The Reds made a few big plays against the Padres in San Diego Wednesday, including outfielder Stuart Fairchild robbing Manny Machado of a certain home run, Fairchild gloving the ball just as it was going out in right center field. Starting pitcher Graham Ashcraft threw 6 pretty strong innings, but he didn’t get much run support, so the final ended up Padres 6, Reds 2. On their 6-game road trip through Texas and San Diego, Cincinnati went 2 & 4. The Reds take today off, but they’ll be back at Great American Ballpark tomorrow night for Fireworks Night, hosting the first of 3 against the Orioles. We’ll have the Friday broadcast for you at 5:40, only on the radio, at the Sports Voice, 103.9 FM, WRBI.
Be sure to congratulate 5 outstanding local high school seniors. Each of them has been honored with a 500-dollar scholarship in the name of Mr. Marion Crawley, by the Indiana Basketball Coaches’ Association. The group includes young women Sadie Wachsmann and Ellie Ryan of Oldenburg Academy, and young men Dylan Maxwell and Adam Stephenson from East Central, along with Addison Barnes-Pettit from Greensburg. The IBCA’s 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, the first director of the IBCA. And on Wednesday, Barnes-Pettit accepted a scholarship offer to continue playing hoops, at Ohio Wesleyan.
Not many diamond games on the schedule Thursday… but plenty of offense. In softball, it took extra innings beyond 7– they decided it in 9– as South Dearborn got by Lawrenceburg, 10-9. More decisive was North Decatur shutting Waldron out, 16-0. Also, South Ripley ripped Switzerland County, 16-6.
In baseball, Jac-Cen-Del ran all over Shawe Memorial, 12-2, East Central took care of Columbus North 4-2, and South Ripley edged Switz, 5-4.
In a 12-team boys’ high school golf meet at Seymour Wednesday, Batesville played well enough to finish 2nd on the Shadowood course, taking 158 strokes. Jackson Day and Landon Raver made the all-tournament team. Today, Batesville hosts a triangular against Franklin County and Greensburg.
After the Milwaukee Bucks stayed alive in the NBA playoffs by beating ‘em 115-92 Tuesday, the Pacers could end that series and move ahead in the playoffs with a win tonight in Game 6. They’ll tip at 6:30 in Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
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.