Grant Kessler twirled a gem Thursday at North Decatur.

The Morristown junior went the distance in a 2-1 victory, allowing just two hits and striking out a program-record 20 hitters.

 

 

The Yellow Jackets (1-1, 1-0 Mid-Hoosier Conference) scored single runs in the second and sixth innings to provide just enough run support for Kessler.

North Decatur’s Jake Mirick was impressive as well on the mound. The senior went the distance, allowing just three hits and two unearned runs while striking out 11.

Mirick also drove in North Decatur’s only run in the loss.

Reid Messer and Nolan Burkhart had the only two hits off Kessler.

The Chargers dropped to 1-2 this season and 0-1 in the MHC standings.

Bryce Bryant, Nick Espich and Lucas Ellis produced Morristown’s three hits.

The two teams returned to action today at Morristown.

In other prep events Thursday:

Baseball

Waldron 11, Eastern Hancock 3

At Waldron, Bryce Yarling was solid over six innings to lead the Mohawks (2-2) past the Royals (1-1).

Yarling (1-1) pitched six innings and allowed six hits, four walks and collected 11 strikeouts.

Eli Sheppard closed out the game with a scoreless seventh inning.

Waldron scored two runs in the first and three more in the second, all credited to Eastern Hancock starting pitcher Nash Hensley, to take an early 5-0 lead.

A four-run sixth inning put the win out of reach for Eastern Hancock.

Jared Brooks led the Waldron offensive output with a 3-for-4 performance with four runs batted in.

Sheppard finished 2-for-2 with two RBIs.

Waldron travels Tuesday to Bethesda Christian.

South Decatur 4, Southwestern 2

At Southwestern, the visiting Cougars plated three runs in the top of the fourth inning and made that stand for a MHC victory.

Matthew Clements took the loss for Southwestern (0-2, 0-1 MHC), going six innings, allowing five hits, two walks and all four runs. He struck out 14 Cougars.

The Spartans managed just two hits and two runs off Dale Peters. Evan Wullenweber came on in relief and struck out eight Spartans while holding them scoreless the rest of the way.

The two teams were scheduled for a rematch today.

Softball

Columbus North 2, Shelbyville 0

At Columbus North, Kirsten Danford delivered a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to provide the only runs in the marquee matchup.

The two teams combined for five hits off starting pitchers Cheyenne Eads (Shelbyville) and Maddi Rutan (Columbus North).

Rutan surrendered two hits, both to Addie Stieneker, walked two and struck out 13 to improve to 2-0 this season. The junior has not allowed an earned run in 13 innings this season.

Eads nearly matched Rutan, allowing three hits and four walks while striking out 10.

Columbus North (4-0) handed Shelbyville two of its five losses last season and has now won three straight over the Golden Bears (4-1).

North Decatur 19, Shelbyville 0

At North Decatur, the host Chargers scored eight runs in the second and third innings to complete the MHC win.

Keesha Crosland and Sarah Swain combined to limit the Yellow Jackets to three hits while striking out 10 in five innings.

Kayln Muckerheide led North Decatur (3-1, 1-0 MHC) with a 3-for-4 performance with seven RBIs. Kacie Ogden finished 2-for-3 with three runs scored.

Rhylee Moran took the loss for Morristown (1-1, 0-1 MHC).

The two teams were scheduled to meet today in Morristown.

Girls Tennis

Trinity Lutheran 3, Southwestern 2

At Trinity Lutheran, Southwestern won both doubles matches but Trinity Lutheran swept the singles matches to score the victory.

Kyla Robertson and Brooklyn Schneider improved to 2-0 this season with a 7-5, 6-0 win at No. 1 doubles over Ella Christopher and Kiley Zabel.

At No. 2 doubles, Faith Kelley and McKinley Correll defeated Carson Bowling and Natalie Martinez, 6-1, 6-0.

Ella Rice rallied to win the second set for Southwestern at No. 2 singles but lost the third set to Drew Hubbard to fall 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-1.

At No. 1 singles, Sarah Leming bested Lauryn Blondell, 6-0, 6-3.

And Gabby Bleier defeated Makinze Belton at No. 3 singles, 6-1, 6-2.

In a junior varsity match, Southwestern’s Grace Lee topped Abigail Whitmore, 6-1.

Southwestern (0-2) is at Eastern Hancock Monday.

Boys Track

New Palestine 69.5, Greenfield-Central 54, Shelbyville 32.5

At Greenfield-Central, three Shelbyville athletes collected first-place points on a cold and wet night.

Sam Price held off teammate Alex Macharia to win the 400 meters in 55.07 seconds. Macharia was runner-up at 56.55.

Michael Fox won the 3,200 in 11:09.

Ethan Lambert bested the field in the discus with a top throw of 131 feet.

Macharia also finished second in the long jump at 20-7.5.

The Golden Bears will host Columbus East and Southwestern Tuesday at McKeand Stadium.

Southwestern 84, Waldron 53, Trinity Lutheran 12

At Waldron, the Spartans captured four individual titles and swept the relay races to secure the first win of the season.

Sam Taylor won the 100 in 12.16. Carter Snepp took first place in both the 400 (59.09) and 800 (2:22). And Dane Kissell was first across the finish line in the 1,600 (5:35).

Michael Clements, Garreth Stringer, Owen Stringer and Taylor won the 400 relay in 49.0.

Ryan Griffin teamed with Kissell, Snepp and Clements to win the 1,600 relay in 4:06.

And Griffin, Kissell and Snepp joined with Dakota Claibourne to win the 3,200 relay (9:40).

Waldron put together a strong performance in the field events.

Braylon Williams won the shot put with a best throw of 45 feet. He also won the discus with a throw of 105-2.

Cayden Balzen collected the first-place points in the long jump (16-6.5).

Will Larrison won the 3,200 in 11:57.

Waldron returns to action on April 15 in the Panther Invitational. Southwestern and Columbus East are at Shelbyville Tuesday.

South Decatur 61, Hauser 51, Morristown 3

At Morristown, the host Yellow Jackets scored three event victories.

Tyler Schonfeld finished first in the 100. Mathew Carlton won the 300 hurdles.

Jacob Batten topped the field in the 800.

Morristown and Oldenburg Academy travel to North Decatur Tuesday.

Girls Track

New Palestine 88, Greenfield-Central 64.5, Shelbyville 12

At Greenfield-Central, Stefanie Howard and Kina Schultz scored runner-up finishes in the cold, wet conditions.

Howard finished second in the 1,600 in a time of 5:55.

Schultz was second in the 400 (1:07).

Southwestern 67, Waldron 58, Trinity Lutheran 31

At Waldron, Lilly Rooks and Allison Muck combined for seven event wins to lead the Spartans to the team victory.

Muck won the high jump (5-2), 100 hurdles (16.91) and the 200 (29.1). Rooks took first place in the long jump (13-6), 400 (1:12) and 800 (2:55).

And the duo teamed with Emma Estes and Libby Weinantz to win the 400 relay in 58.31.

Also for Southwestern, Jenna Drake won the 1,600 (7:11) and Maxine Higdon took first in the 3,200 (16:18).

Higdon, Drake, Malori Pike and Sydney Griffin crossed the finish line first to win the 3,200 relay in 13:26.

Waldron had three event winners.

Emily Redelman won the discus competition and Madalyn Hudnall took first in the shot put.

Cheyenne Lozier bested the field in the 100 clocking 14.06.

Morristown 81, South Decatur 45, Hauser 20

At Morristown, the host Yellow Jackets swept the field events and the relay races to defeat the Cougars and Jets.

In the discus, Kindall Dorsey had the winning throw of 76-1.

Delaney Cornn won the shot put (26-6.5).

Lilly Stoddard took first in the long jump (14-0.5) and high jump (4-10).

Stoddard also won the 100 hurdles (16.94).

Raegan Kleine crossed the finish line first in the 1,600 (6:31) and 800 (3:06).

Maggie Lutes took first in the 400 (1:09).

In the 3,200 relay, Gracie Laster, Eva Champigneulle, Kleine and Lutes combined for a first-place finish in 12:13.

Allison Batten, Nevaeh Sanders, Laster and Champigneulle took first in the 400 relay (58.25).

And Batten, Kleine, Laster and Lutes closed out the meet with a winning performance in the 1,600 relay (4:48).