PREP ROUNDUP: Berries roll past Blue Devils in HC East opener

The Logansport baseball team opened Hoosier Conference East Division play with an 11-2 win over Tipton on Tuesday at Jim Turner Field.

Josh Middleton, Jose Portilla and Lucas Jones combined on a four-hitter for the Berries (3-0, 1-0).

Middleton (2-0) did the bulk of the work, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk with two strikeouts over five innings.

“I thought it was a really good game by the team all around,” Middleton said. “I didn’t have my best stuff today at all, but they picked me up and the guys in the field really picked me up as well.”

Portilla allowed just a walk while striking out one in his inning of work.

He said he’d rather be playing third base but he’s an effective right-handed sidearm pitcher.

“I like third base more but I like pitching too,” he said. “We pitched really well but we have to be ready for the next game.”

Jones closed out the win with a 1-2-3 seventh. He struck out one and needed just seven pitches to complete the frame.

“I think we played pretty well,” Jones said. “Tipton help us out with some errors, but I think we all pitched pretty well, just got the job done.”

The Blue Devils (1-4, 0-3) had four errors which led to four unearned runs. The Berries made them pay and pounded out 12 hits.

The Berries erased a 2-0 deficit with a four-run third. They added five more in the fourth to take a 9-2 lead and added a run each in the fifth and sixth.

Kolten Hudson and Kuper Jones had back-to-back RBI triples to highlight the five-run fourth. Jones also had a single and finished with three runs scored.

Hudson Shank had a double, single and two RBIs. Taylor Albright had two hits and two RBIs. Grady Alexander had a pair of hits and an RBI. Braylon Ritchie, Blake Pearson and Bryson Herr added a single and RBI apiece.

Logansport coach Dan Frye said it was good to win on a night that Middleton didn’t have his best stuff.

“He’s good enough to come back and make them hit the baseball to beat him,” he said.

Frye added it was good to get more pitchers and batters in the game during a relatively low-stress situation.

“We have some depth on the bench,” he said. “I don’t feel like we lose anything when we make a substitution. It’s just a matter of trying to find the time to get these guys on the roster in the batting order and have them all clicking at the same time. And we got some hits tonight. We had a couple guys get off the snide and finally get a couple hits and that makes you feel a little bit more confident. The bat gets to swing a little bit better and it’s a little easier to play this game when you get a hit or two. The confidence level goes up a little bit and that helps everybody. And we still have a couple guys in the starting lineup that they need to get going. And they will. It’s just a matter of time for sure. Games have been little bit of struggle for a couple guys and trying to keep their head positive and good things are gonna happen for them.

“But I like this team. They’re a very good team. They’re good teammates. They look for their opportunity. They’re buying into the concept of playing hard for the entire game. When you come in through the gate, we’ve got you for two hours and it’s about playing for the name in the front of your jersey. And so we’re gonna get back at it tomorrow.”

Game two of the series is scheduled for tonight at Tipton.

SOFTBALL

LOGANSPORT 16, TIPTON 0

Class 3A No. 8 Logan defeated Tipton 16-0 in five innings Tuesday at Fincher Field.

Gracie Risley fired a two-hit shutout with 13 strikeouts for the Berries (5-1, 1-0 HC East). She went 3-for-4 at the plate with an inside-the-park home run, double and three RBIs.

Lucy Gordon had two hits and three RBIs. Teagan Wolf had two hits and two RBIs. Adrienne Scott had two hits and two runs scored. Aracyn Good and Brooklynn Hagerty each had a double and two RBIs. Ashlyn Cox, Tatianna Jones and Evie Kitchel each added a hit.

It's a busy week for the Berries. Game two of the series is tonight at Tipton. The Berries host Lafayette Jeff on Thursday before they host the second-annual Ron Kinnaman Classic on Saturday.

They'll face Class 4A No. 6 Fishers at 10 a.m. and Lowell at 1 p.m. Placement games will follow.

GIRLS TENNIS

LOGAN 4, TWIN LAKES 1

Logansport (4-0) picked up a win against possible sectional opponent Twin Lakes in Monticello.

The Berries’ Jozlyn Howard returned to the lineup and recorded a 7-5, 7-6 (5) win at No. 1 singles. Kaylynn Fillmore won 6-2, 6-0 at No. 2 singles. Maeda Bradbury dropped a 6-4, 6-4 match at No. 3 singles.

Goldie Kitchell and Violet Pherson won 6-1 6-2 at No. 1 doubles. Alivia Isaacs and Taryn Shideler won 6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-2 at No. 2 doubles.

Logan travels to Lewis Cass on Thursday.