Southsider Voice correspondent
Baseball rivals Franklin Central and Roncalli split a double-header Saturday at Roncalli.
The Flashes took the opener 9-2 but lost 13-11 in an error-prone nightcap. FC jumped to a 7-1 lead after three innings to dominate the first game. FC’s Brandon Ruble hit two doubles, drove in three runs and scored twice.
The Rebels went ahead 11-5 after three innings of the second contest but had to hang on for a 13-11 win. The Flashes, who committed six errors, kept storming back and scored the final six runs of the game, including five in the seventh.
Aaron Schnell drove in seven runs in the nightcap for Roncalli, which stands 5-2 under new coach Deron Spink, and teammate Drew Naumovich drove in three.
Senior Jimmy Yates hit a grand slam for the Flashes (4-1).
In another rivalry, Center Grove, coached by former Roncalli coach Keith Hatfield, defeated host Greenwood 2-0. Trojan sophomore pitcher Jacob Cantleberry allowed only two hits and struck out seven.
Franklin Central track and field showcase
Greenwood’s David Dalton and Franklin Central’s Andrew Schmalfeldt were close runners-up in 1,600-meter runs Friday at the annual Franklin Central Showcase.
Dalton covered the distance in 4 minutes, 16 seconds, only two seconds behind winner Joe Murphy of Lawrence North in the second heat. Earlier Schmalfeldt (4:24) trailed Matt Sraders of Hamilton Southeastern by two seconds, with FC’s Kyle O’Malley sixth.
The Flashes were fourth in the 4-by-400 relay (3:28) and fifth in the 4-by-800 relay (8:12).
In the girls meet, Greenwood’s Ali Dalton (5:12) trailed 1,600 winner Sierra Lax of Columbus North by a mere second. The Flashes were second in the 4-by-400 relay.
Three-way tie in golf classic
Led by medalist Chris Heck, Center Grove won its eight-team Trojan Classic on Saturday at Hickory Stick Golf Club.
Heck won a one-hole shootout against teammate Austin Crowder and Baylor Payne of Martinsville after tying for tri-medalists with 72s. Center Grove won with 295 strokes, with Hayden Martin firing a 73, Zach Carabine a 78 and Ethan Shepherd a 81.
Roncalli, led by Michael Zedrick’s 81, was fourth with a 328.
Greenwood’s Jalen Hornbeak, a basketball standout, fired a medalist 38 last week to lead the Woodmen to a 163-189 nine-hole win over Whiteland at Hillview Country Club in Franklin. Hornbeak also was medalist with a 38 earlier in the week against Mooresville at the Legends Golf Course in Franklin.
Perry Meridian’s Nick Osterburg and Justin Bowman each fired medalist 39s as the Falcons won a three-way match against Speedway and Indian Creek at Brickyard Crossing.
Hall of Fame Classic will feature area basketball teams
Southport’s boys and Center Grove’s girls basketball teams are among eight squads selected to play in the City Securities Hall of Fame Classic on Dec. 26 and 27 at New Castle Fieldhouse.
Center Grove opens play Dec. 26 against Mooresville. The Trojans of coach Shawn Sanders return with eight players from a 16-4 team last season.
Southport, which faces Batesville Dec. 27, was 15-8 under coach Kyle Simpson last season. The Cardinals are expected to return with 6-10 Joey Brunk and guards Malik Bennett and Paul Skaggs.