Better Newspaper Contest

Page 15 t Best In-depth Feature or Feature Package/Category 10 First Lori Wood The Times-Post (Pendleton) Dream team Awesome story. Better presentation and art! Really liked this one a lot! Glad to see this out front. Second Debbie Blank The Herald-Tribune (Batesville) Prayers answered Really enjoyed the story, art and writing! Great job. A top contender. Third Linda Lipp The Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly This fight is personal Loved the graphics...Presentation good! Stories nice, too. Could be a contender. Best Sports Event Coverage/Category 11 First Rob Hunt The Times-Post (Pendleton) Arabian softball team grabs Madison County title The writer's solid lead and ability to concentrate a lot of statistical information early on in a readable manner made this piece stand out above the rest. Second Rob Hunt The Times-Post (Pendleton) Gymnast wins on beam at sectional Third Rob Hunt The Times-Post (Pendleton) Lapel falls to Monroe Central in sectional final Division 1 Lori Wood The Times-Post (Pendleton) PENDLETON — Throughout sports history, whether it be professional, college or high school, certain teams and years stand out as a special one for the books. Five years ago, the "one for the books" wore green and white and went by the name of Arabians. The 2011-12 basketball season became a dream season for Pendleton Heights High School and the community. Despite that season coming to an end much earlier than anticipated, the memories of a magical season forever remain. The five seniors on the Arabian squad that year — Parker Aul, Kellen Dunham, Brandon Hart, Nick Swartz and Matt Wehner — had a bond both on and off the court so tight, their actions during games reflected how well they knew each other. "The combination of our personalities — everyone got along," said Swartz. "We enjoyed being together even after spending hours in the gym. We had a special bond, and we played better for it." Hart also talked of team unity. "We had chemistry, better than any other team I've been on. We had our roles," he said. While Dunham was the state's top scorer at the time, it wasn't just Dunham's team. The Arabians were as complete a team as one could be. "We had discipline and humility," Wehner remembered. "Everyone's role was so important. It was a really cool culture." Swartz said they had ownership of the process and game. His game was defense. "It was my guy not scoring." Then-coach Brian Hahn found the niche for each one's contribution. In a sense, he was putting together a jigsaw puzzle, identifying the parts and knowing how those pieces were going to fit together. "Obviously, we had a unique part in Kellen and what he was capable of, and then in finding ways to play to each individual's strengths," he said. Each one grew and developed into those roles, dedicating themselves to making the team a success. They understood their roles, and Hahn made them believe they could win. "We all bought into that, and we became good," Aul said. Swartz said Hahn was the best coach he ever had."He was an intense guy, and you respected him for it. Off the court, he totally cared about your well-being, and you wanted to work hard for him." Some had played together since grade school, and they knew what to expect from each other. Dunham's memories of the relationship and the game are still strong. "That's the closest team I've ever been on. Our off-the-court power became our on-the-court power." Dream team For the complete story, visit hspa.com. Rob Hunt The Times-Post (Pendleton) PENDLETON — With a stiff breeze blowing out at Legends Field Satur- day, it did not seem one run would be enough to win a softball game. Audrey Ricker made it enough. The senior pitcher threw her third-straight complete game, and second consecutive shutout, and the Arabians scored the only run of the day on a throwing error as Pendleton Heights beat Madison-Grant 1-0 to claim the 2017 Madison County softball tournament championship. Unlike her semifinal shutout at Frankton, during which the Eagles had runners on base in every inning, Ricker was in complete command against the Argylls. She allowed just three baserunners all day — a second-inning walk, a third-inning infield single and a seventh-inning error. She faced only one three-ball count on the day and took advantage of the aggressiveness of the Argyll batters. "They were aggressive hitters, and I knew that going into the game," she said. "I just pitched it to where they could hit it, and my defense had my back." Pendleton Heights (6-1) scored the only run of the game in the third inning. Junior Savannah Hawhee beat out a bunt single and circled the bases when the throw from pitcher Maddi Evans sailed down the right field line for the 1-0 lead. Arabian coach Rob Davis said the speed of Hawhee can put the defense in an uncomfortable position. "You have to be a little lucky," he said. "We get the bunt down, Hawhee's been struggling all year, and that's all she's got to do. All she has to do is put pressure on them and good things will happen." Evans was nearly as dominant as Ricker. She allowed just five Arabian hits and walked none while striking out eight. She also proved to be the toughest player on the field after taking a line drive to the face off the bat of Mickala Winans. Evans had the presence of mind to find the ball and throw Winans out and, after an injury time out, stayed in the game, retiring seven the final nine batters of the game. "Her toughness on the mound is unbelievable," Davis said. "I don't know if I would have left her in the game; I don't know if I would have had the heart to do it. She really stepped up and finished, she's a competitor." In the seventh, after the error, Ricker faced Ellie Alcala, who represented the tying run. Her defense, which has been solid all season, once again stepped up as sophomore second baseman Amanda White snared a line drive off the bat of Alcala and doubled off the runner at first to clinch the championship. Ricker had a hard time describing the emotions of that moment. "Well, nice play Amanda," she said. "She has been making great plays for me all season, so when it was hit to second I didn't have too much to worry about. Once she made the play, I don't know, it's a hard feeling to describe. I'm happy and thankful for Amanda." The Arabians reached this achievement despite losing two opening day starters — catcher Olivia Conner and centerfielder Jayden Brown — to injury. Davis said players stepping up is second nature at Pendleton Heights. "It's always next man up," he said. "When the seniors leave, it's the young kids turn. And that's the great thing about coaching at Pendleton Heights — there's a lot of kids in the junior highs and youth program that are out playing all summer long, and that's what makes it so great." Vs. Frankton In semifinal action Thursday, April 13, Ricker escaped numerous jams against Frankton, spinning a complete game six-hit shutout, and senior first baseman Jade Mollenkopf broke out of a mini- slump with two run-scoring doubles. Pendleton Heights beat the Eagles 7-0. Pendleton Heights scored the first run of the game on an error in the second inning before adding a pair in the third off starter Kate Buis. Leading 1-0 with one out, sophomore Jayden Brown and senior Ashley King reached on infield singles. After Brown and King pulled off a double-steal, Kelsey Sturgeon popped up a bunt attempt, nearly starting a double play, but Brown scampered back to third. Brown injured her shoulder and was replaced by sophomore Chloe Closser, who scored on a wild pitch. Mollenkopf then lined a double into the left-center gap for a 3-0 Arabian lead. After the game, it was revealed Brown suffered a dislocated shoulder and will be out indefinitely. The score remained 3-0 until sophomore Amanda White doubled in a run in the seventh, and the Arabians finished the day with three more in the seventh, capped by Mollenkopf's second double of the outing and another RBI single by White. Mollenkopf, who was 0-5 with two strikeouts the last two games, said her double off Buis, one of the best pitchers in the area, was a boost to her confidence. Ricker, meanwhile, battled through jam after jam. She walked three and allowed six hits, but managed to leave 11 Eagle runners on base to preserve the shutout. The loss of Brown, one of the team sparkplugs and the starting centerfielder, put a serious damper on the win for Davis and the Arabians. Arabian softball team grabs Madison County title For the complete story, visit hspa.com.

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