HHC baseball Friday night

It's a fairly recent change -- less than five years old -- but the HHC has created a great tradition with Friday-night doubleheaders.

You know that, for seven consecutive weekends, the night that is an event in both the fall and winter becomes one in the spring, starting at 5 p.m. The games usually have a festival atmosphere -- especially in warm weather -- and there's some good camaraderie between the communities. Between games, everyone seems to intermingle, eat together and enjoy the game we all love.

We have no broadcast this Friday -- our "Game of the Week" was the county track and field meet -- but will be back with New Palestine at Greenfield-Central on May 13, and Mt. Vernon at New Palestine on May 20. 

So, let's take a look at the standings and this week's matchups:
New Palestine (#2 3A) 8-0/13-2 overall (at Rushville)
Mt. Vernon (#3 3A) 8-0/12-2 overall (vs. Pendleton Heights)
Greenfield-Central 5-2/8-7 overall (at Yorktown) 
Pendleton Heights 4-3/9-7 overall (vs. Mt. Vernon)
Yorktown 4-6/7-6 overall (vs. Greenfield-Central)
Delta 2-8/6-11 overall (at Shelbyville)
Rushville 1-7/5-10 overall (vs. New Palestine)
Shelbyville 1-7/4-10 overall (vs. Delta)

All three county teams at the top of the standings, but a huge series between Mt. Vernon and Pendleton Heights. PH needs some help to get back in the conference title race, but can go a long way in helping itself with a pair of victories over MV. A Marauder sweep would eliminate PH from title contention. PH currently is 4-3 in league play, having been swept by New Palestine and lost a single game to Greenfield-Central. All eyes will be on that doubleheader. MV has put together some good offensive games, but Matt Lohrey and Logan Blair had two outstanding pitching performances. Between them (and reliever Zach McKinney), they held G-C's potent offense to two runs in 15 innings last Friday in the Cougars' smallish park.


G-C's two losses were in close games against Mt. Vernon last week -- 4-1 in extras and 2-1 -- and the Cougars are in the thick of things with a doubleheader against New Palestine next week. Expect to see some good offense as the Yorktown team the Cougars are facing this weekend has some nice sticks at the top of the order. G-C does, too, with Clark Pence, Jayden Jackson and more leading a deep lineup.

NP is the other conference leader, and the Dragons continue to score runs. They rallied from a four-run deficit to beat Batesville on Thursday, one day after falling to 4A No. 3 Cathedral, despite a strong pitching performance. NP also has a deep pitching staff with Nick Smith, Brian Page and Reid Clark leading the way.