Hackman sets school record; Danville girls second in track invite

Kelsey Hackman and the Danville girls track team sure like their home cooking.

Hackman won four events, setting a school record in the process, leading the Blue Devils to a second-place finish in the Jim Proper Invitational on Saturday at Danville.

Hackman set a new school record in the long jump, leaping 17-foot-8.25 to win the event. She also took home gold in the 100-meter dash (13.40 seconds), 100 hurdles (17.69) and 300 hurdles (50.18).

Brookelynn Carter dominated the throwing events, winning the discus with a toss of 102-1 and the shot put with a throw of 38-0. The Devils also got runner-up finishes from Kenzi Staats in the long jump (14-2.75) and Raegan Malone in the 800 (2:52.15). The 4x100 relay team also placed second in 55.70.

Parker Proper won the 110 hurdles (18.10) for the boys, helping them to a fifth-place finish.

Proper also finished third in the 300 hurdles (44.98). Aidan Mickley had two runner-up finishes (100 and 200) and two third-place showings (400 and long jump), while Owen Gronberg came in second in the discus (129-8) and shot put (45-10).

Softball

The Danville softball team cruised through Knox Morrow Athletic Conference play, but dropped a pair of games to non-league foes this week.

The Blue Devils had an offensive explosion on April 8, banging out 15 hits in a 26-1 victory over KMAC foe Mount Gilead.

Kaylee Martin, Liz John and Morgan Hinkens all smacked home runs for the Devils. Martin added a double and a single, while Hinkens also doubled and John added a single. Addy Bocock smacked a double and two singles; Taylor Meade doubled and singled; and Dalayna Parker, Riley Johnston and Ryleigh Geog all singled.

Parker mowed down the Indians on the day, striking out six batters in the complete game victory.

The Blue Devils then took on Div. I teams Olentangy Berlin and Centerville in a doubleheader on April 11.

Danville managed just three hits in a 3-0 loss to Berlin. Bocock, Ruby Bartok and Parker each had a single.

Bocock struck out 14 Berlin batters on the day.

A six-run third inning wasn’t enough against Centerville, which rallied for two runs in the seventh to pin an 8-7 loss on the Devils.

Bartok smacked a home run, two singles and drove in three runs to lead the Devils. Parker added four singles, while John doubled and Johnston had two singles. Bocock and Hinkens both singled.

Bocock had another double-digit strikeout day, fanning 11 Centerville players in the loss.

Bocock threw another perfect game as the Devils beat Northmor, 3-0, on Tuesday.

The senior hurler struck out 16 and did not allow a base runner in the victory. She had four innings where she struck out the side.

Bartok led the offense with two singles. Martin, Meade, John and Johnston all singled for Danville.

Baseball

Danville dropped three of four games during the past week.

Two big innings cost the Devils on April 8, as they fell 7-2 to Mount Gilead.

Nolan Ridgway smacked two doubles to lead the Danville offense. Brycen Burke added a double and a single, while Cy Wallace, Jaden Stull and Reuben Troyer all singled.

Ridgway went the distance on the mound, striking out seven.

Danville scored early and often in beating Northside Christian, 8-0, on April 11.

Burke and Briggs Wallace each had a single and a double to lead Danville. Ridgway, Clayton Vance and Stull all singled.

Vance started on the mound for DHS, fanning seven in four innings of work. Burke finished up, striking out seven.

The Devils gave up two runs in the seventh inning to fall, 6-4, to Liberty Union on Monday.

Burke and Curtis Cline each had a double and a single to pace the Devils’ offense. Ridgway smacked a two-run home run, while Cy Wallace tripled and Vance singled.

Briggs Wallace started on the hill for DHS, fanning six in 5.2 innings. Burke finished up, striking out two.

On Tuesday, the Devils scored in the top of the seventh to tie the game, but watched as Northmor plated one in the bottom half of the inning to pull out the 10-9 victory.

Ridgway smacked a double and two singles to lead the Blue Devils. Troyer added a double and a single, while Stull had two singles. Cline, Burke and Vance all singled.

Ridgway pitched the first five innings for Danville, striking out six. Vance finished up.