Wabash's Payton Sodervick squares around to drop down a bunt during the Apaches' Class 2A baseball regional game against Wapahani Saturday at Lewis Cass High School. The Apaches fell 6-0 to end the season. 

By Josh Sigler
jsigler@thepaperofwabash.com

WALTON – Wabash’s baseball team picked an inopportune time to put forth one of its worst performances of an otherwise stellar season at Saturday’s Class 2A Cass Regional opener against Wapahani.

The No. 10-ranked Apaches managed just one hit at the plate and committed seven errors in the field in a 6-0 loss to the Raiders to end the season.

“Their pitcher kept us off stride and did a really good job,” Wabash coach Jack Holley said. “He was pretty efficient. … We only had one hit and three baserunners. It’s tough to win a game that way. And, then to come and boot the ball around the field is another thing. That’s not typically what we do. One or two things happen and then it escalated out of control. We have great kids and they’re going to battle back.”
 

Southwood's Braden Sweet competes in the 1,600-meter run at the IHSAA track and field regional at Marion High School Thursday. Sweet finished second to advance to the state finals. Photo by Josh Sigler

By Josh Sigler
jsigler@thepaperofwabash.com

Wabash will have two representatives in the boys track and field regional Friday at Indiana University.

Manchester’s Isaiah Davis advanced from the regional in two events, while Southwood’s Braden Sweet advanced in one.

Davis finished fourth in the high jump at the Kokomo Regional with a leap of 6-4.5, but advanced to state on the state standard. The top three finishers advance to state.

Davis also advanced to state in the long jump, taking second by clearing 22-4.5.

Sweet will join Davis in Bloomington after placing second in the Marion Regional in the 1,600 in a time of 4:19.04.
 

The Manchester girls tennis team won its fourth consecutive sectional championship Saturday, May 18 with a 5-0 win over Maconaquah. Pictured are, from left, Morgan Stroud, Anna Osborne, Kelsey Eichenauer, Eva Bazzoni, Halle Briner, Halie Wampler, Rebekah Pyle. Photo provided. 

By Eric Christiansen
echristiansen@nmpaper.com

PERU -- Manchester continued its dominance in area girls tennis with its fourth straight sectional championship Saturday, May 18 at Peru's Thrush Courts.

The Squires matched up with Maconaquah after the Squires edged Peru, and the Braves fought to get past Northfield in the semifinals the evening before.

The championship match was more anti-climatic with Manchester clinching a 5-0 win in just over an hour.

“This was an outstanding achievement for not only our eight seniors who have worked hard to achieve this success, but also the entire team and program,” Manchester coach Joel Eichenauer said.
 

By Josh Sigler
jsigler@thepaperofwabash.com

With a 6-4 win over Peru Friday, Southwood’s baseball team earned a share of the Three Rivers Conference regular season championship.

The Knights share the crown with Rochester as both teams finished the regular season with 7-2 conference records.

Southwood won for the third time in as many days, taking the lead for good in the sixth inning on a Mason Yentes go-ahead run.

Alex Farr belted a solo home run in the fourth for the Knights.
 

Runners take off from the starting blocks at the TRC track and field championships. 

By Josh Sigler

jsigler@thepaperofwabash.com

Wabash’s boys track team continued its winning ways, backing up a county championship by taking top honors in the Three Rivers Conference meet on Tuesday at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion.

The Apaches won with a team score of 104.5, followed by Maconaquah’s 86.5 and Peru’s 77.5. Southwood was fourth (76), Manchester was seventh (64) and Northfield was ninth with 23.
 

By Josh Sigler
jsigler@thepaperofwabash.com

Northfield’s baseball team scored a come-from-behind, 7-5 victory over Class 2A No. 7-ranked Wabash Monday night.
Trailing 5-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth, the Norse pushed across three runs in the fourth and four runs in the fifth to take a 7-5 lead.

Jarrett Shafer enjoyed a big game in the win for Northfield. He went 3-for-3 at the plate with two RBIs, and was also the winning pitcher, working 4 1/3 innings of relief while allowing one earned run on three hits and one walk. He struck out three.

Clayton Tomlinson added a hit and three RBIs in the win.

Trenton Daughtry suffered the loss on the hill for the Apaches. He worked four innings, allowing six runs, two earned, on seven hits and no walks while striking out three.

Robert Irgang went 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs, and Blake Gribben added two hits and an RBI in the loss.
 

 Competing in the 200-meter dash were (from left) Alix Winer, Blake Wiser, Blakley Cole, A.J. Fortman, Elijah Sutton and Reese Wagoner. Photo by Eric Christiansen

By Josh Sigler
jsigler@thepaperofwabash.com

Manchester’s girls and Wabash’s boys track and field teams claimed Wabash County titles Thursday at Manchester.

Manchester’s girls won with 91 points, while Wabash was second with 58, Southwood third with 56, and Northfield fourth with 29.
Manchester’s Olivia Auler won the 100-meter dash in 13.39 seconds.

Wabash’s Jordan Stumbo won the 200 dash in :28.39.

Southwood’s Morgan Farr swept the 400 dash (1:02.89) and 800 run (2:37.13), while teammate Mya Denney won the 1,600 run in 6:09.92.

Northfield’s Alyssa McKillip won the 3,200 run in 11:53.94.
 

Joshua "Dylan" Mitchem (front, center) has committed to continue his education and football career at Manchester University. Mitchem is joined in the front row by Lisha Gatchel and Barbara Gatchel. Also looking on are principal Kyle Wieland, athletic director Floyd McWhirt, football coach Adam Handley, Ryan Carmichael and Justin Denney. Photo by Josh Sigler

By Josh Sigler
jsigler@thepaperofwabash.com

Joshua “Dylan” Mitchem signed a letter of intent Friday to continue his education and football career at Manchester University.

Mitchem said the University’s offerings made it an easy decision for him when deciding where to complete his college studies.

“The accounting program they have leaves me to be able to get my master’s degree in four years, which is a great opportunity for me,” Mitchem said. “The dream of football is something I’ve always wanted. I never thought I’d be playing after high school. Having this opportunity is great. I hope to leave there a better player and better person.”