennings County 11, Bedford North Lawrence 0, 6 innings

SEMIFINALS

Tuesday, May 23

Seymour 3, Jennings County 1

Floyd Central 10, New Albany 0

CHAMPIONSHIP

Friday, May 26

Floyd Central 1, Seymour 0

CLASS 3A SCOTTSBURG SECTIONAL

FIRST ROUND

Monday, May 22

Silver Creek 9, Scottsburg 0

Tuesday, May 23

Salem 9, Brownstown Central 0

Corydon Central 5, Charlestown 0

SEMIFINALS

Friday, May 26

Silver Creek 10, North Harrison 0, 5 innings

Salem 6, Corydon Central 1

CHAMPIONSHIP

Monday, May 29

Silver Creek 3, Salem 2, 8 innings

CLASS 2A PAOLI SECTIONAL

FIRST ROUND

Tuesday, May 23

Crawford County 17, Eastern 3

Paoli 14, Clarksville 2, 5 innings

SEMIFINALS

Thursday, May 25

Paoli 8, Crawford County 1

Henryville 13, Providence 0, 5 innings

CHAMPIONSHIP

Friday, May 26

Henryville 8, Paoli 0

CLASS A LANESVILLE SECTIONAL

SEMIFINALS

Monday, May 22

Lanesville 16, New Washington 0, 5 innings

Borden 10, South Central 0, 6 innings

CHAMPIONSHIP

Thursday, May 25

Lanesville 3, Borden 2

GIRLS’ TENNIS

SILVER CREEK REGIONAL

SEMIFINALS

Tuesday, May 23

New Albany 5, Silver Creek 0

Providence 5, Floyd Central 0

CHAMPIONSHIP

Thursday, May 25

Providence 5, New Albany 0

JASPER SEMISTATE 1

Saturday, May 27

Providence 3, Columbus North 2

JASPER SEMISTATE 2

Saturday, May 27

Jasper 4, Evansville Memorial 1

IHSAA STATE FINALS

QUARTERFINALS

FRIDAY, JUNE 2

At Carmel

Providence 3, Center Grove 2

South Bend St. Joseph 3, Jasper 2

At Center Grove

Carmel 5, Terre Haute South 0

Indianapolis Cathedral 4, Fort Wayne Carroll 1

SEMIFINALS

SATURDAY, JUNE 3

At Indianapolis North Central

Providence 3, South Bend St. Joseph 2

Carmel 4, Indianapolis Cathedral 1

CHAMPIONSHIP

SATURDAY, JUNE 3

At Indianapolis North Central

Carmel 5, Providence 0

BASEBALL SHOWCASE: Providence seniors made game fun for Hornung, teammates

By KEVIN HARRIS

kevinharris1972@gmail.com

PLAINFIELD – When Providence fans reminisce about the seniors on the 2017 Pioneer baseball team, they will remember what this class helped the program accomplish during arguably the most successful period in its history.

That includes three sectional championships, two regional titles, a semistate crown and most importantly the 2016 Class 2A state championship, which was the first in program history.

After No. 2 Providence lost 5-1 to No. 3 Indianapolis Ritter in the Class 2A Plainfield Semistate last Saturday, veteran Pioneers’ head coach Scott Hornung said he will have an additional memory about the five seniors – Juston Betz, Parker Graf, Jake Lewis, Garrett Popp and Blake Wurm – along with the trophies they helped accumulate.

“More than just playing baseball, just taking the team under their wings and making sure that baseball was fun when they came to the park. That’s my best memory of this group is that they made the game fun,” Hornung said.

Despite the Pioneers (28-5) coming up short of returning to Victory Field in Indianapolis for the Class 2A state championship game, Hornung was thrilled with what his players accomplished this season. Providence set a single-season wins record, claimed its 18^th sectional title overall and won back-to-back regional championships for the first time in program history.

“It was a tremendous season. I’m very proud,” Hornung said. “One of our mantras is to leave the jersey in a better place. Over the course of the last two years, all of our players associated with the program have definitely left the jerseys in a better place. I think we’re a respected program that plays baseball the right way with our competitors.

“At the end of the day, there is always a winner and a loser. But we’re just losers on the scoreboard today. We’re definitely winners as far as how we approach the game and how we treat each other.”

Pioneer batters struggled throughout the semistate trying to figure out Ritter starter and Indiana Mr. Baseball candidate Blake Malatestinic. The senior right-hander pitched a five-hitter to improve his record to 11-1, surrendering one earned run. Malatestinic, who is this season’s Indianapolis City Player of the Year, struck out six and walked one.

Malatestinic had a nasty curveball that kept some Pioneers off-balance and worked fast on the mound with a quick wind-up.

“He was a little bit different than what I anticipated that he would be,” Hornung said. “The one thing that he definitely was - and I thought he would be - was a competitor. I did not think his fastball was the difference. I felt like his ability to throw his off-speed pitch was the difference although I just felt because of the (early) deficit, we did not continue to have the same approaches that we necessarily might have had in certain situations. He’s definitely a competitor and he earned the win today.”

Providence got off to a rough start, allowing the Raiders (27-3) to take a 3-0 lead after one inning.

With two out and runners on first and second base in the bottom of the first, Lewis knocked down a line drive off the bat of Raider junior Ben Egenolf. But Lewis threw the ball past Pioneer first baseman Reece Davis, allowing Ritter courtesy runner Joey Gruber to score from second.

The Raiders’ lead grew to 2-0 when third baseman Brian Bacon collected an RBI single to right field. On the play, Providence right fielder Kaden Williams made an errant throw to third. Egenolf responded to the error by coming home for the third score.

Ritter tacked on another run in the bottom of the second. Junior Henry Woodcock led off the frame by drilling a double into the left-center gap off Lewis. Two batters later, Woodcock came home on a two-out single by junior Kyle Price to put the Raiders up 4-0.

The Pioneers’ lone run came in the top of the fourth. Lewis smacked a one-out single to center off Malatestinic, followed by Providence courtesy runner Preston Taylor advancing to second on a wild pitch. Taylor then scored on a base hit by Pioneer shortstop Timmy Borden on a hit-and-run play.

Still, Hornung did not completely feel that his players got lots of momentum from the run that cut Providence’s deficit to 4-1.

“I felt like we were close. I never felt like we really crossed through the door though. I never felt like we really completely got back into it,” Hornung said. “Once we got that run on the board and we had a runner on, we still had opportunities because we missed a 3-1 fastball pitch on a fly out to right and we missed a 2-0 fastball pitch on a pop-up. I just felt like we were really close. (Malatestinic) completely just continued to come back with strikes and it really gave us some opportunities.”

But the Raiders got their advantage back to four in the bottom half as Woodcock scored on a two-out passed ball.

“We made the mistakes and we dug ourselves a hole,” Hornung said. “It changed the whole complexion of the game because I feel if it was a tighter game, some of those baserunners as the game continued could’ve played out in a different scenario.

“We made the mistakes and they cashed in on them and I feel like that was the difference in the game.”

Lewis pitched 3 1/3 innings as his record dropped to 9-3. The left-hander, who will play at Eastern Kentucky University next season, yielded five runs (one earned) on five hits. He struck out three and walked two.

Davis relieved Lewis in the top of the fourth and pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings. Davis surrendered no hits, struck out four and walked two.

Ritter will face Wapahani (19-11) in the Class 2A state-title game at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Victory Field.

CLASS 2A PLAINFIELD SEMISTATE

INDIANAPOLIS RITTER 5, PROVIDENCE 1

Providence         000 100 0-1 5 2

Ritter                  310 100 x-5 5 1

W – Blake Malatestinic (11-1). L – Jake Lewis (9-3). 2B – Henry Woodcock (R).

Records – Providence 28-5, Ritter 27-3.

SOFTBALL SEMISTATE ROUNDUP: Hornets lose to Scecina in 2A semistate final 10-4

By KEVIN HARRIS

kevinharris1972@gmail.com

FERDINAND – Eighth-ranked Henryville fell short of its first semistate championship on June 3, as it lost to No. 6 Indianapolis Scecina in the championship game of the Class 2A Forest Park Semistate 10-4.

The Crusaders pulled out to an 8-0 after 3 ½ innings. Junior Lexie McAfee smacked a two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning to cut the Hornets’ deficit to 8-2.

Henryville (23-7) won the semifinal on the third versus No. 4 Northeastern 5-4. McAfee and teammate Hannah Nunn each drove in two RBIs. Hornet starter Peyton Ottersbach got the win, recording seven strikeouts.

Scecina proceeded to capture the Class 2A state championship last Saturday at Indianapolis Ben Davis with a 6-2 victory over top-ranked Elwood.

In other semistate action on June 3, Silver Creek lost to Evansville Memorial in the Class 3A Jasper Semistate semifinal 6-0. Lanesville fell to fifth-ranked and eventual state champion Tecumseh in the Class A North Daviess Semistate semi 2-1.

CLASS 2A FOREST PARK SEMISTATE

CHAMPIONSHIP

INDIANAPOLIS SCECINA 10, HENRYVILLE 4

Indpls. Scecina          020 601 1-10 12 1

Henryville                  000 200 2-  4   8 4

W – Cassie Smith. L – Peyton Ottersbach. HR – Lexie McAfee (H), Davis (IS).

Records – Henryville 23-7, Indianapolis Scecina 25-4.

SEMIFINAL

HENRYVILLE 5, NORTHEASTERN 4

Northeastern          000 220 0-4 7 2

Henryville               010 400 0-5 5 2

W – Ottersbach. L – Katie Schneider. 2B – McAfee (H), Chaise Helton (N), Leah Hoskins (N), Mikayla Hornung (N).

Records – Henryville 23-6, Northeastern 22-6.

FOOTBALL: Bulldogs looking for head coach after Coultis’ resignation

By KEVIN HARRIS

kevinharris1972@gmail.com

NEW ALBANY – New Albany High School is currently looking for a new head football coach after the surprising recent resignation of two-year Bulldog sideline boss Sean Coultis.

New Albany athletic director Don Unruh was quoted by The Courier-Journal in Louisville in its June 4 edition that Coultis stepped down because of personal reasons.

“We hate to see Coach Coultis go, but we understand that his family situation comes first and wish him well,” Unruh told The Courier-Journal. “He did a great job for us both as head football coach and as a teacher at New Albany High School.”

Coultis posted a 9-11 record in his two seasons at the Bulldog helm. The Indiana University graduate guided New Albany to a 4-6 record in his first campaign in 2015, which included regular-season victories over rivals Providence and Floyd Central.

Last season, the Bulldogs wound up 5-5 as they recorded road wins at Providence and another main rival, Jeffersonville.

New Albany has the potential to post its first winning record since 2013 next season. The Bulldogs are expected to have several key players back on offense, including standout Darquan Richardson. The star running back accumulated 1,389 rushing yards and 23 total touchdowns in 2016, as he received honorable-mention honors on The Associated Press All-State team.

New Albany also expects the return of 10 of its 11 defensive starters from the 2016 squad.

GIRLS’ TENNIS: Providence caps off historic season as state runner-up

By KEVIN HARRIS

kevinharris1972@gmail.com

INDIANAPOLIS – Providence recently completed a historic season by finishing second in the IHSAA State Finals at Indianapolis North Central High School.

It was the Pioneers’ highest finish ever as a team in the team state finals. During the 1975-76 season, Providence’s Mary Chris Fell was the runner-up in the IHSAA individual state singles finals.

On June 2 at Carmel High School, the third-ranked Pioneers defeated No. 4 Center Grove (20-3) in the state quarterfinals 3-2.

One match went three sets as the Providence No. 2 doubles team of senior Natalie Jacobi and junior Heidi Popson beat the Trojans’ Carleigh Hardin and Ellie Strube 2-6, 6-2, 7-5. The Pioneers got singles victories from sophomore Halli Trinkle at the No. 1 position and freshman Natalie Boesing at No. 2.

Providence claimed its semifinal match on June 3 at North Central against No. 6 South Bend St. Joseph (24-2) 3-2.

For the second consecutive match, Jacobi and Popson rallied from a one-set deficit to prevail at No. 2 doubles. They downed the Indians’ Kathryn Borders and Nicole Pascual 5-7, 7-5, 6-2. Trinkle and Boesing each posted straight-set triumphs at Nos. 1 and 2 singles, respectively.

The Pioneers lost in the state championship match to top-ranked Carmel 5-0 on June 3 at North Central. One match lasted three sets as Trinkle suffered a 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 setback to Greyhound junior Lauren Lemonds at one singles.

The state-title match loss to Carmel (19-0) was Providence’s lone dual-match setback of the season as it finished with a 21-1 record. It was the Greyhounds’ fourth state championship in the last five years.

IHSAA STATE FINALS

CHAMPIONSHIP

SATURDAY, JUNE 3

AT INDIANAPOLIS NORTH CENTRAL

CARMEL 5, PROVIDENCE 0

Singles: Lauren Lemonds d. Halli Trinkle 6-4, 3-6, 6-2; Kiersten Carlson d. Natalie Boesing 6-1, 6-4; Zoe Woods d. Clare Hooper 6-1, 6-0.

Doubles: Grace Marchese-Julia Miller d. Izzy Coe-Hannah Conder 6-4, 6-2; Cece Katz-Apurva Manas d. Natalie Jacobi-Heidi Popson 6-1, 6-1.

SEMIFINAL

SATURDAY, JUNE 3

AT INDIANAPOLIS NORTH CENTRAL

PROVIDENCE 3, SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH 2

Singles: Trinkle (P) d. Maddie Yergler 6-2, 6-3; Boesing (P) d. Natalie Sill 6-0, 6-0; Isabel Neal (SBSJ) d. Hooper 2-6, 6-2, 6-4.

Doubles: Talle Corrigan-Kayla Graham (SBSJ) d. Coe-Conder 6-3, 6-1; Jacobi-Popson (P) d. Kathryn Borders-Nicole Pascual 5-7, 7-5, 6-2.

QUARTERFINAL

FRIDAY, JUNE 2

AT CARMEL

PROVIDENCE 3, CENTER GROVE 2

Singles: Trinkle (P) d. Katelyn Gray 6-1, 6-1; Boesing (P) d. Emily Hoy 6-0, 6-0; Maddie Weeks (CG) d. Hooper 6-4, 7-5.

Doubles: Cassidy Hardin-Isabella Schoolcraft (CG) d. Coe-Conder 6-1, 6-1; Jacobi-Popson (P) d. Carleigh Hardin-Ellie Strube 2-6, 6-2, 7-5.

POSTSEASON UPDATE

(As of 11:30 p.m. Sunday, June 11)

BASEBALL

IHSAA STATE FINALS

At Victory Field, Indianapolis

Friday, June 16

Class 2A: Indianapolis Ritter (27-3) vs. Wapahani (19-11), 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, June 17

Class A: Lanesville (19-6) vs. Rossville (24-8), 11 a.m.

Class 3A: Jasper (31-4) vs. South Bend St. Joseph (24-4), 2 p.m.

Class 4A: Indianapolis Cathedral (28-0) vs. Penn (27-6), 5 p.m.

SEMISTATES

SATURDAY, JUNE 10

CLASS 4A

At Kokomo: Penn 6, Zionsville 2

At Plainfield: Indianapolis Cathedral 6, Columbus North 0

CLASS 3A

At Plymouth: South Bend St. Joseph 8, NorthWood 5

At Jasper: Jasper 3, Northview 2, 10 innings

CLASS 2A

At Kokomo: Wapahani 9, Hebron 2

At Plainfield: Indianapolis Ritter 5, Providence 1

CLASS A

At Plymouth: Rossville 3, South Newton 0

At Jasper: Lanesville 6, Indianapolis Lutheran 2

REGIONALS

SATURDAY, JUNE 3

CLASS 4A EVANSVILLE REITZ REGIONAL

AT BOSSE FIELD

SEMIFINALS

Evansville Central 3, Bedford North Lawrence 1

Columbus North 3, Martinsville 0

CHAMPIONSHIP

Columbus North 7, Evansville Central 1

CLASS 3A NORTH HARRISON REGIONAL

SEMIFINALS

Jasper 13, Silver Creek 3, 6 innings

Lawrenceburg 7, Boonville 5

CHAMPIONSHIP

Jasper 4, Lawrenceburg 2

CLASS 2A PROVIDENCE REGIONAL

SEMIFINALS

South Spencer 8, Linton-Stockton 1

Providence 9, Austin 1

CHAMPIONSHIP

Providence 3, South Spencer 1

CLASS A LOOGOOTEE REGIONAL

SEMIFINALS

Lanesville 6, Loogootee 0

Northeast Dubois 6, Trinity Lutheran 1

CHAMPIONSHIP

Lanesville 7, Northeast Dubois 1

SECTIONALS

CLASS 4A BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE SECTIONAL

FIRST ROUND

Thursday, May 25

New Albany 1, Jeffersonville 0

Floyd Central 5, Seymour 1

SEMIFINALS

Saturday, May 27

Floyd Central 6, New Albany 5

Bedford North Lawrence 7, Jennings County 1

CHAMPIONSHIP

Monday, May 29

Bedford North Lawrence 9, Floyd Central 3

CLASS 3A SILVER CREEK SECTIONAL

FIRST ROUND

Thursday, May 25

Silver Creek 3, Charlestown 1

Friday, May 26

Brownstown Central 9, North Harrison 7

Corydon Central 6, Salem 1

SEMIFINALS

Monday, May 29

Silver Creek 2, Scottsburg 1

Corydon Central 4, Brownstown Central 0

CHAMPIONSHIP

Monday, May 29

Silver Creek 13, Corydon Central 5

CLASS 2A PROVIDENCE SECTIONAL

FIRST ROUND

Thursday, May 25

Providence 16, Eastern 2, 5 innings

Henryville 7, Paoli 1

SEMIFINALS

Saturday, May 27

Providence 11, Henryville 1, 5 innings

Clarksville 9, Crawford County 2

CHAMPIONSHIP

Monday, May 29

Providence 12, Clarksville 2, 5 innings

CLASS A SOUTH CENTRAL SECTIONAL

SEMIFINALS

Saturday, May 27

Borden 4, South Central 1

Lanesville 14, New Washington 1, 5 innings

CHAMPIONSHIP

Monday, May 29

Lanesville 1, Borden 0

SOFTBALL

IHSAA STATE FINALS

SATURDAY, JUNE 10

At Indianapolis Ben Davis

Class A: Tecumseh 3, Tri 0

Class 2A: Indianapolis Scecina 6, Elwood 2

Class 3A: New Palestine 13, Kankakee Valley 6

Class 4A: Crown Point 2, Avon 1

SEMISTATES

SATURDAY, JUNE 3

CLASS 4A BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE SEMISTATE

SEMIFINALS

Avon 7, Greenfield-Central 3

Gibson Southern 4, Center Grove 1

CHAMPIONSHIP

Avon 2, Gibson Southern 0

CLASS 3A JASPER SEMISTATE

SEMIFINALS

New Palestine 16, Edgewood 0, 5 innings

Evansville Memorial 6, Silver Creek 0

CHAMPIONSHIP

New Palestine 10, Evansville Memorial 1

CLASS 2A FOREST PARK SEMISTATE

SEMIFINALS

Indianapolis Scecina 1, South Spencer 0

Henryville 5, Northeastern 4

CHAMPIONSHIP

Indianapolis Scecina 10, Henryville 4

CLASS A NORTH DAVIESS SEMISTATE

SEMIFINALS

Indianapolis Lutheran 2, Edinburgh 1

Tecumseh 2, Lanesville 1

CHAMPIONSHIP

Tecumseh 8, Indianapolis Lutheran 2

REGIONALS

TUESDAY, MAY 30

CLASS 4A

Gibson Southern 2, Floyd Central 1

CLASS 3A

Silver Creek 6, Connersville 5

CLASS 2A

Henryville 4, Milan 3

CLASS A

Lanesville 6, Orleans 0

SECTIONALS

CLASS 4A FLOYD CENTRAL SECTIONAL

FIRST ROUND

Monday, May 22

Seymour 9, Jeffersonville 5

Jennings County 11, Bedford North Lawrence 0, 6 innings

SEMIFINALS

Tuesday, May 23

Seymour 3, Jennings County 1

Floyd Central 10, New Albany 0

CHAMPIONSHIP

Friday, May 26

Floyd Central 1, Seymour 0

CLASS 3A SCOTTSBURG SECTIONAL

FIRST ROUND

Monday, May 22

Silver Creek 9, Scottsburg 0

Tuesday, May 23

Salem 9, Brownstown Central 0

Corydon Central 5, Charlestown 0

SEMIFINALS

Friday, May 26

Silver Creek 10, North Harrison 0, 5 innings

Salem 6, Corydon Central 1

CHAMPIONSHIP

Monday, May 29

Silver Creek 3, Salem 2, 8 innings

CLASS 2A PAOLI SECTIONAL

FIRST ROUND

Tuesday, May 23

Crawford County 17, Eastern 3

Paoli 14, Clarksville 2, 5 innings

SEMIFINALS

Thursday, May 25

Paoli 8, Crawford County 1

Henryville 13, Providence 0, 5 innings

CHAMPIONSHIP

Friday, May 26

Henryville 8, Paoli 0

CLASS A LANESVILLE SECTIONAL

SEMIFINALS

Monday, May 22

Lanesville 16, New Washington 0, 5 innings

Borden 10, South Central 0, 6 innings

CHAMPIONSHIP

Thursday, May 25

Lanesville 3, Borden 2

GIRLS’ TENNIS

SILVER CREEK REGIONAL

SEMIFINALS

Tuesday, May 23

New Albany 5, Silver Creek 0

Providence 5, Floyd Central 0

CHAMPIONSHIP

Thursday, May 25

Providence 5, New Albany 0

JASPER SEMISTATE 1

Saturday, May 27

Providence 3, Columbus North 2

JASPER SEMISTATE 2

Saturday, May 27

Jasper 4, Evansville Memorial 1

IHSAA STATE FINALS

QUARTERFINALS

FRIDAY, JUNE 2

At Carmel

Providence 3, Center Grove 2

South Bend St. Joseph 3, Jasper 2

At Center Grove

Carmel 5, Terre Haute South 0

Indianapolis Cathedral 4, Fort Wayne Carroll 1

SEMIFINALS

SATURDAY, JUNE 3

At Indianapolis North Central

Providence 3, South Bend St. Joseph 2

Carmel 4, Indianapolis Cathedral 1

CHAMPIONSHIP

SATURDAY, JUNE 3

At Indianapolis North Central

Carmel 5, Providence 0

BASEBALL: Providence’s repeat bid ends with 5-1 loss to Ritter in 2A semistate

By KEVIN HARRIS

kevinharris1972@gmail.com

PLAINFIELD – The Providence Pioneers’ quest to repeat as Class 2A state champions came to an end Saturday afternoon, as they lost 5-1 to No. 3 Indianapolis Ritter in the Class 2A Plainfield Semistate.

The Raiders (27-3) will play Wapahani (19-11) in the Class 2A state championship either next Friday or Saturday at Victory Field in Indianapolis.

The second-ranked Pioneers (28-5) got off to a rough start, allowing Ritter to take a 3-0 lead after one inning.

With two out and runners on first and second base in the bottom of the first, Providence starter Jake Lewis knocked down a line drive off the bat of Raider junior Ben Egenolf. But Lewis threw the ball past Pioneer first baseman Reece Davis, allowing Ritter courtesy runner Joey Gruber to score from second.

The Raiders’ lead grew to 2-0 when third baseman Brian Bacon collected an RBI single to right field. On the play, Providence right fielder Kaden Williams made an errant throw to third. Egenolf responded to the error by coming home for the third score.

Ritter tacked on another run in the bottom of the second. Junior Henry Woodcock led off the frame by drilling a double into the left-center gap off Lewis. Two batters later, Woodcock came home on a two-out single by junior Kyle Price to put the Raiders up 4-0.

The Pioneers’ lone run came in the top of the fourth. Lewis smacked a one-out single to center off Ritter starter Blake Malatestinic. Providence courtesy runner Preston Taylor advanced to second on a wild pitch. Taylor then scored on a base hit by Pioneer shortstop Timmy Borden on a hit-and-run play.

The Raiders got their advantage back to four in the bottom half as Woodcock scored on a two-out passed ball.

Lewis pitched 3 1/3 innings as his record dropped to 9-3. The senior left-hander, who will play at Eastern Kentucky University next season, yielded five runs (one earned) on five hits. He struck out three and walked two.

Davis relieved Lewis in the top of the fourth and pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings. Davis surrendered no hits, struck out four and walked two.

Malatestinic, an Indiana Mr. Baseball candidate, pitched a five-hitter to improve his record to 11-1. The senior right-hander recorded six strikeouts and one walk. The lone run he allowed was earned.

Providence said goodbye to five seniors in Lewis, Parker Graf, Garrett Popp, Juston Betz and Blake Wurm.

Check Southern Indiana Preps in the next few days for a complete recap of Saturday's Class 2A Plainfield Semistate.

CLASS 2A PLAINFIELD SEMISTATE

INDIANAPOLIS RITTER 5, PROVIDENCE 1

Providence         000 100 0-1 5 2

Ritter                  310 100 x-5 5 1

W – Blake Malatestinic (11-1). L – Jake Lewis (9-3). 2B – Henry Woodcock (R).

Records – Providence 28-5, Ritter 27-3.

BASEBALL SHOWCASE: Lewis shines again for Providence in 2A regional final

By KEVIN HARRIS

kevinharris1972@gmail.com

CLARKSVILLE – It has been a common occurrence for the Providence Pioneers the last couple of seasons when ace pitcher Jake Lewis is on the mound.

Get an early lead and let the talented left-hander take care of the rest.

Lewis and his Providence teammates followed that successful script again last Saturday at Memorial Field. The senior southpaw threw a one-hitter in leading the No. 2 Pioneers to a 3-1 victory over No. 3 South Spencer in the Class 2A Providence Regional championship game. It was the first time in program history that Providence has won the regional two seasons in a row. It was the Pioneers’ sixth regional title overall.

“This regional this year is a lot better than it was last year,” Lewis said. “I mean it was the same teams, but both of the teams (Providence played) were a lot better. South Spencer was a really good team coming (into the regional). We came in with the mindset that we knew we were a good team and we knew what we had to do.”

The defending Class 2A state champion Pioneers (28-4) will face third-ranked Indianapolis Ritter (26-3) in the Class 2A Plainfield Semistate at 1 p.m. this coming Saturday. Ritter and South Spencer (27-6) shared the No. 3 ranking in the final Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 2A poll.

Lewis, an Eastern Kentucky University recruit, struck out eight and walked two. The lone run he gave up was earned.

“He was magical tonight. That’s who he was last year. The last three weeks he hasn’t had mastery of his pitches. We did a little fine-tuning this week,” Providence head coach Scott Hornung said. “That was a hell of a team. That was a hell of a game, and for him to come out and throw that type of a game was so impressive.”

Like he has done throughout his outstanding career, Lewis did an efficient job of mixing his fastball, change-up and breaking pitches.

“My fastball and change-up were working really well. I was really feeling confident in the (strike) zone,” Lewis said. “This week I worked on staying within myself because I knew my defense was really good and they will always have my back. I was just trying to throw at barrels (of the bats). I was just attacking the zone.”

Lewis, who is Providence’s all-time wins leader, had a no-hitter for 6 2/3 innings. But it got broken up in the top of the seventh inning when the Rebels scored their lone run.

Lewis began the inning by issuing a walk to South Spencer junior Manning Webb. Webb then advanced to second and third base on consecutive wild pitches.

“I was like, ‘What are you doing?’ I needed to focus back in,” Lewis said. “I think I was getting a little like I was ready to get it over with, so that caused me to get up into the zone.”
Lewis, though, bounced back by striking out Rebel seniors Sammy Rowan and Caleb Helms.

That was followed by South Spencer first baseman Matthew Bunch lining an RBI single into left field to drive in Webb. But after Lewis walked Dalton Schneider, the Providence starter sealed the regional title by striking out Rebel senior Brice Stuteville.

Once Lewis fanned Stuteville, the Pioneers celebrated with a huge dogpile on the mound.

“I was doing some praying, so that never hurts,” Hornung said about the last inning while watching Lewis work out of the game-ending jam. “He just stayed composed. We just had some eye contact about you’ve really worked hard for this and just keep pushing. He’s incredible. He’s (the record holder) for career wins for our school pitching-wise for a reason. He’s done a lot of good things in four years.”

Along with his standout pitching performance, Lewis arguably had the most crucial plate appearance in the game.

With one out in the bottom of the third, Providence got its next three batters on base against Helms, who started for South Spencer. Junior Nathan Proctor started the sequence with a single to center field. That was followed by teammate Juston Betz reaching first on an error, and Pioneer right fielder Kaden Williams smacking a base hit to center to load the bases.

Lewis worked the count full versus Helms, where he fouled off three pitches with one of them being laced down the right-field line that was a hair foul. Lewis then laid off on the payoff pitch – a curveball – to get the walk and drive in the Pioneers’ first run.

“I was just trying to get a (sacrifice) fly or just drive something,” Lewis said. “I was just battling and I fouled a few off and I hit that one down the line. After that, I thought that he was going to come with something off-speed or something that he will try to get me to chase. He came with a curveball. It was a close pitch, but I laid off of it.

“We needed something. It’s just that run that gets you going. It picks the guys up.”

Louisville commit Timmy Borden, the next batter, knocked in two more runs with a single to left to give Providence a 3-0 lead.

“(Lewis’) at-bat was exceptional. It gave Timmy a chance to come up and deliver his hit,” Hornung said. “It was critical – a great at-bat.”

Williams and Providence senior Parker Graf each went 2-for-3, with Williams scoring a run.

Hornung said this year’s quest to repeat as state champions has been challenging. But he mentioned it is gratifying to witness his squad pull out huge victories against very formidable opponents.

“This is harder than last year in a lot of respects,” Hornung said. “This is harder just having to go through the steps again and get that job done. Last year in sectional and regional, we didn’t really have any challenges so to speak where we had to play a white-knuckle kind of game. We knew this was going to be that – we knew it was. It’s so good to be able to make good plays in big situations, and we did.”

SEMIFINAL

PROVIDENCE 9, AUSTIN 1

Pioneer starter Reece Davis earned his 10^th win of the 2017 campaign with a complete-game three-hitter. The junior right-hander allowed one unearned run, while striking out six and walking one.

With the victory, Davis tied the single-season program record for most wins. After the regional final, Hornung praised the outings from both Davis and Lewis last Saturday.

“I felt our pitchers today were on. If we continue to get that pitching like we did today, it makes it really tough on the other teams,” Hornung said.

Graf went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored. Providence catcher Adam Uhl also was 2-for-4. Lewis scored two runs along with collecting a double and driving in a run.

Senior catcher Gavin Napier got all three hits for Austin (20-8), going 3-for-3 with a run scored. Eagles’ starter Drew Buhr was the losing pitcher. The sophomore right-hander threw 5 2/3 innings, giving up all nine Providence runs (six earned) on eight hits. Buhr recorded three strikeouts and two walks.

CLASS 2A PROVIDENCE REGIONAL

CHAMPIONSHIP

PROVIDENCE 3, SOUTH SPENCER 1

S. Spencer         000 000 1-1 1 3

Providence        003 000 x-3 6 2

W – Jake Lewis (9-2). L – Caleb Helms (7-3).

Records – Providence 28-4, South Spencer 27-6.

SEMIFINAL

PROVIDENCE 9, AUSTIN 1

Providence        300 033 0-9 9 2

Austin                 001 000 0-1 3 2

W – Reece Davis (10-1). L – Drew Buhr (7-3). 2B – Lewis (P). 3B – Kaden Williams (P).

Records – Providence 27-4, Austin 20-8.

SOFTBALL: Floyd loses 4A regional to Gibson Southern for second year in a row 2-1

By KEVIN HARRIS

kevinharris1972@gmail.com

FORT BRANCH – No. 5 Gibson Southern ended No. 6 Floyd Central’s season for the second year in a row on May 30 in the Class 4A regional. The host Titans downed the Highlanders 2-1.

Floyd Central (26-8) got two hits apiece from seniors Paige Meyer, Taylor Castleberry and Jensen Striegel.

Highlander starter Abby Letson suffered the loss, dropping her record to 13-4. The sophomore tossed a complete game, giving up two runs (one earned) on six hits. Letson struck out 10 and issued no walks.

Floyd Central tied the game at one in the top of the third inning. Freshman Taryn Weddle drove in Castleberry with an RBI single.

But Gibson Southern (27-2) took the lead for good in the bottom half on a solo home run by Cora Blume with two out.

CLASS 4A REGIONAL

GIBSON SOUTHERN 2, FLOYD CENTRAL 1

Floyd Central           001 000 0-1 10 1

Gibson Southern      101 000 x-2   6 1

W – Jaime Nurrenbern. L – Abby Letson (13-4). HR – Cora Blume (GS).

Records – Floyd Central 26-8, Gibson Southern 27-2.

CLASS 4A FLOYD CENTRAL SECTIONAL

HIGHLANDERS EDGE SEYMOUR 1-0 IN FINAL

FLOYDS KNOBS – Floyd Central captured its fourth consecutive sectional championship May 26 by defeating Seymour in the Class 4A Floyd Central Sectional title game 1-0. It was the Highlanders’ 18^th sectional crown in program history.

Letson was the star of the championship contest, pitching a three-hit shutout. She struck out eight and walked one.

Floyd Central scored its lone run in the top of the fourth. Striegel led off the inning with a triple, and she got knocked in on a Weddle base hit. Striegel ended up 2-for-3.

Owls pitcher Mikayla Moore collected the loss. She went the distance, allowing one earned run on five hits. Moore struck out four and walked one.

CLASS 4A FLOYD CENTRAL SECTIONAL

CHAMPIONSHIP

FLOYD CENTRAL 1, SEYMOUR 0

Floyd Central            000 100 0-1 5 0

Seymour                     000 000 0-0 3 1

W – Letson (13-3). L – Mikayla Moore. 2B – Katie Suits (S). 3B – Striegel (FC).

Records – Floyd Central 26-7, Seymour 18-7.