Published: May 02, 2008 01:08 am            

HIGH SCHOOL ROUNDUP: FC still area’s best on links

In a showdown between two of the area’s top powers, the Floyd Central boys’ golf team proved that it’s still the one to beat.

Thought perhaps vulnerable in the postseason, the two-time defending state champion Highlanders put together a solid team score of 163 to beat Providence — the leading contender for its throne — at Champions Pointe on Monday. The Pioneers finished 12-shots back at 175 overall.

Chase Cadle shot a 2-over 38 to take match medalist honors and Jarod Sturgeon finished with a 39 to pace Floyd Central. David Frank had a 42, Matt Rayner a 44 and Ben Clark a 47 to keep the entire Highlander lineup in the 40s on a windy afternoon.

“We’re pretty happy with the scores, especially since it was real windy today,” said Floyd coach Mike Cason. “Our kids are coming along. They are starting to listen to the things we are telling them.”

Ben Rose led Providence with a 40, while teammate Trey Pfund finished with a 42.

Both teams will compete in the Southern Indiana Open next Saturday at Hidden Creek.

• Weeks leads Hornets: Also at Champions Pointe, Henryville combined for a 189 to upend New Washington. South Central also competed, but did not have enough players for a team score.

Taylor Weeks fired a 44 for the Hornets, while Cameron Tucker had a 45. Jonathan Clark and Nick Campbell each fired 50s for Henryville.

New Washington was led by Dustin Bowman’s 50.

“We need to get to where we’re counting four scores in the 40’s,” said Henryville coach Robin Embry. “This group is very capable of doing that, it just seems like when one or two guys play pretty well, one or two don’t. It’s just a matter of consistency.”

Henryville will compete in the Corydon Invitational on Saturday.



SOFTBALL

• Bulldogs squeak out another win: Faith Griffaw tossed a one-hit shutout and Chelsea Knable’s bunt scored Chelsea Jordan in the third inning, as New Albany hung on for a 1-0 win over visiting Southwestern.

It was New Albany’s second consecutive one-run victory after winning 2-1 over Jennings County on Wednesday.

Griffaw improved to 9-7 on the year with, adding another gem to a season that has already seen her toss a no-hitter. She struck out 13 and surrendered just one walk in the victory.

New Albany (9-8) will host a doubleheader with Evansville Harrison and Evansville North on Saturday.

• Braves hold off Pirates: Host Charlestown led much of the way but committed key errors late in a 5-4 loss to visiting Brownstown.

The Pirates led 4-3 entering the top of the seventh, but the Braves put up two runs aided by Charlestown miscues and the Pirates couldn’t recover.

“We kind of self-destructed,” said Charlestown coach Kevin Zollman. “Our youth showed up and we didn’t pull together to get the win. It’s the first time I’ve felt like we’ve given a game away.

Amanda Miller took the loss on the mound for the Pirates (8-6), who host a doubleheader with Crawford County today.

• Another setback for Clarksville: On the heels of Wednesday’s 10-0 loss to Floyd Central that ended a 10-game winning streak, Clarksville gave up three runs in the first inning in a 4-2 loss to visiting Pekin Eastern. All three Musketeer runs came with two outs.

“We started another game just terrible,” said Clarksville coach Tim Hauber, whose team gave up eight first-inning runs to the Highlanders. “I just have to get it into their heads that you can’t start that way. The first inning got us again.”

Amber Wingler took the loss for Clarksville, which scored twice in the fourth inning but could never get another rally going.

• Jeff roars back on Cubs: Down 6-2 entering the fifth inning, the Red Devils peeled off six unanswered runs in an 8-6 road victory over Madison.

After three runs in the sixth tied the score, Kelsey Sumler led off the final inning with a double. That was followed by a single from Cydney Wilcoxson and Kim Hensley’s two-RBI double to pull Jeff in front.

“It was a hard-fought win,” said Jeff coach Becky Schafer. “The girls showed lots of determination and fight to come back and win this one.”

Megan Stirn relieved Wilcoxson to start the sixth and shut the Cubs out to earn her ninth win of the season. The Red Devils travel to Henryville today.

• Hornets tune up for Jeff, crush Shawe: Visiting Henryville tuned up for its showdown with Jeffersonville with a 7-2 victory over Shawe Memorial.

Haley Hall was 2-for-3 with 3 RBIs in the win, while Rebecca Snodgrass and Amanda Embry each doubled. Embry also got the win on the mound, striking out 12 to improve to 9-2.

“They’re excited about it and anxious to see how well they will compete,” said Henryville coach Jenny Odle about hosting Jeff. “As I tell the girls, they should expect to win. Hopefully, they’ll take that attitude.”

• Finally: Pioneers break skid: The long trail of losses finally ended for Providence, as the Pioneers posted a 4-2 win at Seymour to snap a 10-game skid.

Natalie McDonough and Maria Cochran each doubled in the win, supporting Kelsey Markland.

“We finally pulled it together,” said Pioneer coach Sean Payne, whose team lost seven of those 10 games by a two runs or less. “It was good to see someone step up.”

Things almost went wrong again, as the Owls put two runners on with none out in the seventh. McDonough called the team over in a timeout and Providence promptly went on to escape the jam and collect the win.

The Pioneers host Silver Creek today.



BASEBALL

• Floyd downs Seymour: Floyd Central scored five runs in the top of the fourth and proceeded to win at Seymour, 9-2.

The Highlanders’ Kyle Naville and L.J. Martin both hit home runs, and teammate Keith Kulwicki had two doubles. Floyd’s Jordan Schuppert picked up the victory to improve to 5-1.

The Highlanders (11-8) will host Tell City tonight.

• Wilbert, Generals cruise: T. J. Wilbert tossed seven innings, fanning 12 and surrendering three hits to lead Clarksville past host Salem, 7-3.

Robert Noe had two hits, including a double and Wilbert helped himself with three hits in the win. Dalton Fitzgerald doubled twice for the Generals. Clarksville scored in each of the first three innings to build a 6-1 edge at one point.

“The intensity level was great,” said Clarksville coach Brian James. “All of our guys stayed in the game. It was a good team effort.”

The Generals host Crawford County on Wednesday.

• Dragons fall to North Harrison: Visiting North Harrison scored two times in the eighth inning to beat Silver Creek, 8-6.

The Cougars led 6-5 entering the sixth inning but the Dragons scratched out a run to even things up and force extras.

“We took a big step forward,” said Creek coach Neil Coffman. “I know we didn’t win, but we came out and put ourselves in position. We took a big step in the right direction.”

• CAI crushes Portland: After a slow start, the Warriors’ heated up for 14 runs in the third inning in a 23-9 crushing of visiting Portland Christian.

The result was surprising after the first two innings, in which the teams were tied at seven.

But CAI got a monster game from Nick McKain, who went 2-for-3 with a double and a home run and collected four RBIs. Paul Devore had two doubles for the Warriors (9-6), and Trey Haendiges upped his average on the year to .442 by going 3-for-3 with a double, triple, three RBIs and three stolen bases.

“We’re going to hit, and I think we’re proving that,” said CAI coach Ryan Wheeler. “Our improvement at the plate came quicker than I expected.”

The Warriors will travel to New Washington on Monday.

• Borden finally upends Henryville: The Braves didn’t get a hit in the frame, but scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to beat rival Henryville 6-5. It was the Braves’ first win over the Hornets this decade.

Henryville led 4-1 after three, but the Braves rallied back, pulling to within one on two runs in the sixth.

Ben Rice opened the seventh inning with a walk, Andrew Graham was hit by a pitch and Dalton Wagoner drew a walk to load the bases against Hornet hurler Taylor Stone, who balked to score the tying run. Graham then scored on a wild pitch to set off the celebration.

“It meant a lot to the people here,” said Borden coach Brian Agnew. “I just wish we didn’t have to come from behind to do it.”

Kenny Harrell tripled in the loss for Henryville.

The Braves will host Orleans on Monday.



GIRLS’ TENNIS

• Clarksville beats Mustangs, 5-0: Clarksville gave its “strongest showing” of the season according to head coach Stephen Welcher as it swept New Washington, 5-0.

Deahna Welcher, Tiffany Fitzpatrick and Jaime Wilkerson won singles matches for the Generals. Ashley Lind and Breanna Shireman scored a win in doubles as did Jazzmine Rolon and Allison Dodson at No. 2.

• CAI rolls again: Christian Academy won four matches in straight sets to beat Southwestern, 5-0.

Shawna Doty, Natalie Winslow and Ashley Roach were singles winners while Sally Sturgis and Jenny Ingle were a straight-sets doubles winner. Michelle Hewitt and Erin Huckabone needed three sets to win at No. 2 doubles.

• Hornets nips Lanesville: Henryville moved to 5-4 on the year with a 3-2 win over Lanesville.

All three of the Hornet wins were in singles, led by Katie Guernsey at the No. 1 spot. Lauren Clark and Whitney Guthrie scored the remaining two victories by Henryville.

• Pirates lose a tough one, 3-2: Two tough three-set marathons did not go Charlestown’s way as the Pirates were beaten by Shawe Memorial, 3-2.

The Pirates’ Whitney Greene and Emily Combs won the first set but couldn’t hang as they fall to Jordie Fry and Ebony Inskeep at No. 2 doubles, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5. At No. 2 singles, Lyndsey Peyton rallied back after losing the first set, but fell to Haley Jones, 6-2, 6-7 (7-4), 7-5.

Victories for Charlestown came from Holly Jones at No. 3 singles and Holly Duggins and Paige Jones at No. 1 singles.

“This was a tough match to lose,” said Pirate coach Chris Ryan. “Holly Jones played the best match I’ve seen for our singles this year. We had two chances to win a third set but Shawe was able to close out our chances.”

• Creek blanks Pekin Eastern: Sarah Hebble set the tone with a 6-0, 6-0 victory at No. 1 singles and Silver Creek rolled by Pekin Eastern on Wednesday, 5-0.

Four of the five victories by the Dragons were in straight sets.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.