Congratulations are in order for 5 local high school seniors. Each is the recipient of a $500 Marion Crawley Scholarship grant, from the Indiana Basketball Coaches’ Association. The recipients include 2 girls– both from Oldenburg Academy… Ellie Ryan and Sadie Wachsmann. The 3 boys being recognized are Adam Stephenson of East Central, his teammate Dylan Maxwell, and Greensburg’s Addison Barnes-Pettit. The Crawley scholarship criteria include achievements in academics, in basketball and other extra-curricular activities, and service to one’s school and community. Marion Crawley was a 4-time state championship boys’ coach, and was the first director of the IBCA. Congrats again to these scholar-athletes.
Tuesday high school softball saw Batesville pick up only the ‘Dogs’ 2nd win of the season, beating Franklin County 4-1. Oldenburg Academy also grabbed its 2nd victory in a big way, 20-7 over Greenwood Christian. Jac-Cen-Del beat Switzerland County 19-6, and Morristown hit South Decatur, 21-3. Greensburg blanked Hauser 1-0, and South Dearborn topped East Central 4-2.
In baseball Tuesday, it was Trinity Lutheran shutting out Oldenburg Academy 3 to nothing, Waldron edging North Decatur 7-6, Columbus East just getting by Batesville 3-2, and Greensburg beating Rushville 10-5.
There aren’t many diamond games scheduled after school today– In softball, South Dearborn’s hosting Lawrenceburg. Baseball has Jac-Cen-Del hosting Shawe Memorial, and East Central visiting Columbus North. Both South Ripley squads get visits from Switzerland County today.
The Pacers seemed to have thought a 3 games to 1 series lead over the Bucks in the NBA playoffs was some kind of guarantee. But reality hit hard that that wasn’t the case last night, as Indiana got belted in Milwaukee, 115-92. Game 6, which could decide it, tips off tomorrow night, Thursday, at 6:30 in Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
This week, the Indiana High School Athletic Association’s board has approved 2 new sports in the state, beginning in the ’24-’25 school year– Boys’ Volleyball and Girls’ Wrestling. Both were called “emerging sports” in 2022, and have dramatically grown across the state– IHSAA says more than 1400 young women at 177 schools have taken up wrestling, and there are over 100 boys’ volleyball teams.
The youngest golfers continue to play well. Batesville Middle School hosted a quad match at Hillcrest this week with Madison, Shelbyville, and the St. Louis School. Madison took 6 fewer strokes than Batesville for the win. Leading the Bulldogs was medalist Cade Rienschield shooting a 39, and Stella Maple fired her personal best of the season, a 42. Stella shot that same low score Tuesday, as Batesville Middle defeated South Dearborn.
And there was a dual middle school golf match Tuesday between St. Louis and Jac-Cen-Del, St. Louis winning it by 7 team strokes. St. Louis plays at North Branch Friday.
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.