The Press-Dispatch
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The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, September 11, 2019 B-1 SPORTS Submit sports items: Call: 812-354-8500 Email: sports@pressdispatch.net or bring in a hard copy: 820 E. Poplar Street, Petersburg By Dennis Marshall Press-Dispatch Sports Editor sports@pressdispatch.net The Pike Central football team lost 69 -6 in a lopsided affair at Heritage Hills (3-0) on Friday, Sept. 6. However, the Chargers, arguably, played their best and most complete game of the season, but just couldn't overcome the physical difference be- tween the teams. "Even though we played the most physically talented team we have seen this season, in a lot of ways, we execut- ed a lot better than we had in the first two weeks," Pike Central head coach Dave Stephens said. "I was really en- couraged with the way we executed against a top-notch team. I think that shows we're still stepping in the right direction and maybe we can use this in games where we have a more phys- ically equivalent match-up." Heritage Hills is ranked No. 5 in Class 3A in the latest Indiana Foot- ball Coaches Association poll. Pike Central (0 -3) showed it has the ability to move the ball on one of the best teams in the area when the offense is firing on all cylinders, but the defense continues to be a work in progress. "We have potential, when we go to the right assignments and the ball gets to where it needs to go, to be a very dangerous offensive team," Ste- phens said. "We have to get it all fixed and it's kind of hard to think when you're averaging 10 points a game, but I really do believe the potential is there for us to have a nice offensive year. The biggest challenge we faced was they were playing grown men ver- sus our freshmen. "We play five freshmen who are off of a one-win eighth-grade team By Dennis Marshall Press-Dispatch Sports Editor sports@pressdispatch.net It's been a challenging season for coach Brent Beck and Pike Central boys' ten- nis team, but all the team's hard work finally paid off on Thursday, Sept. 5, with a 3-0 win over Wood Memorial to give the Chargers (1-5) their first win of the season. "I'm real happy for the kids for them to be able to walk away with a win," Beck said. "They have had a positive at- titude all year and deserve the win." Quinton Sorgius defeated Payton Schwomeyer 6 -2, 6 -0 at No. 1 singles, Ethan Huck beat Nathan Lee 5 -1, 6 -0 at No. 2 singles and Dalton Wil- liams won against Alton Falls 6 -2, 6 -0 at No. 3 singles. Beck said Williams played nice a consistent match and didn't make a lot of mistakes. "Ethan [Huck] as usual, moved well and struck the ball solidly," he said. "He played an aggressive match and hit some nice shots throughout the match. Quin- ton [Sorgius] served the ball well, and didn't make a lot of unforced errors tonight. He played a really smart match. This should give our guys some more confidence that we can win some matches. We certainly have some op- portunities in the next couple of weeks." Pike Central junior Sam Haycraft recently joined the tennis squad. Haycraft played a couple of junior varsity matches for the Chargers on Thursday. He lost 6 -0 to Alex Poe and 6 -0 to Carter Miller. "He is new to the game, so he is learning as he goes along," Beck said. "We are certainly glad to have him join us." HATCHETS SWEEP CHARGERS Pike Central fell 5 -0 to Washington on Tuesday, Sept. 3 to start its week. Zachary Gray beat Sorguis 6 -3, 6 -0 at No. 1 singles, Ow- en Gray defeated Huck 4-6, 7- 5, 10 -4 at No. 2 singles and Drake Harman won 6 -0, 6 -4 at No. 3 singles against Wil- liams. The Chargers forfeited at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles. By Dennis Marshall Press-Dispatch Sports Editor sports@pressdispatch.net The Pike Central boys' cross country team had another productive and busy week which ended at highly competitive Co- lumbus North Invite on Saturday, Sept. 7. The Chargers finished the race 16th out of 21 teams with an overall score of 379 in the Class A Division. Austin won the division with a score of 31. Edgewood (133) placed second and Heri- tage Christian (171) fin- ished third and Pocket Athletic Conference foe Forest Park (177) round- ed out the top four. Aus- tin's Phillip Tabert fin- ished first with a time of 15 minutes and 53 sec- onds. "This was a very big race and they all ran well," Pike Central coach Josh Roach said. "It was a very cool morning on a fantas- tic course. We made this a big team bonding trip and the kids really loved the weekend. It was a very enjoyable time that these By Dennis Marshall Press-Dispatch Sports Editor sports@pressdispatch.net The Pike Central girls' cross country team picked up an impressive fourth- place finish at the 16 -team Columbus North Invite on Saturday, Sept. 7. Edgewood finished first- place with a score of 37 in the Class A Division. They were followed by Forest Park with 57, Monrovia with 101 and Pike Central with 157. By Dennis Marshall Press-Dispatch Sports Editor sports@pressdispatch.net Pike Central's Jenna Hor- rall starred in the Chargers' overtime victory over South Spencer (3-3-1) on Tuesday, Sept. 3 to give the Rebels their first loss of the season. Horrall was spectacular in goal as Pike Central (4-2-1) won a penalty kick shootout, 2-0, after the teams finished regulation and two overtime periods tied 1-1. "Jenna Horrall was a great leader in goal," Pike Central coach Chad Western said. "She came up with big saves all night, but she shined the brightest in [the shootout]. She was really our player of the game, but overall, it was a great team win for Pike Cen- tral." South Spencer came into the game undefeated after de- feating Gibson Southern (4-2- 1) for the first time in school history. The match started with a lot of even play, and both teams were competing well. South Spencer took an early advantage when Alexia Barnett scored with about 15 minutes left in the first half. "It was one of the best goals you will see in girls' soccer this year," Western said. "She beat a couple girls, made mul- tiple moves and had a very small window to drive a ball back post into the side net for a great goal." The Chargers had several chances to score in the first 10 minutes of the second half. "The team was working so hard to even the score," Western said. "Chloe Roy had good shots that just couldn't find the net." Horrall actually came onto the field for the final 15 min- utes of the game. Kahle Young played very well in goal, while Horrall was on the field. Pike Central tied the scored when Roy scored off an assist from Jaylynn Cape- hart with eight minutes re- maining in the game. Each team went scoreless in the two overtime periods. Horrall and Roy hit their shots to win 2-0 in the penal- ty kick shootout. Western said Horrall al- so had a couple of big saves during the shootout, includ- ing a breathtaking save on the Rebels first attempt. "This was our best perfor- mance, and everyone played great in the win," he said. Charger golfers overcome challenging course to defeat Rangers By Dennis Marshall Press-Dispatch Sports Editor sports@pressdispatch.net The Pike Central girls' golf team earned a win over For- est Park on Thursday, Sept. 5 at the tough and challeng- ing Sultans Run Golf Course. The Chargers won the meet with a score of 226 to 255. "It is without a doubt the toughest course we play all year, and I was pleased with how we played," Pike Central coach Jarrod Gideon said. Hadley Holder was the medalist for the match with a score of 52. She was followed by teammates Emma Rainey with a 54, Sophie Carnahan with a 58, Madison Warner with a 61 and Sydney Love- less with a 62. Pike Central also hosted a four-way meet at Prides Creek Golf Course on Tues- day, Sept. 3. Gibson Southern contin- ued its stellar season and won the meet with a score 164. North Posey was second with a 192, Pike Central was third with a 206 and Tecum- seh was fourth with a 227. Warner was the Chargers' Charger fresh- man Dallas Reute- pohler ran a 22:25 to 56th overall in the freshman/ sophomore divi- sion of the Alan Hopewell Class In- vitational at Gib- son Southern this past Thursday. James Capozella pho- to See CHARGERS on 3 See OVERCOME on 2 See GIRLS' XC on 1 See IMPROVE on 2 See BOYS' XC on 4 Chargers girls' soccer improves to 4-2-1 Pike Central tennis earns first win of season PATRIOTS BREEZE BY CHARGERS IN 69-6 ROUT Pike Central stand- out Chloe Roy dribbles the ball up the field earlier this season. Heritage Hills' Gavin Vaal breaks Stephen Krieg's tackle during the Patriots' lopsided win on Friday, Sept. 6. Pike Central's Brandon Goeppner attempts to tackle a Heri- tage Hills ball carrier on Friday, Sept. 6. Lady Chargers Jenna Meyer and Charlotte Dudenhoeffer race to the finish in their Jr./Sr. class race at Gibson Southern. Meyer finished 19th in 24:12 and Dudenhoeffer was 20th in 24:13. James Capozella photo WE ARE PROFFESIONAL GRADE uebelhorgm.com 1-800-937-8721 Jasper, IN Pike Central boys' XC competes at Columbus North Invite PCHS girls' runners place fourth at Columbus North Invite