The Press-Dispatch
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The Press-Dispatch Sports Wednesday, May 23, 2018 B- 5 Cole Lawson pitched a complete-game four-hitter to lead South Spencer to an 11- 1 victory over host Pike Cen- tral in high school baseball action on Thursday, May 17. Lawson walked three and struck out 13 while hitting one batter as the Rebels end- ed the regular season 4-14 overall and 1-7 in the Pocket Athletic Conference. Junior pitcher Race Brit- ton started and took the loss for the Chargers, allow- ing five runs – four of which were earned – on three hits while walking two before be- ing relieved by junior Troy Rickard with one out in the second inning. Rickard finished out the frame, allowing four runs – none of which were earned – on three hits while strik- ing out two. Junior Kyle Williams re- placed Rickard at the start of the third inning and pitched 4-1/3 innings, allowing two runs – one of which was earned – on four hits while walking one and striking out one. Junior Brennon Benton closed the game for the Chargers, allowing one hit while recording the final two outs. Pike Central scored its lone run in the fifth inning. With one out and the Char- gers trailing 9 -0, sophomore centerfielder Connor O'Ne- al drew a walk. A fter Britton hit into a force-out at second base, junior Braxton Rice fol- lowed with a double to score Britton. Also collecting hits for Pike Central were Rickard, on a one-out single in the second inning, O'Neal, on a one-out single in the third in- ning, and Benton, on a single leading off the fourth inning. In addition, O'Neal walked twice and stole one base. With the loss, the Char- gers fell to 1-23 overall and 0 -8 in the PAC. Tecumseh 7, Pike Central 6 (8 in- nings) Senior second baseman Carson White scored on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly by sophomore catcher Dustin Dupont with one out in the eighth inning as host Tecum- seh rallied from a 6 -0 defi- cit to defeat Pike Central 7-6. The Chargers scored four runs in the first inning, in- cluding one on a run-scor- ing double by junior sec- ond baseman Braxton Rice, one on a bases-loaded walk drawn by junior first base- man Kyle Williams and one on a fielder's choice ground- er by junior left fielder Draven Huff. Pike Central added two more runs in the second in- ning – one on a run-scoring single by junior third base- man Joey Church and one on a bases-loaded walk drawn by junior pitcher Troy Rick- ard – to extend its lead to 6 -0. However, Tecumseh ral- lied, scoring three runs in the second inning, one in the fourth and two in the sev- enth to tie the score at 6 -6. The Chargers loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the eighth inning on a walk to sophomore cen- terfielder Connor O'Neal and back-to-back singles by junior pitcher Race Britton and Rice. However, junior third baseman Joey Church hit in- to a force-out at home, a pop fly by junior catcher Brennon Benton was caught by Du- pont, and junior first base- man Kyle Williams ground- ed out to end the inning. In the home half of the eighth inning, White led off with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice by junior left fielder Gavin Ox- ley. A fter junior centerfield- er Kinzer Flowers was hit by a pitch, senior shortstop Aaron Beard was walked in- tentionally to load the bas- es, setting up Dupont's game-winning sacrifice fly. Rice led the Chargers of- fensively with three hits – in- cluding one double – while scoring one run and driv- ing in one. Rickard had two hits in three at-bats and drew one walk while Church went 2-for-5. Benton, who was hit by a pitch in each of his first two at-bats, was 1-for-3 and scored one run. With the win, Tecumseh improved to 15 -7 overall and 4-4 in the PAC. Pike Central slipped to 1-22 overall and 0 - 7 in the PAC. Pike Central will play Washington in the opening round of the sectional tour- nament at 6 p.m. on Wednes- day, May 23, at Vincennes Lincoln's Hill Field. The win- ner will advance to a semi- final matchup against Vin- cennes Lincoln on Monday, May 28, at 1 p.m. NALLEY Continued from page 1 GOOD LUCK AT SECTIONALS 812-354-9670 350 W. MAIN, PETERSBURG DOUBLE J COLLISION CENTER OPEN: MON.-FRI. 8 A.M. - 5 P.M. 12th & Main StreetS, PeterSburg 812-354-6000 FICKLIN AUTO SUPPLY Phone: 812-354-9995 Online: www.fourstarfab.com Four Star Fabricators P.O. Box 67, Petersburg, IN 47567 Four Star Fabricators P.O. Box 67, Petersburg, IN 47567 350 W. Main, Petersburg • Next to Double J Collision Call for Carry-Out or Faster Service (812)354-2606 Joe Mama's Pizza HWY. 57 SOUTH, PETERSBURG, IN Phone: (812) 354-8542 WYATT SEED COMPANY, INC. Pictured above is the 2017-2018 Pike Central High School baseball team. They are, first row, left to right: Draven Huff, Jacob Beck, Connor O'Neal, Troy Rickard, Jimmy Dillon and Austin Goodrid. Second row: Gage Reibold, Joey Church, Race Britton, Silas Goff, Christian Alvey, Nathan Welch, Alonzo Barnes, Braxton Rice, Brennon Benton, Kyle Williams and Austin Dixon. Ed Cahill photo Petersburg 812-354-2121 www.americannursingcare.com VARSITY BASEBALL basketball coach at Pike Central. "I think it's a good fit for him," Elliott said of Nalley, who received Pocket Ath- letic Conference All-Con- ference honors following his junior and senior sea- sons. "I think it's a good level for him. And I think it's a place where he can step in and have an imme- diate impact. It's the right spot for him, I believe, and I really think he's going to excel." "I've had the opportuni- ty to play for Coach Sandi- far, and I think he'll fit right in and just be able to play right off the bat," Elliott added. Nalley, who also visited Earlham College in Rich- mond, Ind., Wabash Col- lege in Crawfordsville, Ind., and Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Ill., and considered walk- ing on at Kentucky Wesley- an College in Owensboro, said that he enjoyed his visit to OCU, where Sandi- far personally led him and his parents on a tour of the campus. "We talked about the game plan, what they do, what offense they run, de- fense, and he said we'll get into more depth if I sign," Nalley said. "So I'm prob- ably going to have some more phone calls with him." "He's a pretty nice guy," Nalley added. "And I'm just excited to get over there and get to work." Nalley said that, as of yet, he was undecided as far as what subject area he will major in. "I'd like to become an athletic director," Nalley said. "That's been my all- time goal, but there's noth- ing you can go to college for and become just that right after school. So, I'll probably go for maybe a PE teacher or something in that field." Elliott said that Nalley – who helped lead the Char- gers to back-to-back sec- tional titles in 2016 and 2017 – will be leaving some big shoes to fill. "It's going to be tough to see him leave," Elliott said. "Seeing him in a different jersey is not going to be an easy thing." "Selfishly, I don't mind that we can go and watch him play a lot of the time, and he's not too far away," Elliott added. "I think he ended up making the right decision for him and for his future." Nalley admitted that the proximity of OCU to Pike County was a factor in his decision. "Hopefully, I can get some of the Pike Central fans to come," Nalley said. "That'd be nice." Pike Central High School junior Kyle Williams (18) prepares to deliver a pitch during varsity baseball action on Thursday, May 17. Ed Cahill photo Pike Central High School senior catch- er Nathan Welch (left) prepares to put the tag on South Spencer freshman second base- man Kobe Bartlett (20) during varsity base- ball action on Thurs- day, May 17. Bartlett was ruled safe. Ed Ca- hill photo Pike Central High School sophomore center- fielder Connor O'Neal leads off of second base during varsity baseball action on Thursday, May 17. Ed Cahill photo PCHS baseball team ends regular-season with losses to South Spencer, Tecumseh