Jim’s Journal, June 3rd, 2024

 

The high school baseball season’s over for our local teams.

Batesville’s Bulldogs dropped a tough one to the defending 3A state champs Silver Creek Saturday.  The ‘Dawgs were ahead of the Dragons from the start–  it was 5-2 Batesville after 4 innings.  Starting Bulldog pitcher Jack Grunkemeyer looked good most of the way, but he hit Dragon batter Jackson Murphy with a pitch in the top of the 7th, when the ‘Dogs were leading 6-4.  Murphy took his base and Mike Williamson singled, runners on 1st & 2nd.  Then Batesville Coach Tyler Burcham pulled Grunkemeyer, and after a sacrifice bunt, a walk from replacement Eli Loichinger loaded the bases.  A Creek single to right brought 2 of those runners in, tied the game at 6, and moments later, another single scored Tyler Bach. Then in the bottom of the 7th, the Bulldogs went down in order 1, 2, 3… Silver Creek eliminating Batesville 7-6.  The Dragons advance to semi-state against today’s winner between Jasper and Evansville Memorial, whose weekend game got rained out.  The Bulldogs season ends with 19 wins, 10 losses.  The Dragons move on at 24 & 8.

 

The other local baseball squad remaining also bowed out of the playoffs Saturday, South Decatur’s Cougars getting blanked by Indianapolis Lutheran’s Saints, 8-0.  Lutheran scored 3 times in the first inning, added a run in the 3rd, then 4 more in the 5th.  The Cougars finish the season 16 & 6, while the Saints take on the winner of tonight’s South Central-Trinity Lutheran game at semi-state.

 

In the big leagues, the Reds beat the Cubbies 5-2 in Chicago Sunday, taking the series 2 games to 1.  Tonight it’s Cincinnati in Denver, opening a new series against the Rockies.  We’ll have the broadcast for you, beginning at 8:10, on the Sports Voice, 103.9 WRBI.

 

Friday in a boys’ high school golf sectional at Greensburg Country Club, Columbus East, Columbus North, and Shelbyville advanced to this week’s regional, while home team Greensburg finished 8th.  Also missing the cut and not advancing were Batesville, North Decatur, East Central, Milan, and Jac-Cen-Del.

 

In the state track and field finals at IU in Bloomington, Batesville’s girls’ 4 x 800 meter relay team of Kaylie Raver, Bayliegh Demaree, Kaylynn Bedel, and Megan Allgeier ran their 2nd-best time of the year, finishing 17th out of 27.  Bulldog freshman Ella King, one of only 2 freshman girls in the state to qualify for the shotput, placed 21st.  Boys’ competition had the Dogs’ Ayden Eckstein just missing a new personal high jump best of 6’7″, but his 6’6″ was still good for 6th place statewide, and a medal.

 

And we have a bit of a bonus for you, sent to us at the end of the week by some Batesville High sports parents.  There was a special ceremony for BHS last week, and here’s how it went…

 

The second annual D.A.W.G. Awards were a success!  Wednesday night, May 29, we celebrated the successes of our student-athletes and community members.
Terrance Arney was the host for the show while members of the BHS student-athlete leadership team presented the awards.

Congratulations to all the winners!

 

Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Senior Female – Josie Meyer

Senior Male – Eli Lochinger

Junior Female – Annie Negovetich

Junior Male – Carson Schneider

 

Female Academic Team of the Year- Girls Tennis

Male Academic Team of the Year- Boys Cross Country

 

All Good Works Team
Gage Pohlman, Eli Lochinger, Veronica King, Addyson Weiler, Sebastian Hall, Ella Wolters, Kaylie Raver, Josie Meyer, Madison Wanstrath, Sophie Gesell

Manager of the Year- Landon Oldham

Coach of the Year- Ben Siefert

Volunteer of the Year- Rich Fowler

Team of the Year- Football Team

Comeback Player of the Year- Kaylie Raver

Best Supporting Role Award- Bobby Weiler

Blue Heart Leadership Award- Josie Meyer

 

Newcomer of the Year- Maddie Haskamp

Girls Top Dawg of the Year- Aly Peters

Boys Top Dawg of the Year- Cade Kaiser

Lifetime Achievement- Bertha Hazelwood

Elite Performance of the Year- Ava South

Most Outstanding Senior Male- Jack Grunkemeyer

Most Outstanding Senior Female- Claire Saner