As 2021 comes to a close, we continue to look back at some of the top sports stories we reported throughout the year. Here are some of the highlights from the spring sports season.
Jac-Cen-Del varsity baseball coach David Bradshaw won his 500th career game, all with the Eagles.
Batesville High School celebrated 100 years of Bulldog Baseball with an event at Liberty Park. Several former alumni were recognized.
Batesville Boys Golf and both Batesville track teams won Ripley County championships.
The East Central Lady Trojans and Batesville boys captured EIAC track titles. Those same two programs also won sectional championships.
Meanwhile, the South Ripley ladies won the ORVC track crown.
North Decatur won the MHC boys golf title.
Franklin County’s girls tennis team claimed a sectional championship.
Batesville won the EIAC baseball title.
South Ripley, Oldenburg and Batesville all captured baseball sectional trophies.
East Central’s Ellie Lengerich was a two time regional track champion in both the 800 run and the long jump. Lengerich qualified for the state finals as did Jac-Cen-Del’s Cloey Simon who placed third in the regional 300 hurdle event.
Lengerich and Greensburg’s Brenner Hannah both had podium finishes at state. Lengerich was seventh in the 800 run and Hannah crossed in the seventh for the 1600 run. Fellow Lady Pirates Emaire Jackson was also as state qualifier in two throwing events.
Batesville’s JJ Kuisel won the 400 dash in the regional to earn a trip to state. Teammate Gabe Gunter qualified for state with a second place regional finish in the high jump and Benjamin Moster’s fourth place time in the 1600 was also good enough to move on to the state meet.
Other track state qualifiers included Franklin County’s Jacob Schatzle, Peyton Cavins of Milan and Nate Griffith of East Central
East Central’s Leo Maxwell made it to state and had the best day among all of our area boys. He had two podium finishes placing second in the discus and fourth in the shot put.
South Ripley and Greensburg’s softball programs were both sectional and regional champs.
And Great American Ballpark returned to full capacity on June 2nd.