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The Class 1A, No. 5-ranked Caston baseball team defeated South Newton 6-1 Thursday in the first round of the Tri-County Sectional at Remington Town Park.
Logan Mollenkopf started the game on the mound for the Comets (19-5) and pitched two scoreless innings. He allowed no hits and three walks and struck out four.
Carson Harness was credited for the win in relief. He also did not allow a hit. He walked one, hit one and fanned eight in three innings.
Brodie Howard closed out the final two innings. He allowed one run in the bottom of the seventh before ending the game with back-to-back strikeouts. Overall he gave up three hits and one walk while striking out three.
Caston coach Blake Mollenkopf said his team executed the plan on the mound against the Rebels (3-16).
“We wanted to get everybody on the mound about 40, 50 pitches just to get on the mound at the sectional, get comfortable and we’ll build from there,” he said. “That was the goal, whether it be 2-3-2 or 3-2-2, but we really wanted to keep everybody at that 50-pitch mark or less just to keep everybody eligible going forward.”
As for his plans on Saturday, Mollenkopf said, “We haven’t quite decided yet. We’ll probably go more traditional here as we finish through the sectional, have a starter go and let them get as deep as they can.”
Offensively, the Comets stranded three base runners through the first three innings before getting on the board in the fourth. London Herd drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on a passed ball, moved to third on an error on the catcher on the play and scored on a wild pitch. Parker Zimpleman walked and moved to second on a sac bunt by Harness. With two outs, Tucker Woolever, Lucius Edson and Logan Mollenkopf drew three straight walks to bring home another run to make it 2-0. Eli Holloway lined out to center to end the inning.
The Comets put together another rally in the fifth. Gavin Mollenkopf and Herd opened with back-to-back singles. Gavin Mollenkopf scored on a wild pitch. Howard’s RBI single made it 4-0. Tucker Woolever had an RBI single. Holloway reach on a two-out error to make it 6-0.
Howard went 3-for-4 to lead the offense. The Mollenkopf brothers had two hits apiece.
The win sets up a semifinal matchup with Tri-County (10-9) at 1 p.m. Saturday. It’ll be the teams’ first meeting this year. It’s a rematch from last year’s final the Cavaliers won 4-0 behind a one-hit, 14-strikeout shutout by Grayson Schneider, who is now pitching at Indiana Wesleyan.
“They’re a different type team this year,” coach Mollenkopf said. “Obviously last year with Grayson, their really good lefty, we knew we were gonna have our hands full going in. This year on the mound they’re more right-hand oriented. They’re a very good small ball team. They’ll bunt you to death, they run well. It’s gonna come down to us to make sure we put some offense up, make sure we’re attacking on the mound. And then being able to handle a variety of plays from them in the bunt situations and base running and just different things that they’re gonna try to do to us.”
Tri-County beat North Newton 16-6 in five innings Thursday behind a 96-pitch effort by junior Ian Houser.
“They also have (Vance) Tyler who’s thrown quite a bit for them. He did not pitch last night. So I assume we’ll see Tyler. But we’ll see,” Mollenkopf said.
Cavaliers senior shortstop Tyler Burns is set to play at Grace College.
West Central (15-5) plays North White (1-11) in the 11 a.m. semifinal. The final is set for 6 p.m. Monday.
JIMTOWN 19, WINAMAC 0
Winamac (11-12) had a rough showing at the Class 2A Jimtown Sectional against the host Jimmies (13-11) on Friday night in Elkhart.
It was a scoreless game after two before Jimtown erupted for seven runs in the third, eight in the fourth and four in the fifth.
Cody Wheeler had a double for the Warriors’ lone hit of the game.
Jimtown will face Bremen (19-7) in Monday night’s final. Bremen beat Knox 7-5 in Friday’s earlier semifinal.
SOFTBALL
JIMTOWN 2, WINAMAC 0
No. 6 Winamac outhit Jimtown 6-1 but still fell in the championship game of the Class 2A Bremen Sectional.
The Jimmies (19-9) got on the board with a run in the fourth. Lily Gaugler was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a fielder’s choice, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a RBI squeeze bunt by Layla Winrott.
They added another run in the sixth. Claire Carlson reached on an error to start the inning. Victoria Swald grounded into a fielder’s choice for the second out. She advanced to second on a wild pitch. Abby Williams followed with an RBI single to make it 2-0. It was Jimtown’s first hit of the game.
Adrianna Hall did the pitching for the Warriors (20-4). The junior right-hander allowed two runs (one earned) on one hit, no walks and hit two batters, striking out 11.
Grace Roth went 3-for-3 to lead Winamac at the plate. Maggie Keller had two hits and Makayla Werner added a hit.
Carlson pitched a six-hit shutout with no walks and 13 strikeouts for Jimtown.
The Warriors were seeking their first sectional title since 2017.
The Jimmies won their first title since 2022. They will host either Wheeler (17-11) or Andrean (17-11) for a regional game Tuesday.
PRAIRIE 8, CARROLL 4
Clinton Prairie jumped to a 6-0 lead after two innings and held off Carroll’s comeback attempt in the Class 1A CP Sectional title game.
Bryleigh Springer led Carroll, going 2-for-3 with an RBI. Jadelyn Lennon also drove in a run and Madyson Isley had a double.
Charlotte Kingery pitched all six innings. She allowed nine hits and three earned runs. She struck out five and walked four.
The Cougars finished the season 17-6.
BOYS GOLF
ROCK HOLLOW INVITE
Logansport shot a 351 to finish 13th out of 20 teams at the event hosted by Peru on Thursday.
Graham Taylor shot an 83 to lead the Berries. Evan Brandstatter had an 86, Logan Lange had an 89 and Tristin Schultz added a 91.
Continue reading...
Logan Mollenkopf started the game on the mound for the Comets (19-5) and pitched two scoreless innings. He allowed no hits and three walks and struck out four.
Carson Harness was credited for the win in relief. He also did not allow a hit. He walked one, hit one and fanned eight in three innings.
Brodie Howard closed out the final two innings. He allowed one run in the bottom of the seventh before ending the game with back-to-back strikeouts. Overall he gave up three hits and one walk while striking out three.
Caston coach Blake Mollenkopf said his team executed the plan on the mound against the Rebels (3-16).
“We wanted to get everybody on the mound about 40, 50 pitches just to get on the mound at the sectional, get comfortable and we’ll build from there,” he said. “That was the goal, whether it be 2-3-2 or 3-2-2, but we really wanted to keep everybody at that 50-pitch mark or less just to keep everybody eligible going forward.”
As for his plans on Saturday, Mollenkopf said, “We haven’t quite decided yet. We’ll probably go more traditional here as we finish through the sectional, have a starter go and let them get as deep as they can.”
Offensively, the Comets stranded three base runners through the first three innings before getting on the board in the fourth. London Herd drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on a passed ball, moved to third on an error on the catcher on the play and scored on a wild pitch. Parker Zimpleman walked and moved to second on a sac bunt by Harness. With two outs, Tucker Woolever, Lucius Edson and Logan Mollenkopf drew three straight walks to bring home another run to make it 2-0. Eli Holloway lined out to center to end the inning.
The Comets put together another rally in the fifth. Gavin Mollenkopf and Herd opened with back-to-back singles. Gavin Mollenkopf scored on a wild pitch. Howard’s RBI single made it 4-0. Tucker Woolever had an RBI single. Holloway reach on a two-out error to make it 6-0.
Howard went 3-for-4 to lead the offense. The Mollenkopf brothers had two hits apiece.
The win sets up a semifinal matchup with Tri-County (10-9) at 1 p.m. Saturday. It’ll be the teams’ first meeting this year. It’s a rematch from last year’s final the Cavaliers won 4-0 behind a one-hit, 14-strikeout shutout by Grayson Schneider, who is now pitching at Indiana Wesleyan.
“They’re a different type team this year,” coach Mollenkopf said. “Obviously last year with Grayson, their really good lefty, we knew we were gonna have our hands full going in. This year on the mound they’re more right-hand oriented. They’re a very good small ball team. They’ll bunt you to death, they run well. It’s gonna come down to us to make sure we put some offense up, make sure we’re attacking on the mound. And then being able to handle a variety of plays from them in the bunt situations and base running and just different things that they’re gonna try to do to us.”
Tri-County beat North Newton 16-6 in five innings Thursday behind a 96-pitch effort by junior Ian Houser.
“They also have (Vance) Tyler who’s thrown quite a bit for them. He did not pitch last night. So I assume we’ll see Tyler. But we’ll see,” Mollenkopf said.
Cavaliers senior shortstop Tyler Burns is set to play at Grace College.
West Central (15-5) plays North White (1-11) in the 11 a.m. semifinal. The final is set for 6 p.m. Monday.
JIMTOWN 19, WINAMAC 0
Winamac (11-12) had a rough showing at the Class 2A Jimtown Sectional against the host Jimmies (13-11) on Friday night in Elkhart.
It was a scoreless game after two before Jimtown erupted for seven runs in the third, eight in the fourth and four in the fifth.
Cody Wheeler had a double for the Warriors’ lone hit of the game.
Jimtown will face Bremen (19-7) in Monday night’s final. Bremen beat Knox 7-5 in Friday’s earlier semifinal.
SOFTBALL
JIMTOWN 2, WINAMAC 0
No. 6 Winamac outhit Jimtown 6-1 but still fell in the championship game of the Class 2A Bremen Sectional.
The Jimmies (19-9) got on the board with a run in the fourth. Lily Gaugler was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a fielder’s choice, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a RBI squeeze bunt by Layla Winrott.
They added another run in the sixth. Claire Carlson reached on an error to start the inning. Victoria Swald grounded into a fielder’s choice for the second out. She advanced to second on a wild pitch. Abby Williams followed with an RBI single to make it 2-0. It was Jimtown’s first hit of the game.
Adrianna Hall did the pitching for the Warriors (20-4). The junior right-hander allowed two runs (one earned) on one hit, no walks and hit two batters, striking out 11.
Grace Roth went 3-for-3 to lead Winamac at the plate. Maggie Keller had two hits and Makayla Werner added a hit.
Carlson pitched a six-hit shutout with no walks and 13 strikeouts for Jimtown.
The Warriors were seeking their first sectional title since 2017.
The Jimmies won their first title since 2022. They will host either Wheeler (17-11) or Andrean (17-11) for a regional game Tuesday.
PRAIRIE 8, CARROLL 4
Clinton Prairie jumped to a 6-0 lead after two innings and held off Carroll’s comeback attempt in the Class 1A CP Sectional title game.
Bryleigh Springer led Carroll, going 2-for-3 with an RBI. Jadelyn Lennon also drove in a run and Madyson Isley had a double.
Charlotte Kingery pitched all six innings. She allowed nine hits and three earned runs. She struck out five and walked four.
The Cougars finished the season 17-6.
BOYS GOLF
ROCK HOLLOW INVITE
Logansport shot a 351 to finish 13th out of 20 teams at the event hosted by Peru on Thursday.
Graham Taylor shot an 83 to lead the Berries. Evan Brandstatter had an 86, Logan Lange had an 89 and Tristin Schultz added a 91.
Continue reading...
