PREP ROUNDUP: RallyKats stun Giants

By TRIBUNE SPORTS STAFF

May 07, 2008 11:13 pm

— Kokomo’s softball team rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to beat Marion 7-6 Wednesday in a non-league game at the Kokomo diamond.
The Kats trailed 5-4 through five innings, then gave up a run in the top of the seventh before rallying.
“We were at the top of the lineup when we came into the seventh inning,” Kokomo coach Lisa Tate said. “I knew that we needed some runs but I knew that those girls could do it. I wasn’t too scared. Good teams, good players find a way to win and those girls at the top of the lineup are good players, and I knew they’d find a way to get runs.”
Tate admitted she was less sure of that after leadoff batter Brittany Camp lined out on a hard shot which Marion’s second baseman caught with the tip of her glove.
“I thought, ‘Oh no, they’re going to get lucky,’” Tate said, “but then Kaile Branch came up and slapped, got on base on an error. And then [Elzabeth] Wagner hit her around, and Kate Toney hit [Wagner] around.”
Toney then scored the winner on a wild pitch to end the game.
Carly Painter picked up the win, pitching the final 2 1/3 innings. She got the Kats out of a pickle in the fifth after Marion had scored four runs in the frame.
“She went in into a tough situation,” Tate said. “She went in with two outs and a runner on second, and she struck out the third batter to end the inning.”
Jennifer Bailey led Kokomo with a double and a single, and Wagner had two singles.
Western 12, Elwood 2, 5 innings
The Howard County Panthers jumped all over the Madison County Panthers early, scoring nine runs in the bottom of the first inning to end any doubt.
“Obviously, coming out with nine runs in the first inning, we took control pretty early,” Western coach Jim Clouse said. To start the run parade, “[Brittani] Snyder doubled and Lindsey Clouse tripled back-to-back to start the game, and then Brooke Jackson drove [Clouse] in.
“It was senior night for us so it was nice for the seniors to play a game like that on their night.”
Alisha Davenport led Western’s offensive party with three singles and a double, Lindsey Clouse had a triple and a single, and Snyder and Jackson each had a double and a single.
Morgan Oilar started and pitched two scoreless innings, while Jenna Dillman and Katie Daine combined to pitch the final three innings, allowing two earned runs but keeping Elwood at arm’s length.
Western (11-7) hosts Maconaquah in a key Mid-Indiana Conference battle today. The Panthers are 5-0 in the league and can clinch a share of first place with a victory.
Mississinewa 2, No. 2 Eastern 1, 10 innings
Mississinewa hurler Ashlea Nash and Eastern pitcher Tristan Dykes dueled through 10 innings before a winner was decided. Each pitcher allowed just three hits. Nash struck out 21 and Dykes fanned 20. All three of the game’s runs were unearned.
“The pitchers were both good pitchers … the defense scored all the runs,” Eastern coach Jerry Haines said. “Our defense just cracked one more time than theirs did.”
Anna Maddox led the Class 2A No. 2 Comets with two singles. Eastern (16-5) plays at Hamilton Heights today.
Baseball
Kokomo 15, Marion 0, 5 innings
The Wildkats cruised at Marion and got a boost in the process as ace pitcher Bryce Robinson made his first appearance on the mound this season.
The Georgia Tech recruit started and pitched two complete innings, allowing two hits but taking care of those runners by picking off one and getting a double play to erase the second Giant to get on base. Nolan Sanburn pitched the final three innings and didn’t allow a hit.
“It was nice seeing Bryce out on the mound,” Kokomo coach Steve Edwards said. “We just wanted him to throw about 20, 25 pitches. It worked out perfectly. We didn’t know if he’d be able to give us two, but he was very efficient in his two innings.
“He threw about 80, 85 percent and kept the ball around the zone, and he definitely didn’t lose his pickoff move, and he rolled us a double play. Then Nolan Sanburn came in and pitched relaxed because we were already up 8-0 … and for three innings held Marion scoreless and hitless. Those two guys did a nice job.”
Kokomo scored three times in the top of the first, four times in the second and added another run in the third to build a comfortable lead.
Robinson led Kokomo’s 13-hit attack a perfect 3-for-3 effort highlighted by two home runs as well as a double. He had four runs batted in. Craig Dollens added a single and double and two runs batted in, and Dustin Schacht, Devin Schacht and Larry Baker each hit homers. Devin Schacht and Baker came off the bench to pop taters.
With the win, Kokomo improved to 12-7 overall and 7-1 in the NCC heading into Friday’s home date with Harrison.
No. 3 Laf. Catholic 4, Clinton Central 0
The Class A No. 3-ranked Knights turned back the Bulldogs in a contest between the top two Hoosier Heartland Conference teams.
D.J. Ranis went the distance for the Bulldogs, but had to settle for the hard-luck loss. He scattered seven hits, struck out five, walked one and hit two batters,
Frank Fisk had a double and the Bulldogs had five other hits, but they just couldn’t come through with a hit with runners in scoring position.
“We stranded quite a few runners and we ended up having 12 strikeouts. That is what kind of did us in,” CC coach Eric Flickenger said. “Ranis pitched an excellent game. It was 1-0 all the way until the seventh inning.”
The Knights (10-0 in the HHC) and the Bulldogs (8-2) finished 1-2 in the league standings following the Knights’ sweep of the teams’ home-and-home series.
CC (10-5 overall) visits Sheridan today.
Tri-Central 12, Rossville 2, 6 innings
After a couple scoreless innings, the Trojans hung 3s on the scoreboard in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Corban Fiscus led the way with two homers and three singles knocking in a whopping six runs. Blake Burnett added a homer and a double, two RBI and two runs, and Chris Pavey had a double, a single and scored two runs.
On the mound, Josh Copp held Rossville down, allowing only two unearned runs, one in the fifth and one in the sixth. He held Rossville to two hits in a complete game with four walks and 13 strikeouts.
“Copp did a nice job early on, pretty much holding them at bay,” TC coach Sean Swan said. “Then finally, we started to get some things going a little bit. Corban did a great job at the plate. He had a good approach and his hits really got us going.”
Tri-Central (6-11 overall, 3-7 Hoosier Heartland Conference) hosts Madison-Grant Wednesday.
Girls tennis
Western 3, Eastern 2
The Mid-Indiana Conference match came down to the No. 1 doubles point where the Panthers’ Allysha DiPasquale and Megan Hiss rallied to beat the Comets’ Rachael Lindgren and Kourtney Cox 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 6-3.
“The No. 1 doubles match was long — probably 21/2 hours or close to it — and it was just a good competitive match all the way through. It was good tennis to watch. We were lucky enough to come out on top in that match,” Western coach Jerry Bradley said.
The Panthers’ other points came in singles play where Kait Flederbach recorded a 6-4, 6-3 win at No. 2 and Ashleigh Wheeler cruised to a 6-0, 6-0 win at No. 3.
“We played really solid at No. 2 and No. 3,” Bradley said. “I realize without their [regular] No. 3 player, that does hurt them a little bit. But, it was a good effort by the [Western] girls. They played really solid up and down the lineup.”
For the Comets, Carly Miles won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 1 singles and Kayci Detweiler and Karisa Burkholder won 6-2, 6-2 at No. 2 doubles.
Western improved to 5-6 overall and 2-4 in the MIC. Eastern dropped to 9-3 and 3-2 — one loss behind Northwestern and Cass in the league standings.
Boys golf
Tri-Central 173, Clinton Prairie 188, Carroll 226
Travis Davis shot a 40 to lead TC to victory at Deer Track G.C. in Frankfort. Also for the Trojans, Justin Huddleston shot 41, Grant Appleton shot 43, Jordan Huddleston shot 49 and D.K DeLong shot 52.
“We got some really good play from Travis Davis, who is just a freshman this year,” TC coach Kim Drake said. “He shot 40 on a pretty tough and very windy conditions, so I was really pleased with him.”
Tri-Central improved to 6-0 in dual or three-team meets on the season. The Trojans host Rossville at Tipton Municipal today.
Nick Phalen shot 48 to lead Carroll. Cody Abdon was second at 57.
Tribune sportswriters Pedro Velazco and Bryan Gaskins compiled this roundup.

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