Elly De La Cruz got things started right away for the Reds last night in San Diego, with a top of the first inning solo home run, and an immediate 1-0 lead. But, the Padres also put a score up to tie by the end of that inning. In the Cincinnati 2nd, the Reds scored one, then got an extra man across when the San Diego pitcher balked, which doesn’t often happen, making the lead 3-1. And pitcher Nick Lodolo had a big night for the Reds,, after allowing that early score. Over 7 innings, he gave the Padres only 2 walks in the 2nd, and took them down on 11 strikeouts, retiring 18 straight batters after those couple walks. Lodolo threw 99 pitches, allowing only one hit and that one early earned run. The Reds went on to win it, 5-2. The two clubs hook up in southern Cal again tonight, the Reds broadcast coming your way starting at 9:10, only on the Sports Voice, 103.9 FM, WRBI.
The local high schoolers playing softball Monday included South Dearborn topping Batesville 9-3, East Central blanking Rushville 8-0, Waldron topping Oldenburg Academy 11-7, Milan shutting South Ripley out, 11-0, and Rising Sun clobbering Jac-Cen-Del 20-3… but yikes– one game was even more lopsided, as Greensburg smoked South Decatur, 23-0.
Baseball Monday saw Franklin County getting by Greensburg 5-4, Batesville slipping past Lawrenceburg 3-2, East Central over South Dearborn 9-2, Jac-Cen-Del winning on the road at Rising Sun 8-2.
On the local high school diamonds today, Batesville softball will host Franklin County, Greensburg hopes to stay on a roll hosting Hauser, North Decatur visits Waldron, Switzerland County visits Jac-Cen-Del, Oldenburg Academy hosts Greenwood Christian, and East Central visits South Dearborn.
Today’s baseball has Oldenburg hosting Trinity Lutheran, North Decatur’s at Waldron, Batesville visits Columbus East, South Dearborn goes to Jennings County, and Greensburg has a 3rd straight road game, this time at Rushville.
Both South Decatur teams will play today in Morristown.
In the NBA playoffs, this may be a huge night– Game 5 of the Pacers’ series against the Bucks, back in Milwaukee, Indiana leading 3 games to 1. Coming off their 126-113 Sunday night win, the Pacers could end the series this evening, to advance to the next round. Tipoff time tonight, 9:30 eastern.
It’s a sad note from IndyCar racing, as legendary driver and longtime series official Wally Dallenbach died Monday, at age 87. He started in the 500 13 times from 1967 to 79, his best finish 4th place, in both ’76 and ’77. He qualified in the middle of the front row in 1974. Dallenbach drove the red Number 40 STP car for many years. IndyCar reports Wally won 5 series races over his career, made 27 podium finishes, and was on the pole once, in 180 starts. He became the first competition director and chief steward of CART in 1980, a job he stayed in until 2004. He’s recognized in multiple Halls of Fame, at the speedway in Indianapolis of course, as well as in New Jersey, and the state he retired to, Colorado. Wally Dallenbach, gone at 87.
Below are the pairings for the upcoming sectional softball and baseball playoffs, as announced Sunday by the IHSAA. Most of the host schools expect to announce exact dates and game times in the next several days.
Softball–
In Class 4A Sectional 14 at Columbus East, East Central gets the initial bye, then takes on the winner between Columbus North and Shelbyville.
In Class 3A, Sectional 29 at Rushville, Franklin County and Batesville face each other… it’s South Dearborn against Lawrenceburg… and Greensburg playing Connersville.
Rushville gets the Batesville-Franklin County winner in the 2nd round.
Class 2A Sectional 45 hosted by Milan sees the Indians taking on Brown County, and South Ripley playing the winner between Southwestern of Hanover and Brownstown Central.
And in 1A at North Decatur, it’ll be Jac-Cen-Del opening against Waldron, North Decatur versus South Decatur, and Oldenburg Academy getting the winner of the JCD-Waldron game.
Baseball–
In 4A Sectional 14 at Shelbyville, East Central faces Whiteland Community in the first round, the winner playing whomever wins the Franklin Community-Columbus North game.
In Class 3A sectional 29 at Lawrenceburg, South Dearborn faces Connersville… it’s Lawrenceburg against Batesville… Rushville and Franklin County to open… with Greensburg getting the bye, then taking on the Connersville-South Dearborn winner.
In Class 2A sectional 45 at South Ripley, Milan plays Brown County, and South Ripley hosts Hauser.
And in single-A at Jac-Cen-Del, the matchups are South Decatur against Oldenburg Academy, Waldron facing JCD, and North Decatur getting Southwestern of Shelbyville.
It all starts in about 3 weeks, with softball beginning May 20th, baseball the 22nd.