Editors’ Note: Team records and player statistics are as of Thursday morning.
Athenians ready for the challenge
A look at this season’s Crawfordsville team shows what their recipe for success in the 3A No. 25 Crawfordsville Sectional. The Athenians have one of the best pitchers in the area with Henry Bannon. However, to win the sectional another thrower needs to emerge during sectional week.
Crawfordsville’s record is 12-11 and they will play Frankfort on Thursday in Game 2. The two teams played twice this week and have proven the game between two Monon Athletic Conference rival is sure to be very competitive.
Bannon has been a stalwart for Crawfordsville all season. He leads the team in pitching statistics and has accumulated a good offensive season.
Bannon, a junior, owns an E.R.A. of 1.52. The righty has a record of 6-1 on the season with 74 strikeouts and 16 walks. He has allowed only two extra base hits all season. His 55.1 innings pitches are almost double that of anyone else on the Athenian roster.
When Bannon was on the pitching mound, Crawfordsville has a great opportunity to win.
Offensively Bannon leads the team in runs scored (21), triples (3) and is ranked in the top three of nearly every offensive statistic.
Senior infielder Mason McCarty leads the team in batting average (.343), hits (24) and stolen bases (25).
Catcher Matt Miller has developed into one of the top defensive catchers in the area but also has produced with his bat. The senior has 21 hits and leads the team with 19 RBI.
The number one key for Crawfordsville to win the sectional might very well be in the throwing arms of sophomore Landon Gerold or junior Ethan Campbell.
Chargers look to make noise in own sectional
North Montgomery is the host for 2A Sectional 37. North Montgomery has had a good season and are ready to find success with a sectional crown.
The Chargers will play Seeger (10-11) at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. North defeated the Patriots 10-0 back on April 10.
North Montgomery’s record is 18-7 but have had a difficult time finding a second consistent pitcher. Junior Talyn Sheldon has become the pitching workhorse for the Chargers with an E.R.A. of 2.69. The right hander has a record of 5-1 out of eight appearances. He struck out 20 and walked 13 batters.
Surrendering walks has become a problem for North. The Chargers have used nine pitchers this season who have totaled 123 strikeouts and a total of 123 walks.
Offensively North Montgomery is led by senior Tucker Hinds batting average of .476. The first baseman has an on-base percentage of .577.
Shortstop Aiden Ambriz-Cruz has had a solid offensive season. He is batting .429 and leads the area with 27 stolen bases with 29 runs scored. His hit total of 33 leads the team.
Outfielder Lucky Young leads the Chargers with 19 RBI followed by Ambriz-Cruz with 18 RBI.
Senior outfielder Crew Cole and catcher Jack Warren have established themselves as two top defenders.
Offensively Cole is batting .360, has 18 stolen bases, 27 hits and scored 26 runs while batting second in the lineup.
The Chargers success will depend on playing good defense as they have all season and finding a way to throw strikes.
Mounties ready to turn season around
Southmont entered the season with high hopes behind a group of experienced players. However, wins have been tough to come by, but players realize sectional time is a time of renewed hope.
Due to a short schedule and rainouts, the Mounties have had the least amount of games locally.
Junior Dean McGaughey has been a consistent offensive producer. The catcher leads the team in batting average (.487) with an on base percentage of .630. He leads the Mounties with 11 runs, 19 hits and 14 RBI. He has five doubles and two triples for a team leading seven extra base hits. In a limited number of innings, McGaughey has a pitching E.R.A. of 2.25.
Senior Gunnar Shirk has put together a solid season. He is second in batting average (.302), and second in hits (13) with an on-base percentage of .444. He is second in E.R.A. of 5.30.
Other key Mountie player are seniors Phisher Benge and Colton Cory. Two freshmen, Eli Hannum and Kason Bushong have given Southmont a boost at times.
Southmont needs to limit errors in the field and score when given the opportunity. Their seniors will need to lead they way if the Mounties was to bring home a sectional trophy.
Southmont (4-13) opens 2A No. 41 Greencastle Sectional at 7:30 p.m. against North Putnam (6-17). The two teams split two regular season games.
Mustangs look to buck trend
Fountain Central will play in the 1A Riverton Parke Sectional. Losers of six of their last seven games, the team knows now is the time to turn around their fortunes.
The Mustang players have some impressive statistics.
Ayden Batchelor is batting .446 and Paul Adams is second on the team with a .360 average followed closely by Joan Cervantes’ .357.
Batchelor has hit four home runs and leads the team with 20 runs and 25 hits. The junior has also accumulated 19 RBI.
Cervantes leads the team with eight doubles.
Junior Asher Davis has the team’s best ERA at 4.41. He has struck out 31 batters and walked just 13.
Batchelor has an ERA of 4.71 in team leading 38.2 innings. He struck out 44 batters and walked 21.
For the Mustangs to win the sectional championship they must limit errors and continue get hits when they are most needed with runners on base.
Fountain Central (5-13) will play Faith Christian (3-11) at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
