MONROE CITY —
The story lines at Tuesday’s South Knox Invitational were about as thick as fresh maple syrup poured on buttered covered pancakes.
They were plentiful and rather tasty.
The obvious was also the simplest.
Barr-Reeve’s Connor Sorrells ran to his fourth sectional championship. I had known that Sorrells had won each sectional title at South Knox since his freshman season. What I didn’t know until a few weeks ago was that first sectional title was the first race he won in his high school career.
Sorrell’s career will go down among the best in area high school cross country. His dominance of the local scene was easy to see Tuesday as he won that fourth title. He was not really challenged, although Pike Central’s Cain Parker, another good runner just to our south, tried early.
Mentioning Sorrells without Damon Pruett is nearly impossible. When researchers go back through time in a couple of decades, Pruett’s name will not be as easily seen.
The Barr-Reeve senior spent his time playing Robin to Sorrell’s Batman. If he had been born a few years earlier or later, that story might have been different. At the same time, if either runner had not had the other, the number of first and second place finishes by the duo would have likely been far fewer.
They have been good for each other. They realize that. Their competitive relationship has played a key role in both moving on to run at the college level on scholarships.
Washington had some very interesting story lines Tuesday as well.
On the boys side, the Hatchets were coming off a Big 8 Conference win, the first boys win in 20 years, but matters were far from settled.
Drew Brothers was named all-conference despite being unable to run. Washington did a good job of winning the conference title without him.
Brothers was also unable to make the sectional, and his recovery from summer knee surgery will likely keep him from running at Pride’s Creek Saturday.
The plot thickened a bit last weekend when Austin Gray came to practice with a boot on his left foot. He was suffering with an ailing ankle, and the boot remained until the sectional started.
He finished 17th, and that was important for a Washington team that was looking for a potential regional berth into a semistate. That will certainly be more difficult now, but still quite a performance to say the least.
Brandy White continued her rise in cross country circles with her second place finish. For a first-year runner, she’s done pretty well. Her story is somewhat similar to Madison Decker last fall. Decker made it to state. White has a good chance to do some of her own advancing.
And speaking of Decker, the sophomore ran her first race in a month to qualify for the regional with a sixth-place finish. Decker has been suffering with back and hip problems that has limited her work in that month. She was also named all-conference despite not running in the Big 8 meet.
Washington Catholic had two good stories.
Sam Baker made it to the regional with a 12th place finish in the boys race. Baker was in a similar position last fall when he collapsed within yards of the finish. He’ll be at Pride’s Creek this Saturday. It’s a feel good story for any athlete.
Cardinal Sarah Wichman will be running at Pride’s with a 14th place finish. It’s good to see her make the field.
Blaine Fuhs was 21st for the Cardinals. Not a bad performance for a guy who is soccer first.
North Daviess competed at the sectional. The Cougar family is still reeling from the tragic death of Samantha Porter, a runner and cheerleader, who died in a traffic accident. Jenna Meadows placed 22nd and McKenzie Roark 27th for the girls.
It was a fun sectional. The best part is yet to come with the regional and semistate on the horizon.
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- Local Sports
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Chattin, Stallman win doubles sectional title
Washington's Rachel Chattin and Audra Stallman defeated Madison Reed and Taylor Jeffers of North Daviess, 6-1, 6-4, Wednesday to win the doubles sectional championship.
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Pacers miss golden opportunity
The Indiana Pacers had the Miami Heat right where they wanted them in the waning moments of overtime Wednesday night, but they couldn’t get out of their own way long enough to secure their most important playoff victory in more than a decade.
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Rivet beats Lions in 1st round of sectional
Loogootee saw its chance to repeat as sectional champions end in dramatic fashion as Vincennes Rivet claimed the opening game of Sectional 63 with a 5-4, nine-inning win at Les Page Field on Wednesday.
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Hatchets season ends with loss to Jasper
Washington senior pitcher Brayden Walls had one of the best seasons in Hatchet history, but he couldn’t will his team to one more win.
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Loogootee falls to Rivet in Sectional 63
LOOGOOTEE - Loogootee saw its chance to repeat as sectional champions end in dramatic fashion as Vincennes Rivet claimed the opening game of Sectional 63 with a 5-4, nine-inning win at Les Page Field on Wednesday.
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Wagler, Stoll pace Vikings
Brandon Wagler and Myron Stoll each hit three-run home runs as Barr-Reeve defeated Eastern Greene, 15-3, in six innings Monday.
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WHS camp is Monday
The Washington Hatchet's Summer Tennis Camp begins Monday at the Lena Dunn Elementary School courts.
Boys and girls entering grades three through eight this coming school year wishing to participate may register when the camp begins at 9 a.m. The camp continues each day until 10:30 a.m. through Thursday.
Each player should bring a racket (one can be provided), a towel and a water bottle.
The cost of the camp is $25 per person. Checks should be made to WHS Boys Tennis. -
Washington Catholic High School is seeking coaches for the fall season.
Coaching positions open include: varsity and junior varsity volleyball; junior high volleyball, and junior high boys soccer.
Persons interested in these positions should contact athletic director John Howell at 812-254-2050, or email at jhowell@evdio.org. -
Hatchets top Cougars
Washington out slugged North Daviess, 15-10, at the Sports Complex Monday.
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Chestnut's big day lifts Vikings
Tuesday evening’s Class A Sectional 63 championship was supposed to be a battle between two bitter rivals, but it turned out to be a Viking coronation.
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