Softball Roundup: unbeaten Westfield takes down Pendleton Heights, Carmel shuts out Mount Vernon, Sheridan drops two

The REPORTER

The Westfield softball team stayed unbeaten Wednesday after taking care of Pendleton Heights 9-5.

The Arabians got on the board first with a run in the top of the second inning. The Shamrocks blasted back with four runs in the bottom of the second, all scored with two outs. Grace Fanelli led off with a double, then scored when Makayla Watson reached on error. Sofia Easterhaus smacked a triple to bring in Sydney Jordan and Watson. Ava Kainrath cracked a double to send Easterhaus home.

Pendleton Heights scored a run in the third inning, then a two-run double in the fifth inning pushed the Arabians ahead 5-4. But Westfield responded again with five runs in the bottom of the fifth.

Cara Snedeker got a leadoff walk, then moved to third on a Fanelli double. Avery Banas came up next and sent everyone home with a center field home run. Later in the inning, Chloe Tanner hit a two-run single, scoring Jordan and Annika Lawrence.

Tanner pitched a complete game, striking out 10.

Westfield is 4-0 and hosts Franklin Central at 6 p.m. tonight to begin Hoosier Crossroads Conference play.

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Carmel picked up its first win of the season Thursday, beating Mount Vernon 2-0.

The Greyhounds scored a run in the bottom of the second inning, with Kathryn Merryman getting home on Katherine Smith’s RBI fielder’s choice. Carmel added the second run in the third inning: Ellie Goddard and Jayden Kleiner each hit a single, then Paxton Law hit a sacrifice fly to score Goddard.

Carmel had four hits as a team, with Goddard getting two of them. But the Greyhounds’ pitching staff held the Marauders to three hits. Chelsea Bennett went four innings for the win, striking out six and allowing two hits. Gracyn Erickson threw the other three innings, with three strikeouts against one hit.

Carmel is 1-3 and is off for Spring Break, returning to action April 6 with home games against Evansville North and Bedford North Lawrence.

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Sheridan dropped two games earlier in the week.

The Blackhawks fell to Indiana School for the Deaf 9-7 on Monday. The Orioles scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Sheridan tied the game in the top of the third, beginning with a Taryn Yungwirth triple to bring in Mac Smith. Abby Dallas came in to run for Yungwirth, and she scored on a Shelby Eaton double. Abbi Merritt, who got on earlier with a walk, stole home to tie the game.

Indiana Deaf scored two runs to lead 5-3 in the bottom of the third. The ‘Hawks then scored three more runs in the top of the fifth to lead 6-5. Merritt singled in Ali Pickard, then Eaton blasted a double to bring in Merritt.

Eaton later stole home, putting Sheridan in the lead. But the Orioles answered with four runs in the bottom of the fifth. Maelei Casler singled in Dallas in the sixth inning for the Blackhawks’ seventh run.

Dallas hit a triple and a double for Sheridan. Casler threw four innings, striking out six.

The Blackhawks fell to Heritage Christian 29-1 on Tuesday. Dallas scored Sheridan’s run.

The ‘Hawks are off for Spring Break, returning to action April 9 by hosting Herron.