Norse Golfers Fall To Rochester
The Northfield golf team lost their last dual meet of the year to Rochester Tuesday, 371-381.
Josh Unger was medalist with an 84.
Austin Vrooman shot 96,Zac Zumbaugh 100, Trae Cole 101 and Eric Foltz 115
Coach Wenrich ”Last dual of the year and we played poorly as if it were a Tuesday after Memorial Day. We are going to have to work hard the next two days to regain our form. The one positive is that I think we got all our bad rounds out of the way for the year. Friday is the last hurrah possibly for this team and we’d like to go out with a bang. I look forward to the challenge of our sectional as does my team.”
YMCA SUMMER SPORTS CAMPS TO BEGIN
YMCA Summer Sports camps begin next Monday June 6th. There will be an Elementary Aquatics camp in the YMCA Pool area from 10 to 11am for grades 3-6. Tennis Camp for grades 1-6 will take place in the multi-purpose gym from 9-11am. FlyKids Camp for Pre-K through grade 6 is also 9-11am. FlyKids is a camp using simple gymnastics skills mixed with dance moves put to music. There will be sports camps all summer long. Some of the camps include gymnastics, Jr High Aquatics, Diving, Soccer, football, basketball, Introduction to Sports for kids under 5 as well as Agility & Fitness Boot Camp to Biddy Basketball and high school aquatics camp. Camps run Monday through Friday during their designated week. Fees are $25 for YMCA members, $35 for non members and $10 for kids already participating in YMCA Summer Day Camp. For more information call 563-9622 or stop at the YMCA for a registration form.
Squires/Norse To Hook Up For Sectional Title
What a day for baseball. The sun was shining, the temperature was high and a huge crowd lined the hill side at Chris Rood field to watch their favorite team compete for a chance at the sectional title. Wabash County still had three teams in the race when the day started and two of them will be playing each other for the sectional title Tuesday night.
As told in the previous story Lewis Cass defeated Southwood 8-5 in the continuation game that picked back up in the 6th inning from Saturday night to get the day started and the right to play Manchester in the semi finals.
In game one it was Manchester taking on Cass. The Squires were the visiting team on the scoreboard.
Manchester threatened in the first when Payton Sorg was hit by a pitch with two outs. After a botched pick off play Connor McLaughlin walked and Scott Baker singled to load the bases. A fly ball to the outfield stalled the threat and it was time for McLaughlin on the mound. Cass manufactured a run in the bottom of the inning on a walk, stolen base and a single to lead 1-0.
Both teams went scoreless in the second and the Squire offense stepped up in the third. Devin Knecht doubled followed by a Logan Brunn bunt single to start the momentum. After a wild pitch moved the runners to 2nd and 3rd, Payton Sorg laid down the perfect squeeze bunt to score Knecht. The next pitch Brunn stole 2nd and Scott Baker doubled in both runners to give the Squires a 3-1 lead. The Manchester defense got a little shaky in the bottom of the inning and Cass scored one more time.
In the 4th the Squires played a little small ball. After Austin Flack was hit by a pitch the Squires bunted twice to put him on 3rd. Two pitches later Flack stole home on a passed ball and Manchester was up 4-2.
With the game still up for grabs the Squires ended that thought in the 5th inning. McLaughlin walked, Baker singled and Anthony Saunders drove them both home with a double to make it 6-2. Cass changed pitchers and Caleb Thomas greeted him with an rbi double, 7-2. Flack drew a walk, Knecht singled and then Brunn singled in a run 8-2. Cass changed pitchers again and then walked Sorg for an rbi, 9-2. McLaughlin was then hit by a pitch to make it 10-2. Baker hit in to a fielders choice to score one more run before the inning was over, making it 11-2. McLaughlin dominated the bottom of the inning striking out 3 batters.
The Manchester offense needed to score at least one run in the 6th to try and end the game early and succeeded by scoring two, making it 13-2. McLaughlin went three up and three down in the bottom of the inning to end the game by the 10 run rule.
McLaughlin allowed just 2 runs on 5 hits, walking 1 and striking out 9.
In game two Northfield was out to make it an all county sectional final and did it in one inning. Starting pitcher Adam House was to much for the North Miami hitters, scattering just two hits in five innings. After giving up a single in the top of the first, House picked off the runner to clear the bases and then struck out the next batter to get out of the inning. Tanner Chamberlain singled for Northfield in the first, but a double play took them out of the inning. House struck out the side in the 2nd and the Norse would try to start a rally again. Ryan Keaffaber and Austin Keen singled, but a line drive out stalled the Norse again.
In the 3rd House struck out two of the three outs and the Norse offense exploded in the bottom of the inning, delivering a knock out punch in one inning, scoring 10 runs. After a strike out House singled, followed by a Chamberlain walk. Peyton Ross singled home House for the first run of the game. Keaffaber was hit by a pitch to load the bases and then Joseph Ross was also hit to score a run, 2-0. With the bases still loaded Austin Keen singled home two runs to make it 4-0. A Hunter Wells single made it 5-0. Austin Gottschalk was hit by a pitch and then House hit a grounder to the shortstop who booted the ball and the Norse scored two more, 7-0. Chamberlain drove home the next run with a single to make it 8-0 and then Peyton Ross double to drive in two more and in one inning it was 10-0.
In the 4th the Norse committed an error and then it was their turn for a double play. House struck out the next batter. In the bottom of the inning Joseph Ross was hit by a pitch for the second time before a gound out, fly out and a strike out ended the inning.
House dominated the 5th getting all three batters he faced and just like that the game was over.
House went all 5 innings, giving up 2 hits and striking out 8.
Manchester and Northfield will meet for the sectional title Tuesday evening at 7:00 at Wabash’s Chris Rood field. Expected pitching starters are Scott Baker and Ryan Keaffaber, statistically two of the best pitchers in the state.
Knights Fall To Cass In Sectional Semi Finals
In a continuation game from Saturday night due to rain the Southwood Knight baseball team fell to Lewis Cass 8-5 Monday in a Wabash sectional semi final game.
On Saturday the Knights and Cass played 5 1/2 innings before being rained out.
Southwood opened up the game scoring three runs in the top of the first. Dylan Sparks and Kyle Dickey walked, followed by Tyler Denniston getting hit to load the bases for Logan Schneider, who also was hit by a pitch to bring in a run. Collin Huston followed that with a two run double and the Knights were up 3-0 before Cass come to bat. After two outs, Cass put together three straight hits to score twice and make it 3-2 after one.
Neither team could put anything together in the 2nd or 3rd innings and the Knights went back to work in the 4th. After a Nick Striker double Jackson Blair singled him home to put Southwood up 4-2. Cass loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning before a double cleared them to put the Kings up 5-4.
In the 5th Denniston reached on an error by the shortstop and later scored on a Schneider single to make it 5-5. Cass come right back in the bottom of the inning to score twice to go up 7-5.
After a scoreless 6th for the Knights the game was postponed due to rain and lightning and continued Monday at 11:00am. Cass would add an insurance run in the 6th to make it 8-5. Southwood hit three straight ground balls to end the game and give Cass the right to play Manchester.
Squires Advance In Baseball Sectional Over Apaches
It was a classic opening round, inter county sectional battle at Wabash Saturday. The Apaches had won a nail biter against the Squires earlier in the year so it was sure to be an exciting first game of the Wabash sectional.
Manchester would be the visitors on the score board and looked as though they would strike first in the first inning. After two outs, Wabash starting pitcher Jack Holley walked Payton Sorg, Connor McLaughlin and Scott Baker to load the bases before striking out the next batter to get out of the inning. Ball State bound Scott Baker walked lead off batter Landon Cole to start the bottom of the inning. On the next pitch Cole attempted to steal second and was thrown out by catcher Devin Knecht. Baker would get the next two and neither team scored in the first.
In the second both pitchers shut the other team down 3 up and 3 down. In the top of the third Payton Sorg got the first hit of the game with a single, but the Squires could not salvage a run. In the bottom of the inning, Nate Price started the inning, getting on from a throwing error and advancing to second. Alex Hentgen followed with a rbi double to give Wabash a 1-0 lead. Trevor Patton then singled and Hentgen was thrown out at home by center fielder Connor McLaughlin at the plate. Joey Burns reached first on a Manchester error and Wabash scored their second run to lead 2-0 after three.
In the 4th Holley shut down the Squires again and the Apache offense went back to work, scoring another run to go up 3-0. In the 5th the Squires would draw close. After as ground out, Devin Knecht drew a walk. Logan Brunn then singled and was followed by a Payton Sorg walk. A passed ball scored the first Squire run and then Connor McLaughlin hit a sac fly ball to drive in the second Manchester run. Wabash would manage just a Landon Cole single in the bottom of the inning and Wabash led 3-2 after five.
Both teams were shut down in the 6th and we headed for the final frame with Wabash leading 3-2. Manchester had matured by the end of the year to not panic when trailing headed for the end of the game. Devin Knecht calmly hit a single to start the inning and was backed up by a single from Logan Brunn. After a balk put runners on 2nd and 3rd Payton Sorg hit a sac fly to drive in the tying run. Connor McLaughling then singled to drive in Manchester’s 4th run and give the Squires their first lead of the game. Two batters later Anthony Saunders singled in an insurance run to give Manchester a 5-3 lead heading to the last half inning. Baker went to work striking out the first two batters and then getting the third to pop up and Manchester had upset the #8 Apaches to advance to Monday’s semi final against the Southwood/Lewis Cass winner.
Southwood and Lewis Cass were in a battle when rain stopped the game in the 6th inning with Lewis Cass leading 7-5. The game will be picked up where it left off at 11:00am Monday. Details of that game will be published upon completion.
Due to IHSAA rules, pictures may not be purchased of the sectional
Southwood Upsets Manchester In Softball Sectional
And that’s why they play the game. Manchester had the best record in the county and had beaten Southwood earlier in the year. The two teams met in the semi finals of the Manchester sectional Saturday with the Lady Knights winning 8-3 in 10 innings.
Southwood went 3 up and 3 down in the top of the 1st and the Lady Squires manufactured a run in the bottom to take a 1-0 lead. Neither team would score in the 2nd and Manchester again stalled the Knights in the 3rd. After a Kalene Freshour single in the bottom of the inning the Lady Squires pushed across another run to take a 2-0 lead and looked as though they were in control.
Southwood had threatened twice and were doing so again in the 4th. With the bases loaded and one out, Manchester changed pitchers and brought in Mikie Crate. Crate calmly got the Squires out of the jam and preserve the 2-0 lead. Southwood pitcher Jenny Bentley kept the Lady Knights close, shutting the Squires down in the bottom of the inning.
In the 5th Southwood went down in order and the Lady Squires looked to build on their lead. After a lead off triple by Katie Smith and a passed ball Manchester was up 3-0.
In the 6th the Lady Knights would rally again. Kayla Unger singled and was ran for by Brianna Kirby. Jenny Bentley singled and as Kirby rounded second base she fell down and was tagged out. Courtney Simpson then singled followed by a Logan Hensley double to drive in two. Josie Grossnickle then singled to drive in Hensley and it was knotted up at 3. Bentley went to work and shut the Lady Squires down in order in the bottom of the inning to head for what was thought to be the last inning tied at 3.
Southwood put two runners on in the 7th but could not push a run across. Bentley then struck out 2 of the 3 batters she faced and it was on to the 8th. Both teams would stall in the 8th and we headed for the second extra inning. In the 9th Southwood loaded the bases with two outs and again could not get that needed run. Manchester went 3 up and 3 down and the game was headed for the double digit 10th inning.
Southwood exploded in the 10th. Hensley singled, followed by a Grossnickle single. Sarah White drew a walk and the bases were loaded. After a passed ball made it 4-3, Allie Enyeart singled to drive in another to make it 5-3. The Squire defense tightened and got two outs, before Jenny Bentley blasted a three run homer over the left field fence to give the Lady Knights an 8-3 lead.
Manchester put two runners on in the bottom of the inning on singles from Kayla Flack and Smith with Bentley striking out a batter after each single. The 5th batter of the inning popped up and Southwood had upset Manchester 8-3.
The Lady Knights faced North Miami in the championship game and were defeated 3-1. We have no other details other than the score right now and will give you that when received.
Due to IHSAA rules pictures of the sectional may not be purchased
Chain/McNeeley Headed For State Finals
Southwood’s Larry Chain and Manchester’s Kegan McNeeley are headed to the track state finals after their superb regional performances Friday.
Chain won the long jump at the Ft Wayne regional with a jump of 22′ 4 3/4”. Chains sectional jump of 23′ 5” is the second longest jump in the state post season this year, just 3 inches from the longest.
McNeeley placed 2nd in the Kokomo regional in the 100m dash, posting an impressive 11.24.
The state finals are Friday, June 3rd at Indiana University
Order of Events
3:00 p.m. – Pole Vault, Long Jump and Discus
3:30 p.m. – High Jump; Shot Put
4:15 p.m. – 3200 M Relay Finals
5:00 p.m. – 100 M Dash Trials
5:15 p.m. – 110 M High Hurdle Trials
5:40 p.m. – 200 M Dash Trials
6:10 p.m. – Opening Ceremonies
6:15 p.m. – 110 M High Hurdles
6:25 p.m. – 100 M Dash
6:35 p.m. – 1600 M Run
6:45 p.m. – 400 M Relay
7:05 p.m. – 400 M Dash
7:20 p.m. – 300 M Int. Hurdles
7:45 p.m. – 800 M Run
8:05 p.m. – 200 M Dash
8:15 p.m. – 3200 M Run
8:30 p.m. – 1600 M Relay
Girls Sectional Time Changed
The time for the championship game at the Manchester girls softball sectional has been changed from 6:00pm to 4:00pm.
The first semi final game still starts at 10:00 am between Manchester and Southwood, followed by North Miami vs Lewis Cass.
