The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1470094
The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, June 8, 2022 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 See SECTIONAL on 4 See CHAMPIONS on page 2 See SEMI-STATE on page 3 www.UebelhorGM.com Jasper • 1-800-937-8721 CHEVROLET Lady Chargers fall in Semi-State By Andy Heuring Pike Central softball's magic carpet ride through the sectional and regional crash landed Satur- day as Tri-West's pitcher silenced their bats with a 20 -strike out per- formance, leading the Bruins to a 3-0 win in the morning game of the semi-state. Bruin pitcher Aubrey Lowry showed why she is the number two-ranked player in the 2024 draft. The sophomore threw an evasive smoke that kept the Char- ger bats behind and off balance. "She is the real deal," said Char- ger Coach Dustin Traylor of Low- ry. "What hurts us we have big looping full extension swings. We struggled with that against North Posey as well. We just don't have short compact swings. By the time she releases the ball she is about 35 feet (from the plate). I heard she threw in the low 60s. Even when we tried to bunt on her we couldn't get a bunt down. It was a tall order. She was the real deal, no ifs, ands or buts about it," said Traylor. Pike Central's Chloe Williams pitched a solid game. She did not allow a runner to reach sec- ond base through the first four innings. "She had been pitching great since the Evansville North game. From that point forward she had everything going. Her control was good, spin was good, pitching with a lot of confidence. Her pitching and a solid Char- ger defense kept the Bruins at bay, including a pick-off at first that turned into a perfectly played rundown to end the third inning. "You can't get any more text- book than we were on that play. We have worked hard on that all season and it paid off. Nearly ev- eryone was involved in it," said Traylor. Otwell Men's Basketball League Championship By Andy Heuring The Average Joes came from six points down midway through the second half to beat the Knox County Boys 57-50 Sunday afternoon in the Otwell Men's Basketball League Championship. The Average Joes were led by former Pike Central standouts Tyler Toopes with 17, Bryant Nalley with 14 and Cody Thomp- son with 10. The Average Joes led 33-31 at half-time, but fell behind by six, then stormed back with the help of Nalley scoring 12 of his 14 points in the second half. The championship game was a culmina- tion of the season that started in April with 11 teams. The league tournament was seed- ed and the final four was played on Sunday. Earlier in the day Average Joes beat Bus Drivers and Knox County Boys beat Long- shots to reach the finals. Scoring Average Joes: Tyler Toopes 17, Hunter El- liott 3, Brian Riley 3, Bryant Nalley 14, Tan- ner Wildridge 5, Sean Hanselman 5, Cody Thompson 10. Knox County Boys: Hopwood 23, Clay- comb 5, Wampler 8, Tre 3, Garrett 3, Cody 5 and Peyton 3. Cross country group runs planned for summer Pike Central Cross Country coach Ran- dy Graham encourages any incoming stu- dents grades 9 -12, who want to boys or girls cross country teams this Fall to join in their planned group runs. In order to participate, all athletes must have an up-to-date IHSA A physical and Family ID on file in the athletic office. Teams will meet on June 6, 8, 10, 13, 15 and 17 at Prides Creek Park. They will also meet on June 20, 22 and 24 at Hornady Park. All group runs begin at 7 a.m. July dates will be shared in a few weeks. For further information or questions about summer group runs or the cross coun- try program, you can contact Coach Gra- ham at 812-582-8909. Charger Golf season ends at Sectional By Andy Heuring Pike Central's seniorless golf team placed ninth in the Vincennes Sectional on Friday. As a team they shot a 395 in the 13-team sectional. "We wanted to shoot a little better. We were all a little off," said Pike Central coach Jarrod Gideon. Gideon said the Cypress Hills Course that was formerly known as the Vincennes Elks Club rewards experienced players. "It is a position course. If you hit your drive out of position, sometimes you have to take your By Mike Sandifar It took just two and one-half in- nings of softball at Heritage Hills High School last Tuesday evening for the overflow crowd (two-thirds Pike Central fans) to know which team was going to be the Indi- ana High School Athletic Associ- ation (IHSA A) Class 3A Regional Champion to face Tri-West Hen- dricks High School in the I Semi- State this past Saturday at Brown County High School. It would be the Pike Central Chargers. The game was scoreless head- ing into the top of the third inning, but heading into the bottom of the third frame, Pike Central led by a commanding 5 -0 margin, and the eventual winners never looked back to race to a 9 -3 victory over Heritage Hills to claim the Region- al Championship, and avenge an earlier 3-2 loss to the Patriots in regular season action. And, to make the evening even sweeter, it all happened with two outs and no one on base. Sophomore Karley Kavanaugh stepped to the plate with two outs and hit a single to give the next hitter, senior Avery Hunt, a run- ner on first. Hunt drilled a single to right center, putting runners on first and second, with junior Alyna Sharp at the plate. Sharp took two balls, fouled off the next three pitches from Patri- ot hurler Miriam Gordon, and on the sixth pitch, slammed a three- run shot over the left field fence to give Pike Central a 3-0 lead. With the bases cleared and still two outs, senior Sophie Carnah- an hit a sharp grounder to the left side of the infield that Patriot ju- nior shortstop Jenna McDowell could not handle, to put Carnah- an on the first, with two outs and PCHS holding a 3-0 advantage. That brought sophomore Lexie Onyett to the plate, and the Pike Central catcher hit a shot down the third base line for an infield single to put runners on first and second. Pike Central pitcher Chloe Wil- liams was the next PCHS batter, and the junior took the first offer- ing for a ball, then fouled off three straight pitches before hitting the fifth pitch on the nose toward sec- ond base. The Patriots mishandled the ball to put Williams on and load the bases for junior Delaney Welch. The Charger third sacker hit the first pitch on the button to center field for a single to drive in Carnahan to make the score 4- REGIONAL CHAMPIONS Chloe Williams (7) fires home a strike in last week's Class 3A IHSA A Regional Softball Championship game at Heritage HIlls. Williams tossed a six-hitter in a contest won by Pike Central, 9-3. The regional title was the first for the Chargers since 1990. Pike Central's Avery Hunt takes a cut at an elusive pitch from Aubrey Lowry, who struck out 20 Chargers during their semi-state game. Tri-West beat the Chargers 3-0 in the first round of the semi-state. Charger golfer Arri McDonald sinks a putt during the Vincennes golf sectional last Friday. Photos on B-4