Published: May 05, 2008 12:25 am         

Warriors record first MWC baseball sweep in 2 years

Pioneer edges Rossville, falls against Eastern in three-way.

The Winamac baseball team recorded its first Midwest Conference sweep in two years on Saturday against South Newton, winning game won 7-1 and game two 10-9.

In game one, Winamac jumped out to a quick lead and held South Newton in check with a flawless defensive effort. Ryan Abbott earned the win on the mound.

Evan Bonnell had two hits including a double in the opener. Andrew Malott turned in three hits and Eric Sass tripled.

The Rebels got the most out of their five hits in game two, scoring nine runs. They scored seven in the seventh to take a 9-7 lead and seemed in control of the game.

However, the Warriors tied the game in the bottom of the inning and then got a key hit from John Sass that drove in the winning run. It was his third hit of the game.

Eric Sass hit a two-run homer in a three-run fifth. It was the first of his varsity career. Both John and Eric Sass finished the game with three RBIs.

Bonnell started the game and went 6 1/3 innings. Abbot came in and got the second out of the seventh, and Malott got Winamac out of the final frame and earned the win.

“Our pitching has been real good the last four or five games,” Winamac coach Mark Hendryx said. “In the last 14 innings we’ve committed one error. That’s nice to see. Our hitting is still not where we want it to be, but we’re working on it.”

The Warriors (3-10, 2-8 in MWC) will host Valparaiso on Wednesday before hosting an MWC twin bill against rival West Central on Friday.

Pioneer 7, Rossville 6

Eastern 6, Pioneer 2

The Panthers beat Rossville before falling against Eastern in a three-way they hosted Saturday.

In the opener, Carson Weaver had two hits including a home run and JD Bridge doubled. Kyle Brown added a base hit.

John Rance, Bridge and Cody Conn combined for the win on the mound.

Conn went the distance on the mound, striking out eight, in game two. He helped himself at the plate with two hits including a double. Deven Lee added a pair of base hits.

Pioneer (7-9) hosts Maconaquah tonight.

Softball

Twin Lakes 11, Pioneer 0 (5 innings)

Maconaquah 16, Pioneer 6 (5 innings)

The Lady Panthers (6-12) managed just one hit against Twin Lakes starter Jaci Williams Saturday morning at the Twin Lakes Invitational. Pioneer freshman Hannah Kraay broke up a no-hitter with a single in the fifth inning.

In Pioneer’s second game of the day, HB Williams was a home run short of a cycle and added three RBIs. Amanda Johnson and Kelsey Lesher both doubled.

The Panthers travel to North White for a Midwest Conference tilt today.

Boys Golf

Lafayette Jeff Booster (Saturday)

Logansport placed 15th with a 395 at the 15-team event held at Coyote Crossing Golf Course. No. 10 Hamilton Southeastern won the event with a 324. The Royals’ Parker Sheppard was the medalist with a 6-over 78.

For the Berries, Evan Kirkendall shot a 96, Caleb Roller carded a 98, Drake Morris shot a 99, Brenton Chentnik had a 102 and Braxton Shidler came in with a 103.

Logan hosts 12th-ranked Peru on Thursday.

Pioneer Invitational (Saturday)

Winamac won the event with a 333, followed by Sheridan (344), Cass (348), Pioneer (360), Tri-County (390), West Central (413), Faith Christian (434) and Carroll (445).

Cass’ Adam Truax was the medalist at the event held at Pond View Golf Course for the fourth year in a row. He fired a 4-over par 76 .

For the Warriors, Josh Ruff was runner-up among individuals with an 80 and Kevin Smith was third with an 81. Noah Bonnell shot an 84 and Keagan Scott and Charlie Dilts both carded an 88.

For the Kings along with Truax’s 76, Ben Troxell shot an 89, Kyle Zimmerman had a 90, Matt Miller shot a 93 and Blake Bowser carded a 94.

For the Panthers, Kyle Gerlach and Jake Franklin both shot an 88, Ty Shrantz carded a 90, Will Land had a 94 and John Farrer shot a 95.

For the Cougars, Cody Abdon shot a 108, Dallas Butcher and Josh Holda each came in with a 110, Seth Pencek had a 117 and Owen Hicks shot a 141.

Girls Tennis

Logansport 4, Muncie Central 1

Richmond 3, Logansport 2

The Lady Berries are now 11-2 and 4-2 in the North Central Conference after the split against NCC foes Saturday at Huntington College.

Against Muncie Central, Megan Whitcomb won at No. 1 singles 7-6 (1), 6-2 and Lauren Zehner won at No. 2 singles 6-1, 3-6, 6-4. Ryane James and Lindsay Rich won at No. 1 doubles 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 and Rachel Geer and Elise Leung won at No. 2 doubles 1-6, 6-2, 7-5. Megan Rozzi was defeated at No. 3 singles 2-6, 6-2, 4-6.

“All of our singles players in that first match played extremely well,” Logan coach Matt Tuggle said. “Winning at 1 and 2 singles against a team like Muncie Central, who is ranked in district 4, was very satisfying. I was pleased to win at those two positions.”

“Megan Rozzi played really great,” the Berries coach added. “The wind was blowing really hard and after the first set she made the necessary adjustments to come back and win the second set. The third set was back and forth with most of the games going to deuce multiple times. I was proud of her effort and I thought she improved as a player during this match even though she didn’t come out on top.”

In the second match, Logan came up short against five-time defending conference champion Richmond.

“I had a pretty good feeling that we would be better at both doubles positions,” Tuggle said. “I knew in order to have a shot at them it would come down to winning one singles match. They have all of their singles girls back from their conference winning team last year so we knew it would be a tall task.

“Megan Whitcomb took her match to three sets last year against the Richmond No. 1, so that was where we really thought we had the best chance although I thought we would compete well at the other two spots. It played out just that way.”

Logan won both doubles matches in straight sets and Whitcomb won the second set after dropping the first. With Richmond having won at No. 2 and No. 3 singles, the match came down to the third set at Logan's top spot.

“Megan played a good match against a tough player,” Tuggle said. “Winning that close second set was great. It gave us a chance to possibly tie for the conference. Unfortunately Richmond No. 1 Lindsay Mauger stepped up her game to win the deciding set.”

“I was proud of our girls and their performances against Richmond,” Tuggle continued. “I might be most proud of Lauren Zehner and Rachel Geer who lost their Richmond matches. They played some of the best tennis I have seen them play. They competed every point and really made their opponents work hard to earn their victories.”

Logansport’s JV team improved to 14-0-1 on the season with a sweep on the day.

The Berries host 17th-ranked Culver Girls Academy today before traveling to Huntington North Thursday for the final match of their regular season.

Sports editor Andrew Roberts and sportswriter Beau Wicker compiled this roundup.