Danville softball splits pair with Centerburg

The Danville softball team brought out the heavy lumber in beating rival East Knox, 20-4, on March 25.

The Blue Devils smacked 16 hits, including two home runs, in rolling to the victory.

Ruby Bartok led the offensive assault with a home run, double and two singles. Liz John added a home run, two doubles and five RBI, while Karleigh Wetzel had three singles and drove in five. Dalayna Parker had three singles, while Kaylee Martin and Taylor Meade both doubled. Morgan Hinkens and Charisma Hibbard both singled.

Bartok started on the mound for Danville, striking out six while allowing seven hits in three innings of work. Parker finished up, fanning four and allowing just one hit.

The Devils followed that up with a strong pitching performance to knock off Centerburg, 4-1.

Addy Bocock tossed a three-hitter, striking out 14, to lead the Devils to the win. Two of those hits came in the first inning when Centerburg scored its only run.

Bartok continued her torrid pace at the plate, smacking two home runs and driving in three runners. Martin added two singles, while Bocock, Wetzel and Meade all singled.

Danville had some opportunities but couldn’t get the big hit when needed and fell to Centerburg, 1-0, on March 31.

The Devils had a runner in scoring position in all seven innings but couldn’t break through.

Hinkens led the Devils with two singles on the day. Bartok, Meade and Parker all had one single.

Bocock had another strong game on the mound, striking out 13 while allowing just five hits.

Baseball

The Danville baseball team took three games on the chin this week.

The Blue Devils opened the season with a rough one, striking out 16 times as Newark Catholic beat them, 11-1.

Danville managed just four hits on the day, including two from Curtis Cline. Nolan Ridgway and Jaden Stull also singled.

Ridgway started on the hill for Danville, striking out four while allowing six hits and four walks in three innings of work. Clayton Vance worked the next three, allowing three hits, and Briggs Wallace finished up, fanning one, walking two and allowing six hits.

The Blue Devils got off to a good start in their game with Centerburg. Ridgway cracked a solo home run in the top of the first inning, but that wasn’t enough as the Trojans rolled to a 17-2 victory.

Ridgway added another solo shot in the fourth inning. Curtis Cline and Reuben Troyer both doubled for DHS.

Troyer started on the mound, allowing eight hits and two walks while striking out one in 2.2 innings. Cy Wallace gave up three hits and two walks, and then Cline finished up, fanning two, walking five and allowing two hits.

On March 31, the Devils led 4-2 heading into the final inning, but watched as Centerburg scored seven runs to win 9-7.

Cline had a three-run home run and a single to lead the Devils. Troyer added a double and a single, while Brycen Burke had two singles. Cy Wallace, Vance and Ridgway all singled.

Ridgway started on the hill for Danville, striking out eight while allowing three hits and four walks in six innings of work. Vance and Briggs Wallace both pitched in the seventh with Wallace striking out one.

Track

The Danville track teams got some impressive performances as they kicked off the season with the Johnstown Season Opener on Saturday.

The girls team finished fifth overall behind a standout performance from Kelsey Hackman. The senior won the 100-meter hurdles (17.17), the 300 hurdles (50.31) and the long jump (16-foot), while also finishing second in the 100 (13.52).

Brookelynn Carter won the shot put (35-foot-8.5) and finished third in the discus (102-9). The 4x800-meter relay team of Bella McGrady, Payton Miller, Hailey Colopy and Raegan Malone finished fourth in a time of 12:07.84.

On the boys’ side, Aidan Mickley won the 200 (24.04), while finished second in both the long jump (17-11.5) and 100 (12.07). He also placed fourth in the 400 (55.38).

Parker Proper came in second in the 110 hurdles (17.52) and finished fourth in both the 300 hurdles (46.69) and high jump (5-2). Owen Gronberg finished fourth in the shot put (41-0), while Landon King was fifth (38-4.5).