MUNCIE — Pendleton Heights’ Nate Wechsler threw 6 1/3 solid innings, and Anderson Hockett topped Mishawaka 7-3 on Saturday at the John Miles Memorial Holiday Tournament.
Hockett improved to 3-0 in the round-robin event with games remaining today against Jay-Randolph (1 p.m.) and Muncie (6 p.m.) at McCullough Park.
“Wex pitched a great game,” acting Hockett manager Daren Hardesty said in a phone interview after the win. “He got to the third inning, and he was starting to wear down a little bit. We didn’t know how long he was going to stick around. But he hung in there, and he started getting outs. He did a nice job.”
Hardesty, a former star at Pendleton Heights, is coaching the team this weekend in place of Travis Keesling — who is on a pre-planned trip. Hardesty is Keesling’s pitching coach at Greenfield-Central.
He’s been particularly impressed with Hockett’s overall speed, and Post 127 made several plays on the basepaths Saturday.
Highland’s Taylor Hopkins stole two bases and scored two runs, and Lapel’s Devon Silvey walked twice and came around to score each time.
But the best baserunning play might have come late in the game from former Elwood star Darren Jones, according to Hardesty.
With a three-run lead and runners on the corners, Hardesty called for Jones to steal second. Jones, who just completed his freshman season at Trine University, made a smart baseball play. Caught in a rundown, he kept the infielders busy long enough for Highland’s Trevor Humes to score from third.
Jones also was Hockett’s only player with more than one hit, going 2-for-4 at the plate, and made several good defensive plays at third base.
“He had an all-around good day,” Hardesty said.
Former Liberty Christian star Tim Zeigler, now pitching at Indiana Wesleyan, closed out the game for his second save of the tournament.
“He has been (the closer), at least for the past few days since I’ve been here,” Hardesty said. “He’s got a little more pop on his ball than a couple of our other guys. He’s a college pitcher, too. And you can definitely tell he’s a little more composed when he goes out there.”
Hardesty has enjoyed his time with Hockett, and he’s impressed with the players’ knowledge of the game.
“We’ve got a nice assortment of 17- to 19-year-old kids who really know what they’re doing,” he said. “It’s fun, actually.”
Local Sports
Hockett improves to 3-0 in holiday tourney
- Local Sports
-
-
PH moves on
On the roster of every successful team is a player or two who will do the unpleasant work. The ones who actually find satisfaction in this pursuit are worth their weight in wins to any coach. Pendleton Heights sophomore Kiawna Cottrell was just that player Tuesday as the Arabians advanced to the second round of sectional play with a 55-45 victory over Greenfield-Central.
-
Indians slay Spartans
The last time these two girls basketball teams met on Jan. 17, Anderson defeated Connersville 83-74 in overtime. Lady Tribe coach Chad Cook knew the Spartans would come out with a chip on their shoulder ready for revenge in Tuesday’s opening round of the Class 4A sectional.
-
Eagles eke by Raiders
Back in November, the Frankton girls basketball team handled Shenandoah by 29 points. Tuesday’s sectional opener at Shenandoah wasn’t as easy, but the end result was the same as Frankton moved on with a 44-43 win over the host Shenandoah Raiders.
-
Wapahani ends Lapel’s season
With both teams scrapping for loose balls and rebounds often, the second game of the first-round girls basketball sectional Tuesday night at Shenandoah seemed destined to become a backyard brawl. And as is so often the case, the more experienced team came out on top. A sloppy but hard-fought contest turned into little more than a war of attrition late as finally Lapel ran out of gas, falling to Wapahani 49-33.
-
Madison-Grant survives, advances
Madison-Grant girls basketball coach Kyle Douglas reminded his team before Tuesday’s Class 2A sectional opener that the state tournament marks the beginning of a new season. With 4.6 seconds remaining against Alexandria, Argylls senior Taylor McNutt held the first game of that new season in her hands at the free-throw line. She calmly made her first attempt, and wild scramble for the loose ball erupted when her second try glanced off the rim. The clock expired before either team could gain possession, and Madison-Grant (14-8) escaped with a 58-57 victory and a ticket to Round 2.
-
Daleville bucks Liberty Christian, heads into Class A semifinals
Not much changed in Sectional 55 on Tuesday at Wes-Del as Daleville pressured the Lions into submission on the way to a 51-24 win and the chance to face the host Wes-Del Warriors.
-
Tribe win over Spartans 50 - 46
Photos from the opening round of the Class 4A Sectional at Greenfield-Central on Tuesday.
-
Arabians advance after 55-45 win over Cougars
Photos from the Greenfield-Central sectional as the Pendleton Heights Arabians faced the Cougars.
-
Girls teams eye possible sectional titles
Many of this year’s girls basketball teams featured many young players on their rosters.
As a result, there was uncertainty about how many teams would contend for sectional titles. -
Boilers honor Lewis at halftime against IU
Purdue basketball fans took time out Saturday in the middle of a heated rivalry game with Indiana to honor Anderson High School graduate Troy Lewis, whose No. 23 jersey hangs from the rafters at Mackey Arena.
- More Local Sports Headlines
-
