By Al Stilley
Editor
 
Three new head basketball coaches will be courtside for the 2019-2020 boys’ basketball season on the Southside.

They are Mike Renfro at Beech Grove, Criss Beyers at Franklin Central and Remus Woods at Lutheran.

Renfro was named officially at Beech Grove earlier this month after serving as interim coach for ailing coach Matt English, 45, who died of cancer in December.

Taking over a team that was reeling emotionally, Renfro guided the Hornets to an 18-8 season that featured the program’s first sectional championship since 2008 and reaching the Greencastle regional championship game.

Renfro also is one of three nominees for “coach of the year,” and the Hornets team is up for “team of the year” May 5 at a  statewide high school sports awards program at  Clowes Memorial Hall at Butler University.

He has served as coach at Beech Grove Middle School and mentored the Hornets’ undefeated JV team in 2017-2018. He holds the BGHS record for most points scored and later played collegiate basketball at Allegany Junior College and for future NCAA championship coach Jay Wright at Hofstra University.

At Franklin Central

Beyers, the Indiana All-Star head coach, moves from Warren Central to Franklin Central, succeeding John Rockey, who mentored the Flashes to four sectional championships.

Beyers coached four seasons at Warren Central after serving as an assistant coach at Bloomington South. Under his mentorship, the Warriors ran the table in 2017-2018 for the IHSAA 4A state championship and a perfect 32-0 season. He was 96-18 in four full seasons with the Warriors.

Rockey was 81-64 in his first six seasons as the Flashes reached the sectional title game each season; however, the Flashes were 7-38 during their last two campaigns. In 2015, the Flashes entered the sectional with a 5-15 record but won the sectional and lost in the Seymour regional championship game.
 
At Lutheran
 
Woods, an assistant coach with the Saints, will succeed veteran coach Dick Alter, who has stepped down from the hardwood coaching position. He currently is the Saints baseball coach.

Woods was the JV coach last season after a previous stint at Manual where he also coached football and girls’ track.  He has transitioned from community programs and coaching travel teams through Indy Parks to high school coaching.

Woods will inherit a young team after graduating several seniors. Like Alter, he expects the Saints fo work hard during the off-season.

The Saints, under Alter, were two-time runners-up in the Edinburgh holiday tourney and were 13-31.

By Al Stilley
Editor
 
Southport and Greenwood are set to play in a high school baseball double-header Friday at Victory Field.
Southport (3-5) opens the twin-bill at 5:30 p.m. against Avon (6-5-1) with Greenwood (0-9) going against Guerin Catholic (6-2) at 8 p.m.

The games are sponsored by BSN Sports and the Indiana National Guard.
The Indianapolis Indians are on a six-game road trip. Victory Field is the site of a state game between Indiana University and Ball State today at 7:30 p.m.

In the high school match-ups, Southport will be trying to snap a five-game skid, while Avon seeks to end a three-game losing skein Friday. The Cardinals lineup features Team USA U18 pitcher Avery Short and standout Ryan Lezon. Southport is coached this season for the first time by IHSAA state championship coach Phil Webster.

A young Greenwood team is trying to improve its hitting and pitching. The Woodmen have been outscored 89 to 20 in nine games, losing three of those contests by one run. Guerin is 6-2.

This is the 11th season that the Indians have held a high school double-header during the regular season at Victory Field, home of the annual IHSAA state championship games.
Admission is $5 per person.

In a Southside game Monday, Center Grove visits Perry Meridian at Holder Field.
 
Coaching milestone
No. 11 Roncalli (10-2) is on a roll after notching softball coach David Lauck’s 250th career win against Bishop Chatard, 6-3.

Lauck took the milestone win in stride and said, “I’ve been very fortunate to coach some very solid girls with supportive families.”

Since then, the Rebels downed neighboring Southport 10-0 in six innings, Guerin Catholic 5-2, and Whiteland 13-5.

Against visiting Southport, the Rebels pushed across 10 runs on 12 hits and scored in each inning.
Olivia Lauck, Amber Linton and Meredith Mader each hit home runs. Lauck drove in three runs. Kylie Freije and winning pitcher Amber Linton had two hits apiece.

“I think most of our players had at least two at-bats against Southport,” Lauck said. “We anticipated a solid game with good defense and Amber (Linton) kept them off-balance.
Against Whiteland, Abbie Carr slammed a triple and a home run that produced three runs. Emma McAllen drove in two teammates.

Beech Grove visits Roncalli at 5:30 p.m., Thursday.

No. 7 Center Grove absolutely stunned No. 5 Cathedral last week in a lopsided 15-2 win in five innings that featured a six-run third-inning outburst.

Seven Trojans had hits against the favored Irish. Lexi Warner drove in four runs on two hits. Alexis Rudd and Abby Herbst each drove in 3 runs.

Franklin Central upped its record to 9-5 Monday by defeating Martinsville, 10-5 with seven runs in the fourth inning. Coach Kathy Stricker’s squad was led by Madison Weaver who drove in three runs, and Raigan LaMar and Olivia Colp, each with two hits. Casey Matthews and Hailey Pardue shared the mound duties.

The Flashes visit Roncalli today and host Southport Thursday.