By KEVIN HARRIS
Kevin.Harris@newsandtribune.com
April 26, 2008 12:12 am
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The Henryville softball team scored two runs in the top of the fifth inning and knocked off host Floyd Central on Friday, 2-1.
Amanda Embry was the winning pitcher, upping her record to 7-1. She also helped herself at the plate by collecting a double. Teammate Kelcey Pierce also had a two-out double that scored both of her team’s runs.
“It’s a great win for us and hopefully the kind of run that we can use to fuel the rest of our season,” said Henryville coach Jenny Odle. “These girls were so pumped about this game and they played so well to be able to win. You hope they carry that enthusiasm and momentum forward into the remainder of our season.”
Floyd starting pitcher Rena Philpot picked up the loss. She went five innings, allowing two runs on seven hits with four strikeouts. Highlander reliever Randa Harbison threw the final two frames, yielding just one hit. Teammate Hannah Hunt collected two hits in a pinch-hitting role.
“They did a better job of putting the ball in play,” Floyd head coach Joe Witten said.
The Hornets (12-1) visit Clarksville for a doubleheader today. The Highlanders (10-3) travel to Bloomington today to play a split doubleheader against North and South high schools.
• New day, familiar outcome for Providence: A different day did not mean much change for Providence and coach Sean Payne, who dropped yet another one-run game — this time losing to Louisville Presentation 5-4 in 11 innings.
It was the ninth time this season that Providence (2-13) has suffered a loss by a single run.
“We’re going to keep pushing harder to find a way to get that run across,” said Payne. “We’re not giving up.”
There were no signs of giving up for Providence in this one. Trailing 4-0 entering their final at-bat, the Pioneers plated four runs in the bottom of the seventh — a rally that included a double by Kameron Klein, a triple by Laura Clements and a home run by Katy Flanagan.
But the bats went cold again in extra innings as the Pioneers couldn’t plate another run.
“We were probably a little too patient at the plate until the last inning,” said Payne. “Then when we got to extras, we just got a little bit tentative again.”
The loss spoiled a sterling effort by senior pitcher Kelsey Markland. She tossed all 11 innings and allowed just a single earned run while striking out 11.
Providence will travel to Austin on Monday.
• Jeff nips Corydon: Jeff’s Bailey Waterhouse scored Morgan Stirn with an RBI single, and pitcher Megan Stirn shut down Corydon’s offense in a 1-0 victory for the Red Devils over the Panthers.
Megan Stirn fanned seven and didn’t surrender a walk as she improved to 6-3. Morgan Stirn had Jeff’s lone extra-base hit with a triple in the sixth.
“It’s one of those wins you have to call a team victory,” said Jeff coach Becky Shafer. “We had great defense behind Megan in the field, and we got the offense to pick us up in a spot where we needed it.”
Jeff travels to Bloomington today for a split doubleheader against North and South.
BASEBALL
• Jeff upends Jasper: Cody Poole hit a two-run homer and Jeff busted open a tight game with three runs in the third as it booted Jasper, 7-2.
Sam Burke collected a pair of hits and Brian Mendenhall doubled for the Red Devils. Pitcher Hunter Tipton gave up two runs on six hits to score his fourth victory of the season.
“It’s a good win over a solid program like Jasper,” said Jeff coach Al Rabe. “We had to play well to win and we did.”
The Red Devils (11-2) hosts Castle today.
• Highlanders thump Clarksville: Host Floyd Central scored nine runs in the third and three in the fourth to defeat Clarksville in five innings, 13-0.
Highlander pitcher Jeffrey Thompson earned the victory, while Clarksville hurler Derick McNew got the loss. Floyd pounded out 13 hits — including a home run by Kyle Naville and a triple by Daniel Huhnerkoch.
“It was an old-fashioned butt-kicking,” Generals’ head coach Brian James said. “By far, they are the best team we’ve played all year. They just hit the ball. We did keep our intensity level up.”
The Highlanders (9-6) play a split doubleheader at Brownstown today against the host Braves and Bedford North Lawrence. Clarksville (4-10) will host Brownstown on Monday.
• Dogs split in Evansville: Evansville North handed New Albany a tough 10-9 loss in the opener, but the Bulldogs bounced back to upend Evansville Bosse 6-1 in the nightcap of a split road doubleheader.
New Albany’s Jason Cruse, Nathan Poff and Simon Weber all had a pair of hits in the first game. But the Huskies were able to plate a pair of runs in the final inning to score the close win.
In Game 2, the Bulldogs’ Graham Brown homered and drove in three runs to support starting pitcher Jacob Jones, who allowed a run on five hits while striking out five in a complete-game effort.
New Albany (9-6) will travel to Louisville Southern on Tuesday.
• Borden rips New Washington: Jeremy Blandford tripled, hit a grand slam and was also the winning pitcher for Borden as it tripped New Washington, 26-9.
The Braves trailed 4-2 after one inning, but scored 10 times in both the second and fifth innings of the win. Trevor Wagoner and Dylan Martin each had doubles for the Braves (9-4), who finished with 19 hits.
Jesse Woods had a triple for New Washington. The Braves host South Central today. The Mustangs will host South Central on Monday.
GIRLS’ TENNIS
• Generals make it three straight: Clarksville swept three singles matches for the third straight match as it extended its overall win streak to three with a 3-2 victory over Borden.
Deahna Welcher, Tiffany Fitzpatrick and Jaime Wilkerson each scored straight-set wins for the Generals. Borden’s two victories came in doubles, where Chelsea Blalock and Rachel Page prevailed at the No. 1 spot and Jordan Cook and Kelsey Evans won at No. 2.
On Thursday, Clarksville also took each singles match to defeat Eastern, 3-2. Welcher, Fitzpatrick and Wilkerson were also winners for the Generals in that victory.
Clarksville will entertain Corydon on Monday.
• Devils fall at Jennings: On Thursday, Jeff managed to win just one singles match in a 4-1 loss at Jennings County.
Junior Michelle Roberts scored the lone point for the Red Devils, defeating junior Malory Hurtle at No. 2 singles 6-7(1), 6-1, 6-2. Losing for Jeff were Katherine Clark at one singles, Dee Roehm at No. 3 singles, Macauley Murphy and Landi Gaither at one doubles and Danielle Eckert and Susan DiTeresa at No. 2 doubles.
The Red Devils will host Henryville on Tuesday.
TRACK AND FIELD
• Jeff wins freshman-sophomore invitational: The host Red Devils scored 168 points to claim the Jeffersonville ninth- and 10th-grade Invitational at Blair Field on Friday.
Joey Coats (1,600, 3,200 meters) and Toba Omotingbon (shot put, discus) both scored multievent victories for the Devils. Teammate Patrick Manning won the high jump and Jeff’s Darien Tatgenhorst claimed the pole vault.
“I’m really proud of these kids and their effort,” said Jeff coach Ryan Bixler. “It shows a lot of promise for the future of the program to be able to win this meet.”
The Devils will host the Jeff Invitational on Thursday.
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