The Press-Dispatch
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The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, April 28, 2021 B-3 Free Fishing Day May 2 on state lakes DNR is offering free admission to state parks, recreation areas, for- ests, and reservoirs on Sunday, May 2, which is also a Free Fishing Day. On Free Fishing Days, all Indiana residents can fish the state's public wa- ters without a fishing license or trout/ salmon stamp. All size and bag limits remain in effect. For public places to fish near you, see on.IN.gov/where- 2fish. Check out the fishing tips and videos at on.IN.gov/learn2fish to help maximize your experience. Free admission provides a great op- portunity to enjoy your favorite DNR property or visit a new site. Find DNR properties across the state and the facilities they offer at dnr.IN.gov. Planned naturalist-led activities are listed at calendar.dnr.IN.gov. Along with fishing, DNR proper- ties offer opportunities for hiking, bi- cycling, kayaking, and more. Getting active outside can support physical and mental health and provides a way to socialize with family and friends. Free gate admission and this Free Fishing Day are offered in partner- ship with the Indiana Destination De- velopment Corporation's Visit Indi- ana Week, which is May 2-8. Register for the Indiana State Nature Passport program at visitindiana.com/explore, then check in when you visit a prop- erty to participate in a variety of give- aways during the week and through- out the year. 63 COVID Bass Tourney results Last Thursday's 63 COVID Bass Tourney was won by Beau Dillon and Ashton Evans, with Cody Kendall and John Gayheart second. Lou Karsner and Keith Brock placed third. John Gayheart had the big bass of the week. Pike Central Chargers fall to South Knox 8-1 By Mike Sandifar Playing for the third time in three days, Coach Jacob Western's Pike Cen- tral High School's Baseball Team fell to tough South Knox 8 -1 in a non-conference diamond outing. The Chargers found themselves on the short end of a 3-0 score after one inning of baseball, then held the Spartans scoreless for the next four innings; however, Pike Central could not put a runner across the plate over that time frame, as well, leaving the score at 3-0, in favor of South Knox. The Chargers also failed to get a run home in the top of the sixth inning, and the Spartans came to bat with the 3-0 ad- vantage. A fter holding South Knox without a run in the second, third, fourth and fifth in- nings, the Chargers gave up five runs in the bottom of the sixth frame to fall be- hind 8 -0 going into the top of the seventh inning, the last at bat for Pike Central. The Chargers pushed one run across the plate, but they could get no closer than the final 8 -1 score in their final at bat for the day. Sophomore Isaac Burdette had two hits in the game and scored the Char- gers' only run of the contest. Five other Pike Central hitters con- nected for a base knock, as junior Har- ley May, and sophomores Peyton How- ald, Gavin Pancake, Brody Rice and Ken- dric Sorgius all had one hit in the dia- mond outing. "I really believe we are getting better each day," said Western after the loss, "and though I know the scoreboard some- times does not show that, we are a much better team than we were when the sea- son started. "I believe we have played a very tough schedule, and though we are not making and will not make excuses, we have no se- niors on this baseball team. "These guys have been on the edge of winning some of the games we have lost—they have not quit, and they want to win. "We have been competitive for the most part, and I think we can win with a break here or there." Now 1-8 on the 2021 season, the Char- gers took on Pocket Athletic Conference (PAC) opponent Forest Park High School last night at Pike Central. Patriots blank Chargers baseball Tuesday By Mike Sandifar Heritage Hills scored two runs in the top of the first inning, then added another five runs in the top of the fifth inning, before pushing two more runs across the plate in the top of the seventh inning Tuesday eve- ning to top host Pike Central 10 -0 in a Pock- et Athletic Conference (PAC) high school baseball game. A fter jumping out to a quick 2-0 lead in the top half of the first inning, the visiting Patriots failed to put a run across the plate in the second, third or fourth innings; how- ever, Heritage Hills jumped on the Char- gers for five runs in the top of the fifth to, for all practical purposes, put the contest away, before adding three insurance runs in the top of the seventh. In the fateful fifth inning, the sophomore Camden Schipp led off with a double for the Patriots to start the offensive onslaught. Junior J.T. Smallwood followed Schipp to the plate, and he grounded out to short- stop, with Schipp holding at second, giv- ing Heritage Hills a man in scoring posi- tion with one out. The next batter, junior Evan Bowling, smacked a double, and Schipp moved to third base on the hit, bringing Lane Spen- cer to the plate with men on second and third and one out, with the score still just 2-0. That all soon changed, and not for the good for the Chargers. Senior Lane Spencer nailed a single, scoring Schipp and sending Bowling to third, making the score 3-0 and still just one out for the visitors. The Chargers walked Gus Sandoval on a 3-2 count, putting Sandoval on first and Bowling still at third. Spencer stole second on a ball three call, and the eventual winners now had a pair of runners in scoring position on second and third, with still just one out. Caleb Hochgesang hammered a long sacrifice fly to deep center field, scoring Bowling, while Spencer raced to third and Sandoval motored to second, still giving Heritage Hills two men in scoring position and the score now 4-0, but the Patriots now had two outs. With two Patriots in scoring position, Marcus Becher hit a fly ball that was mis- played by the Chargers, and both Spencer and Sandoval scored on the error, raising the Patriot lead to 6 -0. That brought senior Brendon Bryant to the plate, and he immediately nailed a sin- gle, with Becher streaking to second— with two outs. The next Heritage Hills batter, Austin Hill, reached on another Pike Central er- ror, and Becher scored on the mistake, with Hill moving to second and Bryant going to third, with the score now 7-0. That brought Schipp up for the second time in the inning, and he hit a fly ball to second to end the inning, with the visi- tors holding the 7-0 advantage—and for all practical purposes, put the game out of reach for the Chargers. Five Patriot hitters tagged PCHS pitch- ing for a pair of hits, as Bryant, Spencer, Schipp, Becher, Bowling all had two hits on the day for the winners. Juniors Ty Schae- fer and Smallwood each had one base knock, giving Heritage Hills 12 hits in the conference win. Schipp, Bryant, Spencer, Smallwood and Bowling all had a double in the outing for the Patriots. Junior Nolan Rice, and sophomores Jagar Dent and Gavin Pancake were the three Chargers to get a hit off Smallwood, while juniors Alex Clark and Caleb Zazetti, and sophomores Brody Rice and Kendric Sorgius all worked Smallwood for a free pass to first base. Smallwood went the distance on the mound for Heritage Hills, allowing just the three hits, while striking out eight and walking the four Chargers. Sorgius worked the first five innings for Pike Central, allowing 10 hits and giving up seven runs (only four were earned runs). He struck out three Heritage Hills' hitters and walked two. Clark pitched the final two innings, giv- ing up three runs (none of which were earned) on two hits, while striking out one and walking one. The Patriots gave a solid defensive ef- fort behind Smallwood, as the winners did not make a fielding error behind the junior hurler. The loss dropped Pike Central to 0 -6 on the 2021 diamond campaign, including an 0 -4 mark in the PAC, while the victory gave Heritage Hills a 3-8 record on the year, in- cluding 1-4 in conference action. bird scoring threat to end the game at 16 -6. PCHS junior Harley May and sopho- more Peyton Howald each banged out three hits in five at bats for the day, but the duo had plenty of help on the offen- sive side of the contest, as sophomore Kendric Sorgius had two hits in two of- ficial at bats, while sophomores Isaac Burdette, Gavin Pancake and Brody Rice all went two for four at the plate in the lop-sided victory. Juniors Nolan Rice and Caleb Zazetti, and sophomore Jagar Dent each knocked out a base hit for the Chargers. May had a home run, a double, and a single in his five at bats, while Howald hammered a triple and two singles in his five trips to the plate, and Brody Rice had a double and a single. Six Chargers were credited with sto- len bases in the outing, led by Burdette's five thefts, while junior Evan Condor and Howald both had three stolen bases. Sor- gius had a pair of stolen bases, and Pan- cake had one, giving the winners 14 sto- len bases in the game. May had four runs batted in (RBIs), while Brody Rice and Sorgius both re- ceived credit for two RBIs in the game. May received credit for the victory, pitching six innings, giving up three runs (two earned runs), while strik- ing out seven Thunderbirds and walk- ing just one. The win gave the visitors a 1-7 record overall, 0 -4 in the Pocket Athletic Con- ference (PAC), while the loss left the hosts at 1-9 on the season. RBIs was Bai- Welch her- and insurmountable La- the handled per- made a the suffering a innings. In Central, pretty strike- runs while sup- big McK- innings earned no Melton for earned but last Memorial seniors the two year. soft- Dawson Memori- for scat- and went RBIs. three nights holes balls gaps. It my some the cru- sea- games in and we've mo- as can knowledge moment. our full of to be have trying to time, tourna- WIN Continued from page 1 FREE FISHING ON THE PATOKA RIVER NWR The Patoka River Nation- al Wildlife Refuge is well known for its many hiking trails but it also offers great opportunities for fishing as well. The Indiana DNR is providing the perfect time to test your fishing skills with their free fishing days when a license to fish is not required. Dates are May 2, June 5 - 6, and September 25. On the Refuge some of the more popular spots are Sycamore Pond, Stonehenge Pond, In- dian Hill Lake, Laura Hill Lake, and Massey Lake. Common species of fish that are caught are bass, blue gill and crappie. Fish- ing is also possible on the Patoka River. State regula- tions apply as to license, sea- sons, sizes, limits, methods of take and species of fish to be taken with the excep- tion of regulations that are specific to the Patoka River NWR. The Refuge has reg- ulations regarding fishing, boats and activities that are prohibit- ed on the Refuge. For a complete list of fishing and boating regulations as well as a map with lake locations go to www.fws. gov/refuge/patoka_river/. Grab your pole and come test the waters at the Patoka River NWR. Josiah Ross proudly displays the spotted bass he caught. Photo by Jere- my Ross. Mushroom season Tucker Loveless, 10, displays a large morel found behind his home near Pike Central on Sunday, April 25. The mushroom measured nearly nine inches tall. Tucker's family found several dozen more during their hunt. Tucker is the son of Jeremy and Cassie Loveless, of Campbelltown community. PCMS netters best Rangers; fall to Spartans The Pike Central Middle School ten- nis team knocked off the Forest Park La- dy Rangers 4-1 last week, winning two singles and both doubles matches. At South Knox, the girls claimed a number three singles win, dropping a 4-1 deci- sion on the road to the Lady Spartans. In the 4-1 win against Forest Park, eighth grader Emma Hunt lost her num- ber one singles match 8 -1. Sixth grader Alyssa McCutchan picked up an 8 -4 win at number two singles and eighth grad- er Lainey Leighty claimed an 8 -5 win at number three singles. Eighth graders Brylee Walker and Lillian Mann won their doubles match 8 -5, and seventh grader Emily McGillem and sixth grad- er Elle Readle won at number two dou- bles 8 -3. Seventh grader Calleigh Wibbeler and sixth grader Amelia Adams teamed for an 8 -7 JV win. Eighth graders Eibhlin Teague and Kelsea Query fell 8 -1, and eighth grader Brena Potts and seventh grader Hattie Yager lost 8 -1. LADIES FALL 4-1 AT SOUTH KNOX Lainey Leighty notched an 8 -2 win at number three singles for the only win at South Knox. Alyssa McCutchan fell 8 -4 at number one singles and Calleigh Wib- beler lost 8 -1 in number two singles. Lil- lian Mann and Brylee Walker fell at num- ber one doubles 8 -0, and Amelia Adams and Emily McGillem fell 8 -2 in the num- ber two singles match. Five of the seven JV doubles matches were won by the Pike Central Lady Char- gers. Kelsea Query and Eibhlin Teague won 6 -2, and Brylee Walker and Lain- ey Leighty combined for a 6 -1 victory. Alyssa McCutchan and Amelia Adams teamed for an 8 -0 outcome, and Emily McGillem and Lillian Mann recorded a 6 -1 win, while Kelsea Query and Eibh- lin Teague added a 6 -5 win. Elle Readle and Hattie Yager fell 6 -3, and Calleigh Wibbeler and Brena Potts lost 8 -0 in JV doubles. SAME DAY SERVICE • Complete plastic lab on premises • Quality eyewear by Karen Memering, Optician • Professional eyecare by Dr. Steve Gregory • Most insurance plans accepted WE FILL ALL DOCTOR'S PRESCRIPTIONS Complete Contact Lens Care & Service *In most cases **Some restrictions apply. Call for details. 812-254-6594 Corner of Hwy. 50 & 57, Washington, IN VALLEY OPTICAL 812-254-6594 Clinard bags double bearded tom Twelve-year-old Kendall Clinard, daughter of Kyle and Renee Clinard, of Noblesville, bagged her first turkey during the spring youth hunt here in Pike county. Kendall used a shotgun during the hunt, bag- ging a 23-pound turkey that sported a rare double beard. Kendall is the granddaughter of Jim and Cin- dy Clinard, of Petersburg.