THE REPORTER
How does a team bounce back after a Monday loss?
Get a walkoff win Tuesday against its biggest rival. That’s what Sheridan did early this week.
The Blackhawks absorbed a tough loss to Frankton Monday, then returned home to play Clinton Central the next day. Sheridan scored a run in the bottom of the seventh inning to beat the Bulldogs 2-1 in a rivalry and Hoosier Heartland Conference game.
The ‘Hawks scored their first run in the third inning. Zach Bales led off with a base hit, then stole second. Later, Camden Spencer stepped up with two outs and sent a single into left field to bring Bales home.
Clinton Central tied the game in the top of the sixth inning with an RBI single. The game stayed 1-1 until the seventh inning: Caleb Alexander drew a one-out walk, then Bales blasted a double into left field to send Alexander in to score.
Bales finished 2-for-4 at the plate. Keegan Stout also hit a double. Sebastian Salazar pitched a complete game, throwing 11 strikeouts while allowing just two hits and two walks.
In the Monday game, Sheridan fell 18-0 to Frankton. Alexander, Salazar and Chance Spencer all had one hit.
The Blackhawks are 1-2 in HHC play and 3-8 overall, and host Traders Point Christian this afternoon.
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Westfield picked up two home victories to start the week.
First, the Shamrocks held off Center Grove 7-6 on Monday. Westfield got on the board right away when Evan Russ hit a three-run home run. Collin Lindsey and Matt Drozlek also scored.
The Trojans got a run back in the second inning, then took a 5-3 lead with four runs in the third. Westfield surged back in front with three runs in the fourth inning. Alex Rudolph got home when Ian Wilson reached on error, then Brayden Hibler sent a triple into right field, bringing in Wilson and Eli Manbeck.
The ‘Rocks got one more run in the fifth inning. Russ hit a double, then later scored on an error. Russ and Manbeck both had two hits. Andrew Nicholson threw five strikeouts in two and a third innings, while Seth Nanna got the win in relief, with four strikeouts and three and two-thirds innings. Jacob Culp threw three strikeouts in the seventh inning for the save.
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Westfield kept its week perfect on Tuesday with a 10-1 victory over Lawrence Central.
The Bears scored their run in the top of the first inning. The Shamrocks tied the game in the bottom of the first when Collin Lindsey singled in Brayden Hibler.
Westfield’s offense got going in the second inning with three runs. Matt Drozlek scored on an error, Hibler singled in Ian Wilson, then Caden Lindsey got home on a wild pitch.
The ‘Rocks put up three more runs in the fourth inning. Eli Manbeck was sent home when Hibler drew a bases-loaded walk, Wilson scored on Alex Rudolph’s RBI fielder’s choice, then Caden Lindsey got his second run of the game on a passed ball.
The fifth inning saw Westfield again scored three runs. Drozlek got home on a wild pitch, Wilson batted in Anderson and Manbeck later doubled Wilson home.
Anderson was 2-for-3 at the plate. Preston Tamm threw seven strikeouts in three innings for the win.
The Shamrocks are 8-5 and travel to Noblesville on Thursday to begin a Hoosier Crossroads Conference series with the Millers.
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Guerin Catholic cruised past Heritage Christian 11-1 in five innings Tuesday in a Circle City Conference game.
The Golden Eagles scored five runs in the second and fourth innings, with one run in the third inning. Cuinn Morrow hit a two-RBI triple in the second inning as part of a two-hit night, while Will Fremion smacked a two-RBI double in that inning as well.
Sam Tabor and Karson Smith both had two hits and scored two runs, with Fremion and Ian Taylor each driving in three runs. Davis Wagner pitched all five innings, striking out five and allowing just two hits.
Guerin Catholic is 6-0 in conference play and 13-1 overall. The Golden Eagles host Carmel on Thursday.
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Hamilton Heights dropped a Hoosier Conference East Division game at Northwestern Tuesday 6-5.
It was a back-and-forth game throughout. The Huskies scored a run in the top of the first inning: Nick Hulen smacked a triple into left field, then scored on an RBI fielder’s choice from Dean Mason.
The Tigers went ahead 2-1 in the bottom of the first inning. Heights got back in front when Adam Hughes singled into left field, scoring Hulen and Colin Kuhn. Later, Phoenix Vondersaar scored when Cooper Vondersaar was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, and the Huskies led 4-2.
Northwestern got a run back in the fourth inning, but Heights scored one in the top of the fifth. Kaleb Murray hit a single to score Kyle Michael, and the Huskies led 5-3. It was the first of Murray’s two hits. But the Tigers scored three runs in the sixth inning to clinch the victory.
Heights is 2-3 in division play and 7-6 overall. The Huskies Northwestern this afternoon to complete the division series.
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Hamilton Southeastern dropped a Monday away game to Homestead by the score of 9-6.
The Spartans scored a run in the bottom of the first inning. The Royals tied the game in the fourth inning; Alex Billman’s left field hit scored Cole Earlewine.
Homestead took control of the game with seven runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Southeastern made a rally in the sixth inning by scoring five runs. Ty Bradle led off with a single, moved to second base on a wild pitch, then scored on Griffen Haas’ right field hit.
Earlewine stepped up next, and he batted in Haas with a double. Harrison Dilts later singled Earlewine home, then Kam Seitz smacked a double to score Dilts. Michael Hoog’s center field hit brought in Seitz.
Earlewine finished with two doubles, while Seitz hit a double and a single. Chugga Rosario also hit a double.
The Royals are 10-7 and host Fishers on Thursday to begin the three-game Mudsock series.
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Carmel fell to Avon 5-1 on Monday.
The Greyhounds scored their run in the sixth inning, when Hunter Snow got home after Case Sullivan sent a base hit into left field. Snow had two hits.
Carmel is 8-4 and plays Thursday at Guerin Catholic.