The Press-Dispatch
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The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, May 2, 2018 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 Fenn McCrary, Nolan Nelson, Cole Parks and Xavier Shoultz teamed up to break the Pike Cen- tral Middle School seventh grade 1,600 -meter relay re- cord during a meet hosted by Washington on Tuesday, April 24. The foursome placed first in the race with a time of 4:15.83, breaking the previ- ous school record of 4:18.46 set by Clint Earley, Blake Pell, Jeff Sharp and Jason Sturgeon in 1991. Washington, meanwhile, finished a distant second with a time of 5:18.85. "( Volunteer assistant) coach (Clint) Shoultz told the boys that we don't run the seventh grade 4x400 very often and that this might be their only shot at the record," Chargers head coach Jeremy Howald said. "Boy, did they perform! They almost lapped the competition! " The meet – which also featured Washington Cath- olic – was separated into seventh and eighth grade divisions. In the seventh grade di- vision, Pike Central placed first in six out of 11 events while scoring 63 points. Washington finished sec- ond with 42 points, while Washington Catholic was third with six points. Placing first in individ- ual events for the Char- gers were Shoultz in the 1,600 -meter run with a time of 5:37 and in the 800 -meter By Ed Cahill Press-Dispatch Sports Editor sports@pressdispatch.net Sophomore catcher Addie Johnson went 2-for-3 with a home run – driving in three runs and scoring twice – as the Pike Central High School softball team rallied from a 5 - 3 fourth-inning deficit to defeat visiting Vincennes Lincoln 15 -5 in a game ended by the 10 -run mercy rule, with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Lady Chargers pound- ed out 12 hits and drew eight walks while improving to 7-4 with their fourth straight vic- tory. Above: Pike Central High School junior Brennon Benton (left) dives back into first base as Southridge senior first base- man Max Sermersheim (right) awaits the throw from senior pitcher Michael Brown during varsity baseball game action on Thursday, April 26. The visiting Raiders defeated Pike Central, 8-4. Ed Cahill photo Left: Pike Central High School junior Troy Rickard (1) prepares to deliver a pitch during varsity baseball game action on Thurs- day, April 26. The visiting Raid- ers defeated Pike Central, 8-4. Ed Cahill photo The Pike Central High School girls' tennis team dropped a 5 -0 loss to vis- iting Gibson Southern on Thursday, April 26. At No. 1 singles, Lady Chargers senior Cass Cond- er lost to Lady Titans junior Cori Jones 6 -1, 6 -0. At No. 2 singles, Lady Chargers junior Meredith Benson lost to Lady Titans senior Rachel Jones 6 -3, 6 -0. At No. 3 singles, Lady Chargers sophomore Shel- by Vaughn lost to Lady Ti- tans senior Sami Purcell 6 - 1, 6 -0. At No. 1 doubles, the La- dy Chargers' team of junior Kirsten Jansen and sopho- more Audrey Keepes lost to the Lady Titans' team of ju- nior Lexie Birch and senior Shelby Braselton 6 -0, 6 -2. At No. 2 doubles, the Lady Chargers' team of senior Ja- By Ed Cahill Press-Dispatch Sports Editor sports@pressdispatch.net Pike Central High School sophomore Tyler Kirby placed first in pole vault – with a personal-best leap of 13 feet, 3 inches – as the Chargers finished sixth in the 10 -team Princeton Invitational on Wednesday, April 25. A fter both he and Princeton senior Chase Wilson failed to clear the bar set at 13 feet, 6 inches, Kirby was awarded first place based on misses. Kirby had cleared 13 feet, 3 inches on his second attempt while Wilson – who placed second despite breaking the Tigers' previ- ous school record of 13 feet – did so on his third attempt. "During warm-ups, and also at 11 feet, Tyler was blowing through his pole – he was bending it too much and not getting very high," Pike Central volunteer as- sistant coach Eric Knight said. "I made him go from a five-right approach instead of his normal seven rights, which shortened up his run and slowed him down a lit- tle to stop blowing through his pole. That helped him continue and also clear 12-6." When the crossbar's height reached 13 feet, howev- er, Kirby switched to a 170 -pound pole and began us- ing an eight-right approach, Knight said. "That gave him more running room and more time to pick up speed – 170 pounds is about 20 pounds heavi- er for him," Knight explained. "Tyler did great on this pole, and it showed because he beat his personal best and also won the meet." "It was a very big accomplishment for Tyler, being on- ly a sophomore," Knight added. Pike Central senior Gavin Boyd, meanwhile, placed third with a leap of 12 feet. The strong showings by both Kirby and Boyd came just six days after neither one placed at the Southridge Invitational when they failed to successfully clear their opening height of 11 feet – the same height the pole vault competition in the Princeton Invitational began. "Both were jumping really good during warm-ups, but when the meet started, they both were coming down on top of the cross bar," Knight recalled. "Nerves were a big factor in that – and also the colder weather – once the bar height got high enough for them to jump." "Both had plenty of clearance when they jumped, but just not enough travel to clear the bar," Knight contin- ued. "This was the first meet this year that Gavin or Ty- Lady Charger take victory against Vincennes Alices PCMS boys' 7th grade 1,600-meter relay record falls PCHS BASEBALL VS. SOUTHRIDGE Lady Charger netters drop 5-0 loss to Gibson Southern KIRBY PLACES FIRST IN POLE VAULT AT PRINCETON INVITATIONAL Pike Central High School sophomore Tyler Kirby competes in pole vault during the Princeton Boys Track and Field Invitational on Wednesday, April 25. Kirby placed first in the event with a personal-record leap of 13 feet, 3 inches. Ed Cahill photo Pike Central High School freshman catch- er Addie Johnson holds her head in disbelief as she circles the bases af- ter hitting a solo home run during varsity soft- ball action against vis- iting Vincennes Lincoln on Monday, April 30. Ed Cahill photo Pike Central High School senior Cass Conder returns the ball during varsi- ty girls' tennis ac- tion against visiting Gibson Southern on Thursday, April 26. Conder lost to La- dy Titans junior Co- ri Jones 6-1, 6-0. Ed Cahill photo Pictured above are, from left to right, Pike Central Middle School seventh graders Xavier Shoultz, Cole Parks, Nolan Nelson and Fenn Mc- Crary, who teamed up to break the school's sev- enth grade 1,600-meter relay record on Tuesday, April 24, at Washington. Their winning time of 4:15.83 broke the previous record of 4:18.48 set by Clint Earley, Blake Pell, Jeff Sharp and Ja- son Sturgeon in 1991. Submitted Photo See VAULT on pg 3 See VICTORY on pg 2 See RECORD on pg 4 See DROP on pg 3 PAID FOR BY THE COMMITTEE TO ELECT JOHNSON FOR SHERIFF, JEREMY BRITTON, TREASURER EXPERIENCED FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE NAVY K-9 HANDLER HONEST Ready to be your next Sheriff.