Because of rainouts and graduations, the entire 2A-45 baseball sectional at South Ripley, less three innings, was played all in one day- Monday.
The first game between Switzerland County and Southwestern Hanover got five innings in last week. The suspended game picked up Monday in the sixth inning. The Pacers went ahead 3-2 in the sixth, Southwestern tied the game in the seventh then won the game 4-3 in the eighth.
Zach Cole doubled twice and batted in two runs for the Rebels. Teammate Jameson Lewis singled and doubled while Keegan Gross and William Stockdale both had an RBI.
The Pacers Bryce Turner hit a solo home run while both Cam Craig and Kaleb Koons plated a run.
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South Decatur routed South Ripley 16-0. No details were available.
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In the first semifinal, Southwestern defeated South Decatur 4-1.
Jordan DeAtley had three hits for the Hanover boys. Mason Lichlyter drove in two of the team’s runs. Stockdale and Gage Ponder each had an RBI in the win.
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The second semifinal saw North Dectur down Milan 8-3. The Chargers erased the Indians 3-1, first inning lead with four runs in the third.
The Chargers Nolan Burkhart collected three hits and two RBI. Xander Jones and James Evans also batted in a pair of runs. Jones singled and doubled. Evans singled and had a sac fly. Nate O’Dell and Tyler Field also had a couple of hits with O’Dell contributing one ribbie.
Holden Acra and Caiden Yorn had two hits each for the Indians.
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In the championship, ND scored five runs over the final two innings to upset sectional favorite Southwestern 5-1.
Jake Mirik plated a pair of Charger runs. Reid Messer and Burkhart both batted in a run as well.
Stockdale had the only ribbie in the loss for the Rebels.
North Decatur (14-10) plays Linton Stockton (13-9-1) at Evansville Bosse in the first semifinal at 11 am Eastern (10 am Central) on Saturday, June 4. The second semi has No. 8 Forest Park (20-7) against Providence (18-10) at apx. 1 pm Eastern/12 pm Central. Finals follow at 7 pm Eastern/6 pm Central.
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The Jac-Cen-Del 1A-60 Sectional began Monday with a 6-1 JCD semifinal win over Trinity Lutheran.
The Eagles Devin Grieshop had a three-hit game and Justin Swinney doubled twice. Both players along with teammate Kameron Darnold had one RBI each. Darnold pitched a complete game with eight strikeouts against two walks and two hits.
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The second semifinal went 10 innings before Rising Sun came away with a 3-2 victory over Hauser.
The Shiners Peyton Merica hit a two-run homer in the fifth then Jonathan Jiminez knocked in the game-winning run in the tenth on his third hit of the day.
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Rising Sun won the championship 2-0 over host Jac-Cen-Del.
Both Shiner runs came in the sixth inning, one via an RBI by Kameron Montgomery.
RS had just two hits off Eagle pitching recorded by Jiminez and Merica.
The Eagles managed just three hits which came from Brady Borgman, Landon Comer and Carson Hughes.
Rising Sun (16-8) plays Shakamak (14-13) in the first regional semifinal at Morristown on Saturday, June 4 at 11 am. The second semi has Traders Point Christian (12-9-1) against Indianapolis Lutheran (21-8) at apx. 2 pm. Finals are at 8 pm.
We thank everyone who contributed to the recaps.