PREP ROUNDUP: Logan softball finishes runner-up in NCC

Beau Wicker Sports Editor, Pharos-Tribune, Logansport, Ind.
·7 min read

May 18—The Logansport softball team had a good showing in the North Central Conference Tournament this weekend.

The Berries avenged a loss to McCutcheon with a 9-7 win on Saturday to advance to the championship game at Harrison.

They fell into a 7-0 hole in the title game against Harrison and nearly came all the way back before falling 7-6.

The Raiders (16-7) jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the second inning behind three-run home runs by Anna Henderson and Kiersten Delaney.

The Berries (15-10) started their comeback in the third. Chloe Kelly had a single, Justyce Rohrabaugh had a single and Abby Henderson was hit by a pitch to load the bases. With two outs, Kendra Sutton hit an RBI infield single to make it 7-1. Kinzie Byrd followed with a three-run double to left center to make it 7-4. Byrd advanced to third on a wild pitch. Katey Hall drew a walk. With Ashlyn Berkshire at the plate, courtesy runner Gracie Henderson stole second. The shortstop mishandled the ball and Byrd darted home but was thrown out to end the inning.

The Berries put together another rally in the fifth. Pailei Cripe led off with a single. Abby Henderson drew a walk. Claire Kitchel bunted them up a base. Sutton hit an RBI single to right to make it 7-5. Byrd had an RBI groundout to make it 7-6. Hall grounded out to end the inning.

Kelly hit a one-out triple to right in the sixth. But Rohrabaugh struck out looking on a 3-2 pitch and Cripe grounded out to end the inning.

The Raiders recorded two strikeouts and a popup to the pitcher in the seventh to end the game.

Byrd pitched 4 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. She allowed three hits and one walk and struck out five.

Byrd got a complete-game win against McCutcheon (14-6). She allowed seven runs on nine hits and one walk with eight strikeouts.

The Berries scored five runs in the fifth to take a 9-4 lead and held on. Kitchel had a three-run home run and added a single. Cripe had a triple, two singles and three runs scored. Abby Henderson had two doubles, an RBI and two runs scored. Alexis Doss had a single and two RBIs. Hall had a double. Sutton had a single, RBI and run scored. Byrd added a single.

"We're finally starting to buy in to our philosophy," Logan coach Cory Cripe said. "We're grinding out some at-bats and we're just getting healthy. Kinzie Byrd lengthens our lineup and she makes us better on the mound. We had some good at-bats out there today and I'm proud of the girls."

Logan is hosting a sectional this year and will await the winner of Lafayette Jeff and Kokomo on May 27. With the Berries' showing this weekend, they look like a true contender for the sectional title.

"The officials and even their coaches were like you're a totally different team than you were at the beginning of the year," Cripe said. "I told you at the beginning of the year that we really needed last year for us to get acquainted with each other and them to figure out what my expectations are. We're starting to get there."

Logan next hosts Marion on Wednesday.

DELPHI 14, CASS 6

Paxtyn Hicks went 2 for 4 with a home run, three RBI and two runs to lead Cass on Saturday at Delphi.

Also for the Kings, Rylee Holt was 3 for 4 and Madison Dormer, Kyndal Silcox, Kelsey Roller and Leah Willison had two hits apiece. Elly Logan drove in two runs and Willison drove in one run.

Hicks took the loss.

PIONEER 10, CULVER ACADEMIES 0

Class 2A No. 1 Pioneer won in five innings on Friday at Herk Hoffman Field.

Hailey Cripe pitched a no-hitter and recorded all 16 outs via strikeout for the Panthers, who improved to 24-2.

Mackenzie Walker had a double, home run and two RBIs. Kylie Farris had a single, double and RBI. Madison Blickenstaff had a single and two RBIs. Mackenzie Robinson had a double and two RBIs. Hailey Gotshall had a home run. Belle Blickenstaff had a double and RBI. Jocelynn Vincent added a single.

Pioneer travels to Class A No. 2 Caston today.

WINAMAC SPLITS

Class 2A No. 6 Winamac split a doubleheader on Saturday at Winamac. The Warriors defeated Frontier 17-4 and lost to Class A No. 3 North Miami 6-2.

The Warriors (19-7) clubbed four home runs against Frontier. Casey Webb, Aubrey Gearhart, Alexis Sheets and Ella Gearhart each went yard.

Winamac dropped game two despite outhitting North Miami 10-7. Sheets went 4-for-4 with a double and RBI for Winamac. Catie Perry had two hits and an RBI.

BASEBALL

CASTON 12, TRITON 2

Caston (13-7, 9-3 HNAC) remained a game up in the conference standings with two left to play with a win over visiting Triton in six innings on Saturday.

Joey Spin got a complete-game win, holding the Trojans to two runs (one earned) on two hits and two walks, striking out nine.

Spin had three hits and three RBIs at the plate. Carter See had two doubles and two RBIs. Jackson Rentschler had a triple, double and two RBIs. Jessie Rock-Wolf had a triple and RBI. Sam Smith had a single and three runs scored. Kade Zeider had a single and two RBIs. Cam Kline added a single and run scored.

Caston travels to LaVille today and hosts the Lancers Thursday to conclude league play.

PIONEER 5, KNOX 0

Pioneer remained in the hunt in the HNAC title race with a win at Knox on Monday.

Brayden Erickson and Hunter Klepinger combined on the shutout. Erickson pitched six shutout innings, allowing five hits while striking out seven. Klepinger worked a scoreless seventh.

Gavin Clem and Noah Pearson had two hits each for the Panthers, who host Knox today.

BOYS GOLF

NCC MEET

Logansport placed third with a 372 at the event held at a rainy Trophy Club in Lebanon on Monday.

Tyler Vietti shot an 82 to lead the Berries and placed third overall as an individual. Trevor Vietti shot a 90 to place 10th and also earn All-NCC honors. Brant Higgins and David Wooten each shot 100 and Noah Lange added a 102.

Kokomo won with a 340, followed by Harrison (354), Logan (372), Richmond (378), Lafayette Jeff (388), McCutcheon (406), Muncie Central (421) and Marion (465).

—Logan defeated Kokomo 158-163 Friday at Dykeman Park.

Tyler Vietti led the Berries with a 1-over par 35. He was followed by Trevor Vietti (40), Lange (40), Wooten (43) and Higgins (46).

JV golfers for the Berries were Brady Bair (44), Chase Reynolds (47), Mitchell Albright (50) and Malachi Pearson (51) for a season-low 192.

HC MEET

Cass placed third at the Hoosier Conference meet at Curtis Creek Golf Course in Rensselaer on Saturday.

Mason Hahn and Jensen Burrous finished eighth and ninth overall in the conference as individuals and earned all-conference honors with matching 85s. They were followed by Rowdy Frey (88), Blake Brown (92) and Jaden Younts (106).

Tipton won with a 323, followed by Twin Lakes (336), Cass (350), Rensselaer (351), Hamilton Heights (355), West Lafayette (366), Western (374), Benton Central (382), Lafayette Central Catholic (382) and Northwestern (390).

—Cass defeated Northwestern 161-181 at an extremely wet Green Acres golf course on Monday.

Hahn and Brown were co-medalists for the match with matching 39's. They were followed by Burrous (41), Younts (42) and Frey (43).

Cass' JV shot a 179. The JV Kings were led by Jon Emmons' 41, followed by Rylan Stoller (45), Cooper Frey (46), Garrett Helvie (47) and Kyle Henry (57).

GIRLS TENNIS

MAC 3, CASS 2

Four of the five matches went three sets as the Braves edged the Kings by getting a straight-set victory at No. 3 singles and winning two tight doubles points.

Mac No. 3 singles player Molly Tenny won 6-0, 6-1. In doubles, the No. 1 team of Anna Borden and Avery Miller won 1-6, 6-4, 6-1, and the No. 2 team of Anne Isenberg and Rachel Eby won 7-5, 2-6, 6-3.

Cass' No. 1 singles player Kate Gremelspacher won 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, and No. 2 player Erika Baber won 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.

LOGAN SECTIONAL

The sectional draw was announced on Monday.

Logansport will face Twin Lakes on Wednesday. Cass will play Carroll on Thursday. The Logan-Twin Lakes winner will play Delphi on Thursday. The final is Friday. All matches will start at 4:45 p.m.