Softball: Munster’s Carly Murphy dazzles, blanks Chesterton

MUNSTER — If her performance in Friday’s game against Chesterton is any indication, Munster pitcher Carly Murphy is ready for the postseason. The senior scattered five singles, fanned five and was in complete control as the Mustangs (21-7) beat the Trojans 3-0 on Friday. “That …

Boys track: Crown Point tops DAC rival Merrillville for sectional title

CROWN POINT — Tom Cierniak knew he had the opportunity to boost Crown Point’s shot at a sectional title with a win in the 3,200-meter run. That served as incentive as Cierniak nipped Lowell’s Kyle Eller in the thrilling race. Cierniak finished first with a …

Boys track: Valparaiso wins second straight sectional championship

PORTAGE — It had been a long wait for Portage’s Jeron Blake, as the Indians senior had spent the entire track season battling hamstring issues. Finally, at the Portage Sectional, Blake was cleared for a full workload for the first time this season — and …

Boys track: Jonvae Johnson leads West Side to sectional title

HIGHLAND — West Side rode the legs of Lake Central junior transfer Jonvae Johnson to win the Highland Sectional, beating last year’s champion, Munster. Johnson had four first-place finishes, including state qualifying times in the 100 (10.97) and 200 meter (22.13). Johnson, along with Lonnie …

Boys track: KV stays close, falls to Winamac

RENSSELAER — Kankakee Valley track coach Dan Roberts wasn’t really upset that his Kougars lost a close sectional Thursday to Winamac, 116.5-110. “When you’re that tight, that close, you really can’t be unhappy. “If you do come here and give them your best, that’s all …

Timeout softball: Statistics

Average (at least 40 PA) N. Goodwin, LaCrosse .600 M. Martin, Bishop Noll .576 E. Kolb, Kouts .547 M. Starcevich, Boone Grove .532 C. Martinez, Clark .531 H. Hodges, Portage .525 B. Lewin, Hebron .512 E. Hodges, Munster .500 J. Goodwin, LaCrosse .493 S. Cooley, Chesterton .491 A. Hawrot, Boone Grove .489 S. Carter, Chesterton .482 M. …

Softball: Key win has Dana Claussen, Hobart clicking on all cylinders

HOBART — Sometimes all it takes is one well-played victory to get a team going, know matter what the sport. In high school softball, that could be a 1-0 win in which pitching, defense and timely hitting all come together in the perfect storm of …

Softball: Sectional outlook

Class 4A Highland Sectional Schedule Monday — Lake Central vs. Munster, 5 p.m.; Tuesday — Highland vs. Lowell, 4 p.m.; East Chicago vs. West Side, to follow; Thursday — Morton vs. Monday’s winner, 4 p.m.; Tuesday’s winners, to follow; Friday — Championship, 5 p.m. Players …

Girls tennis: Crown Point wins 19th consecutive sectional title

CROWN POINT — With a sectional winning streak coming up on two decades, it could be the Crown Point girls tennis team focuses on keeping with tradition. However, that’s not at all the way that No. 2 singles player Abby Kvachkoff described the mentality after …

Girls tennis: Madrigals fall; Munster wins

MUNSTER — It never seemed to matter how well Jessica Rooth played, she just couldn’t find a way to beat Highland standout Vany Madrigal. The two friends started playing against each other as 8-year-olds with the ultra-talented and classy Madrigal always holding the upper hand. …

Basketball: Matt Thomas named new Valpo boys coach; Candy Wilson leaves Boone for Valpo JV position

Matt Thomas had a choice a few years ago.

Thomas, an English teacher and a bit of a Renaissance man, was running marathons, coaching cross country, working on his Masters degree and coaching eighth grade basketball.

“I was spread a little thin,” he said.

He …

Softball: Bulldogs solve Lowell’s Brandi Faverty

CROWN POINT — Lowell’s Brandi Faverty was flirting with a no-hitter for 51/3 innings, but Bailey Mores and her Crown Point teammates never flinched. “We knew we had to start hitting, but we stayed up, we were positive and still confident,” said Mores, who ripped …

Boys track sectional outlook

CROWN POINT When: 5 p.m. Thursday. Teams: Andrean, Calumet, Crown Point, Griffith, Hanover Central, Hobart, Lake Central, Lake Station, Lew Wallace, Lowell, Merrillville, River Forest. Favorite: Crown Point. Athletes to watch: Andrean — Adam Kopil, Nick Janiga, Jordan Smith, Richard Thiel. Calumet — Kevin Miller. …

Baseball: Hanover’s Dan Stum outduels Dean Hill

VALPARAISO — After each team scored twice in the first three innings, the PCC tournament first round matchup turned into a pitchers’ duel between Boone Grove’s Dean Hill and Hanover Central’s Dan Stum. Then, as Boone Grove head coach Rollie Thrill put it: “We blinked.” …

Baseball: Wash. Twp.’s Tyler Frye gets a little help from his Sens

VALPARISO — Washington Township senior pitcher Tyler Frye spread out four hits, allowing one run in a five-inning, 11-1 win over Morgan Township. Frye got a lot of support from his offense, especially in a seven-run third inning that broke the game open for the …